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Giveaway: Knit Scarves and Shawls Now

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Knit scarves and shawls now book review

Reader amchart is our winner!

It won’t always be this way, that the book I’m giving away is the one I reviewed the week before, but since we had such fun with the cowl book I thought it would be nice to offer one for the scarf people as well.

So this week’s giveaway is Knit Scarves and Shawls Now, a collection of 41 (by my count) shawls, scarves and, yes, a few cowls, using lots of different techniques and originally published in German.

It looks like a really fun book, particularly for people who like gift knitting or just having a whole wardrobe of scarves and shawls to choose from (that’s me, for sure).

Since we covered cowls vs. scarves last week, this time if you’d like to be entered to win, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, February 14 (aww) letting me know what sort of neck-knitting, if any, you are wearing today.

As I type this I’m wrapped in a Quaker Yarn Stretcher (the shawl version) in some lovely Fuzzy Yarn. So yes, I have a soft spot for simple little shawls, too.

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

 

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Looking for more amazing shawl patterns? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Comments

  2. I’m wearing a scarf which I made with my rainbow loom…I love it, and I really want to learn more about knitting…thanks for the giveaway!!BTW, I’m in Pakistan, so I would like to know if this giveaway is open here…

  4. I’m wearing a scarf because it’s still cold today even though the weatherman promised that the cold spell would end by today.

  6. Cowls and scarves are at the top of my faves to knit and this book looks fabulous! Today I’m wearing a scarf but tomorrow…who knows?!

  8. It sounds like a wonderful book, I am always looking for new ideas for scarfs and wraps, I enjoy making them and am hoping to make wraps for chemo therapy patients. So I will be looking for this book

  9. I was hoping this book would make it to a giveaway! Just picked the children up from school and I was wearing a lovely aran cowl. I never go out without something around my neck!

  10. I’m not currently wearing one, but I am knitting one! It’s going to be a convertible thing – from a hat to a cowl with a drawstring closure on top (for when it’s a hat).

  11. I am not wearing any neckwear at the moment but if I have to go outside I will be wearing a scarf.

  12. Not wearing a scarf or shawl today although I have a lovely one draped over the guest chair in my office!!

  14. I’m wearing a scarf today…I usually incorporate scarves to coordinate with my wardrobe all year long. They make even the most simplest tee shirts look great. Thank you so much for the chance to win this awesome book!

  17. On I’d love to win this book! I don’t have a scarf on today because it’s warmer outside right now but I have made and given away about half a dozen scarves. I’m fairly new to crochet and knitting so I have been sticking to easy patterns but would like to try a few more challenging patterns now. Thanks for the opportunity to win! Nothing like sitting down and knitting or crocheting with a nice yarn and a good pattern!

  18. I don’t wear much around my neck very often because I get too hot, but I like having shawls and scarves around for dress up or especially cold days.

  19. No scarf for me today. But love scarves of all varieties for myself and to give as gifts. I would love to win this awesome book. Thank you for the opportunity. Have a fantastic creative day!

  21. Actually wore a soft cotton cowl today; covers a multitude of issues and feel as if it’s stylish as well. It’s my favorite gift to receive and give/make.

  22. Not wearing any today but have several I’ve made to wear any time I go out into the cold. Would love to win this book and make some different styles. A friend of mine has a young adult son who is teaching himself to knit and would share with him.

  23. Wearing a silk scarf today. Thank you for the giveaway chance. I would enjoy trying the various patterns for gifts and charity donations.

  30. I wore a mock turtle neck today, a cardigan type with a front zipper & front pockets-an older one that I have had for a while, but heavy & warm!

  38. I am obsessed with scarf knitting – a great way to use those single skeins of expensive yarn you were irresistibly drawn to! Today I have on one of my many Hitchhikers by Martina Behm.

  39. I am not wearing a scarf or cowl today but I wish I was! I just came in from shoveling snow and some toasty knitted neckwear would have been nice!

  40. I’m wearing a knitted scarf that I made, haven’t knitted ant cells yet, but would like to. I usually start knitting scarves, hats and fingerless gloves after Xmas for the next year to give away to local shelters.

  42. Got my first cowl (fabric) for Christmas – now I want to knit my own. I am wearing it right now, because I was planning on going outside to finish shovelling after I finish my lunch-time coffee. My scarves seem to be hiding – perhaps they are intimidated?

  44. I’m wearing a simple loom knit scarf made with fuzzy baby yarn. I have a chill, and I’m tired, and it’s the perfect thing for it.

  47. We’ve just had a couple warm days here in SF, so no knitwear except the hair-hider cap.

  48. I usually wear cowls most days when I go out to run errands or meeting friends, so right now, that would be about 3-4 x a week. We had a blizzard here in Nebraska so I switched it up and wore my very thick scarf that can wrap at least 3x if needed. I ended up staying at the hospital where I work for 3 days, worked and slept. When I finally was able to dig my car out, the scarf was a life saver, as you can imagine it took awhile to be able to drive my car after getting a layer of ice and 12 in of snow off it!! That scarf stays in my car all winter for just such cases. I just finished 4 cowls in different yarns for my nieces ( who attend school in different parts of the country ie, the FLA girl’s cowl was lighter where the Kansas girl was thick and heavy!! Love cowls, looking at a few “lighter” patterns for scarfs “IF” winter ever goes away here, could be April by then!!

  49. Too warm today to wear a scarf but my favorite scarf that I have made is a color block scarf done in different shades of gray and when I made it I made it super long – so that when I stand up if I just place it around my neck without tying it almost touches the ground on both ends. I can tie it or bundle it around my neck as much as I like or I can just let the fringed ends hang all the way down. I love it. I’ve made lots of scarves and cowls for my sister along with fingerless gloves and boot cuffs. Now I’m anxious to move on and learn how to knit socks or maybe my first lace shawl? I’m determined to learn how to knit and crochet really well. Thanks for the contest!

  50. Here in the Dallas area right now , the weather isn’t cold enough to wear anything around my neck.

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.