How to Knit Herringbone Stitch

Have you all been following the Harmony Blanket Knitalong? I think I’ve mentioned it a few times, but it’s a knitalong that has been going on since January and continues through November with a new knit block each week, resulting in a big, cozy afghan by the end of the year.

Projects like this are a great opportunity to pick up new stitches and techniques, and a recent block used the herringbone stitch, which creates a really fun texture but might not be a stitch that everyone is familiar with, so Pia at Stitches n Scraps also put together a herringbone stitch tutorial with words and photos or a video if you’d rather to help you with the technique.

It’s really interesting how it comes together and once you play with it and get the hang of how to do it I’m sure you’ll want to make a project using this interesting stitch.

[Photo: Stitches n Scraps.]

Even more than normal this year I’ve been trying to use yarn that I already have. I’m doing lots of odd ball projects, scrappy things and small projects, but it’s also nice sometimes to be able to use a whole skein, and just a single skein, on a project for yourself or for a gift.

The Sunburst Shawl by Jem Arrowsmith is a great option if you have a single skein of sock yarn (100 grams or 400-425 meters, which is around 437 to 465 yards) that you don’t want to make socks out of.

The design includes a section of stockinette with blocks of simple lace mesh offset to make a zig-zag design across the shawl that looks sort of like the rays on a drawing of the sun.

The lace is just yarn over, knit 2 together repeating, so this would be a great first lace knitting project if you haven’t tried that before. The designer also has a video tutorial on their website if you need more help with the technique.

You can use any sock yarn you have on hand, but this one is especially fun with the brightly colored, variegated, speckly and sparkly yarns that you might not otherwise know what to do with. The solid section lets the colors play uninterrupted, while the lace part adds a bit of texture and gives a different look to the yarn.

This asymmetrical triangle shawl measures about 73 inches or 185 cm in wingspan and is 18 inches/45.5 cm deep.

There are several completed projects on Ravelry already so you can see who the design looks in different colors and types of yarn, from self stripping to more solid and tonal options.

The pattern is available for free on Ravelry (note: on the designer’s website it says the pattern is free through Aug. 31, 2026, so I’m not sure if it will be free after that on Ravelry), and if you don’t happen to have the perfect skein of yarn to make this project, the designer also offers kits on their website that include the yarn, pattern and a stitch marker.

[Photo: Jem Arrowsmith]

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