Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: 60 Quick Cowls

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Get some warmth quickly with 60 Quick Cowls.

Congratulations to Adrienne!

It has been unseasonably warm for a few days here in Arkansas, though it’s going to start getting cold again tomorrow. I’m guessing most of us in the Northern Hemisphere still have some winter ahead of us, so there’s still time to knit some winter accessories to use this year (at least I keep telling myself that as I’m still trying to finish my daughter’s gloves for the year).

So it seems fitting to give away a quick knitting book that will help you knit something to keep you warm now and maybe also some things you’ll still wear into spring.

60 Quick Cowls has a wide range of options, projects of various sizes, using all sorts of knitting techniques. The yarns called for are alpaca/merino blends from Cascade Yarns, but of course you could use this opportunity to knit from your stash as well.

When I reviewed this book the other day, I mentioned that I’m becoming more of a cowl person that a scarf person because I like having all the knitting up around my neck where I need it.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, February 7. I’d love to know if you’re a scarf person or a cowl person, both to knit and to wear.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. I love both. On really cold days I wear a cashmere/merino cabled cowl, but on warmer days I wear either a traditional scarf or an infinity scarf. Love to wear anything around my neck!

  2. I like both to wear both and I make both too. Depends on the weather as I find cowls warmer and cosier – I feel underdressed if I go out without something around my neck!

  3. I love to wear cowls, they’re more practical as there are no loose ends flying around, but I prefer to knit scarves because I feel you can be more creative with them

  7. I have just recently gotten back into knitting. I haven’t knit any cowls yet, but wish I had one these past few chilly days. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]