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Free Pattern for a Giant Seed Stitch Cowl

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seed stitch cowlThis one is an actual free pattern, but it’s as much an idea as anything. After a season of knitting for others and probably rushing through projects (that wasn’t just me, was it?), it’s time to take it slow, to knit something for ourselves and to just enjoy the process with a project that isn’t that difficult but that will wrap us in warmth for seasons to come.

Classic Elite designer Annissa George has just the thing with her Coors Cowl (download PDF at link). Worked in five colors of a bulky alpaca/bamboo blend, it’s just wide stripes of seed stitch worked in a big loop. That doesn’t mean the result isn’t pretty, just that this is easy, satisfying knitting that will take some time but also be relaxing and enjoyable. Just the thing we all need right around now.

Bonus: you might be able to make this a stash-busting project if you have enough yarns of similar weight. Or use whatever weight you have to make a big loopy cowl in whatever stitch you like. See: a great idea. Or several.

[Photo via Classic Elite Yarns.]

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Comments

  1. I have actually made another similar scarf with bigger yarn and larger needles. I didn’t use a pattern. What I am trying to figure out is how long to make the infinity scarf. I didn’t make it with circular needles, but the other way around and it’s almost finished. How long would you make it?

  2. I would probably make it about as long as you’d make a scarf, then just sew the ends together. That way you have something you can wrap around a couple of times if you like or wear as one long loop.

  4. Thanks so much for some nice ideas. I have so much leftover yarn to use up and need to find quick ideas

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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