Play with Intarsia to Make a Scarf or Hood

I’m a big fan of graphic knitting patterns and projects that look more complicated than they really are. Both are true of the Rust & Rhythm scarf and hood (she calls it a bonnet, but it’s a hood to me) projects by Anna Husemann.

The basis of both projects is a simple 3×3 garter stitch ribbing pattern that’s embellished with large graphic colorwork worked in intarsia. Because the stitch pattern itself is a simple 2 row repeat, you can focus on the colorwork and making sure your color changes are crisp.

The pattern includes step by step instructions for joining colors in intarsia so that both sides of your projects will look great.

The patterns are rated as for intermediate knitters. Some experience with intarsia would be helpful (but if you’ve never done it before check out my intarsia tutorial). They call for 4 colors of DK weight yarn (Hobbi’s Highland Wool specifically), but you could probably use even more colors if you want to make the design your own.

The scarf version measures 8.75 inches/2 cm wide and is 77.25 inches/196 cm long. The hooded version includes smaller scale versions of the same graphic patterns. The scarf part is 3.25 inches/8 cm wide and 58.5 inches/149 cm long. There are two options for the hood sizing, depending on how tight you want it to be (or how much hair you have).

Both of the patterns are available for free on Hobbi’s website: scarf | hood. These links will get you to the pattern download in English, but both patterns are available in several other languages, too (including German, French, Italian, Spanish and more). If you need one of those patterns you can search the Hobbi website, or the designer has direct links to each of the languages on the Ravelry pattern page for each design: scarf | hood.

Checking out the Ravelry pages also gives you a chance to see the colors other people have picked, including some that use only two colors or as many as 12 colors if you would rather take it another direction.

[Photos: Anna Husemann]

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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