Knit a Plaid Cowl with a Built in Pun

August 19, 2026 by Sarah White Leave a Comment

As long-time word nerd, there’s not a lot I like better than a pun. And what’s better than a pun in writing? A pun in knitting, because it really requires you to commit to it for as long as knitting the thing takes.

If you think that it’s not possible to knit a pun, please allow me to introduce you to the Plaidypus Cowl by Mary P. Hunt.

This is admittedly a pretty niche item to be sharing, but you know I have a thing for whimsy, and I don’t know that I’ve seen much lately as whimsical as a plaid knit platypus cowl.

The project includes three different plaid options for you to choose from, and while the pattern calls for sport weight yarn its suggested you could also use DK weight if you prefer something a little heavier.

There’s one size in the pattern, which makes a pretty deep cowl to fit a whole platypus (I mean plaidypus) on it. The sport weight version is 15 inches or 38 cm deep, which is definitely longer than the average neck. The DK weight one would be 17 inches/43 cm long and 27 inches/68.5 cm around, while the sport weight one is 23 inches or 58.5 cm in circumference.

That means it’s not easy to see what’s going on when you wear the cowl, but I actually think that’s part of the fun, too. When someone complements your cowl you can show them the secret!

I would also note that color selection seems to be really important in this project. Looking at the finished projects on Ravelry, on some it is easy to see the design and on others it is not. High contrast is important if you want the platy to be obvious, or you can choose an option that makes it blend in if you want.

You can see finished projects and grab the pattern for your own on Ravelry.

[Photo: Mary P. Hunt]

Have you read?

Kids Play Ball – Free Knitting Pattern Review

There is something wonderfully old-school about a handmade knitted play ball, isn’t there? This sweet little Kids Play Ball pattern from CraftBits is a simple free knitting project for making soft striped toy balls, perfect for babies, toddlers, playrooms, or using up those bright leftover bits of yarn hiding in the bottom of the basket.

The pattern uses Aran/12 ply wool and 6mm needles, so it works up fairly quickly and has that lovely chunky handmade look. The instructions are very straightforward, increasing out from 8 stitches, working the body of the ball, then decreasing back down before sewing, stuffing, and gathering the ends closed. It is one of those quick knitting patterns that feels wonderfully satisfying because you end up with something useful and giftable, not just another half-finished square sitting in the “I’ll get back to that” pile.

I especially like this project as a beginner-friendly knitted toy pattern, though new knitters may want to take a little care when shaping and stuffing so the ball stays nicely rounded rather than pear-shaped — because yes, we have all made a “ball” that looked suspiciously like a vegetable at some point.

This would be a lovely handmade baby shower gift, a soft indoor play toy, or a stash-busting project for bright yarn scraps. Use washable yarn if it is going to be loved by little hands, and a bag of toy stuffing from Amazon or your local craft store will make several balls, so it is a nice budget-friendly make too.

You can find the free pattern over on CraftBits here: Kids Play Ball. The project page describes it as a free knitting pattern for a striped ball and includes the basic materials and shaping instructions.

Have you read?

Leave a Reply