Knit a Comforting Shawl in Lace and Cables

As we were scrambling around that last weekend when we left the house somewhat normally (which was less than three weeks ago!) I decided I wanted to start a new knitting project that would be my “isolation project” (though the way this is going there will probably be more than one, and I need to finish things I was already working on as well).

I decided I wanted to knit a shawl, and am finally doing Find Your Fade, since I never managed one back when that pattern was everywhere. I’m on the fourth color, though I am trying to rotate projects now so it’s slower going.

The Beaufort shawl from Berroco would be another great choice for some comfort knitting in these times. It’s a simple rectangle shape, so you don’t have to pay that much attention, but it includes bands of lace and cables to make it interesting.

It’s worked in their Summer Silk yarn, a blend of silk, cotton and nylon, which is perfect for spanning the seasons.

You can grab the free pattern on their website.

[Photo: Berroco Yarn.]

Looking for more Cable-styled knitting patterns? Check out these Cable Knit Patterns on Etsy

Oh, this one has proper old-Hollywood winter charm.

The Pembroke Coat is a vintage knitted coat pattern that instantly made me think of crisp winter walks, leather gloves, polished boots, and the sort of coat your grandmother would have casually worn while looking impossibly elegant. It has that beautiful longline shape, a classic collar, button front, sleeve tabs, pockets, and a smart plaid-style design that gives it such a tailored finish.

This is not a quick “knit it while watching one movie” sort of project — and honestly, that is part of the appeal. The Pembroke Coat is one for knitters who love a satisfying vintage knitting pattern with a proper garment construction feel. The updated PDF includes the original vintage reference image along with a modern mockup, which makes it much easier to picture how this coat could look in today’s wardrobe.

I especially love that this pattern still feels wearable. Made in grey, camel, forest green, burgundy, or navy, it would be a gorgeous handmade winter coat with that timeless “where did you get that?” look.

As with most vintage patterns, I’d recommend reading through the instructions first, checking your gauge carefully, and being prepared to make small adjustments for fit and modern yarn substitutions. But for confident knitters who enjoy heirloom-style projects, this is a really lovely one to add to the queue.

You can find the Vintage Knitted Coat Pattern PDF in the CraftGossipStore on Etsy.

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