Knit a Super Simple Cozy Cowl Shrug

Just yesterday I was thinking about Fisherman’s Rib, which is a variation on 1 x 1 ribbing, so I guess it’s appropriate that I share this pattern today.

The Saturday Shrug is a lovely and really easy pattern from Jackie Rose available on Ravelry. It’s all 1 x 1 ribbing worked in the round, with a worsted weight yarn and a mohair held together to make a bulky weight yarn. So while 1 x 1 ribbing is a little slower to knit than plain stockinette, it will still go pretty fast because this project is worked on size 9 US knitting needles.

There are lots of variations you can make of this simple cowl/shrug too. The pattern page on Ravelry shows it with wide stripes of two different colors, as well as with a solid broken up by narrow stripes.

You could make it all one color, or use multicolored yarn, or bust your stash and add a bunch of wild stripes.

As meditative as this project would be to work, you might find yourself wanting to make more than one.

It looks like a great winter accessory that can stretch down across the shoulders or be worn more as a cowl (thus me referring to it as a cowl shrug because it can be both or either).

I was going to mention you could also play with the yarn weights, if you have a lot of worsted weight yarn you wanted to work through you could hold two of those together for more of a super bulky project. Then I noticed she actually has another version, called the Sunday Shrug, which is a worsted and bulky yarn held together for a super bulky gauge.

That one looks even warmer and more cozy than the first one, and would be a great way to use up a bit of stash combining yarns. These would make great gifts, or you can just make a bunch for yourself in all your favorite colors from your finished projects.

One of my favorite things to make on a circular knitting machine is scarves, because they’re a great way to use leftover yarn and certainly faster than knitting by hand.

But if you pay attention to the colors you’re using and how you are using them, you can make fun knitting machine scarves that look like something different when you roll them up.

One of the first versions of this I saw was the sushi scarf, are there are a lot of variations on this one. For example this one from Flower and Anchor that uses five colors of yarn, or this one from Three Threads NE that uses four. These generally are made to look like California rolls, but you could change up the colors to make them different things if you like. Just make sure the outside of the “roll” is black or green to indicate the nori. I found another version on Pinterest if you’re looking for a free pattern, but there’s no image of it rolled up.

Another popular variation is making a scarf that rolls up to look like a mug with coffee, tea or another fun beverage inside. This collection of three mug scarf circular knitting machine patterns from Idaho Cottage Creation includes green tea, a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and a candy cane colored confection (which honestly reminds me of the Grinch since it has a green mug!). Again you can change the colors of the mug part and the drink part. The little handle looks like it’s crocheted on these, and it doubles as a loop you can thread the scarf end through when you wear it.

Again there’s a version of the green tea scarf on Pinterest with crocheted elements. I also found a latte done with a striped yarn and a red mug that’s pretty cute and gives you an idea what a different beverage would look like.

I also love this pumpkin pie scarf designed by Jodi Favish Saunier. It has a bit of crocheted edging to give it a fancy crust but you can omit that if you don’t crochet. These are all on Facebook but she also has a watermelon and lemonade pattern that are super cute.

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