Free Pattern: Giant Circular Cowl

If you’re suffering through a cold winter, you might not be quite ready to start a knitting project meant for spring days. And that’s OK. You’ve still got time to knit something warm and bulky and get a lot of use out of it before spring comes, I imagine.

If you’re casting about for a cowl to cast on, check out this giant Circle Cowl from Susi at Just Crafty Enough. Worked with bulky yarn and a thinner yarn held double, it uses an odd rib stitch on an even number of stitches, which makes the design spiral and not look like ribbing at all.

This would be a super easy knit that will get on and off the needles quickly, and its generous size (9 inches wide and 60 inches long) means you can loop it a couple of times around your neck for plenty of warmth.

[Photo via Just Crafty Enough.]

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Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

When my daughter was in early elementary school we were at Joann together (RIP) and she picked out some variegated pink and white blanket yarn for me to knit a blanket for her bed. Now probably 10 years later, it’s one of her favorite possessions. I note this because the blankets we give to little ones might seem simple on the surface, like something they need to keep warm, but they can turn into so much more.

Take the Pocketful of Love Blanket from Purl Soho. On the surface this is a pretty but also easy to knit blanket for a little one. It’s worked in garter stitch stripes using sport weight yarn (the sample is a superwash wool, but this would also be nice in cotton or a blend) and available in a crib or small throw size. Though of course because it’s garter stitch, it’s pretty easy to make it any size you want.

But what makes this blanket extra special is the little details. The slip stitch selvedges and I-cord bind off give it a crisp look that’s perfect with the garter stitch of the body.

And then there’s the pocket.

This is a big pocket. At 10 inches wide and 12.25 inches tall (that’s 25.4 by 31 cm) for the crib size and 12.75 by 14.25 inches (32.4 by 36 cm) for the throw, you can easily fit a favorite stuffed animal, toy or book into the pocket.

I love how even though it uses the same striped garter stitch pattern as the blanket, it’s stitched down so the stripes run the opposite way (horizontal when the blanket stripes are vertical), though of course you can match stripes if you’d rather.

I think this blanket has the potential to be greatly loved by the little one its given to, and by the knitter look for an easy, pretty baby blanket with a little extra useful twist.

Grab the free pattern from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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