Knit a Sweet Kerchief Scarf in Two Weights

I’ve lately been drawn to little projects. I don’t know if that has to do with my complete lack of patience this time of year, or the fact that I’m deep into an involved project (an argyle vest) I’ve told myself I have to finish before I can start anything else, and maybe I’m wondering if I snuck in something little I would fail to notice breaking my own rule.

Whatever the reason, I’m thinking a lot about little kerchief style scarves that can be used as headbands or wrapped cutely around your neck for a little extra warmth. (The headband bit? Is because I’m growing out my bangs.)

Olga Putano Designs has a couple of cute projects of this sort in different yarn weights, called Distance.

The original version was worked in a fingering weight mohair yarn. The second iteration uses DK weight. They’re both charming little pieces that start at a point and expand into a long straightaway, then end in another point. The scarf is covered with a cable pattern that looks pretty easy even as the cables merge and change along the length of the project.

The fingering weight version comes in two sizes (the difference is actually in the width, but you can also adjust the length), while the DK weight version has three size options that vary in length and in width.

Project photos show the scarf wrapped up tight around the neck like a kerchief, or tied around the head to make a headband. The longest version is about 3.6 feet long, so it’s not standard adult scarf size, but it will still keep you warm, cozy and stylish, especially when we get to those days that are just a little warmer.

You can find the patterns on Ravelry: fingering | DK

And if you love Olga’s designs, check out my review of her book, Only Yoking.

[Photo: Olga Putano Designs]

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork.

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn.

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look.

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me.

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round.

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.

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