Review: Quick Knitted Scarves

I enjoy little pattern collections that don’t include a lot of knitting instruction but do offer lots of ideas about how to make a particular kind of project.

Quick Knitted Scarves, complied by Amy Palmer and published under the Craft Tree imprint from Interweave, is a large-sized booklet containing 18 patterns for a wide variety of scarves (as well as a shawl and a head scarf).

Most of the projects use allover repeating stitch patterns that are pretty easy to memorize, so there are great projects here for newer knitters. But I don’t want you to think these scarves are plain, either. There are some really fun, dramatic projects here, large scale scarves and fun techniques you might not have tried before.

One of the most interesting ones to me is the Pooling Colors Scarf by Lori Gayle, which involves deliberately knitting with a space-dyed yarn so that the colors pool into stripes. There’s also a fun shaded scarf worked in a simple lacy stitch (the Spectrum Scarf by Eunny Jang) and the Wobble Scarf by Michaela Moore, which uses short rows and asymmetrical shaping to break up the colors of a highly variegated yarn.

There are also simple stripes, chevrons, Moss Stitch, a Garter Stitch triangular shawl knit with two different sized needles, even a striped scarf with knit fringe.

If you’re a fan of scarves, this is a great one to check out.

[Photo via Interweave.]

Next Pattern:

There are so many baby blanket knitting patterns out there I could probably do a post a month full of them and not run out for a very long time. This time I thought I’d look specifically at single color baby blankets that are interesting because of the inclusion of textured stitching. This makes them easy enough for new knitters but engaging for knitters of all skill levels.

Take the Textured Checks Baby Blanket from Janet Dubbelman for example. This project is mostly stockinette stitch, with some what looks like reverse stockinette and garter stitch thrown in to make the ridges. You can use whatever yarn weight you like to make blankets of different sizes. Find the pattern on Ravelry.

The Seedling from Modern Made Shop is just about as easy as it comes, combining seed stitch with a garter stitch border. It calls for worsted weight yarn and is perfect for beginners.

The Julie Baby Blanket by Elisabeth Kristiansen is another one with an easy allover stitch pattern that you can knit up in a flash in whatever size you want. (The pattern notes say any gauge but it also says 28 stitches per 4 inches, which would be a superfine or fine weight yarn. Learn more on Ravelry.

The Oscar Baby Blanket from Snufflebean is another one with an easy repeating stitch pattern that has a really fun, graphic effect. This is also great worked in a bright color, reminding us that babies don’t have to be in pastels! This one uses DK weight yarn.

If you want to get a little fancier, check out Sammy Bristow’s Georges Blanket. This one alternates blocks of stockinette stitch with boats and anchors made by purling on the right side of the blanket. It calls for DK weight yarn and has multiple sizes for dolls through toddlers. Check it out on Ravelry.

Another cute texture is this heart blanket with diamonds that are a little reminiscent of argyle. Yarn Sonata Patterns has this one, which is worked in DK weight yarn and comes in four sizes. It includes a chart and row by row instructions.

Or try the pretty Seton Portage baby blanket from Knitted Wishes, which has a border of trees and textured stitches that look like snow falling. The pattern includes different options for snowflakes and doing a mirror image of the trees on each end of the blanket. It’s worked in worsted weight yarn. This one includes charts, written instructions and video tutorials for special stitches.

Next Pattern:

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