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.]

While no one would likely use a knit backpack for school, knitting a backpack is a fun way to show off your knitting skills and carry around your project or everyday essentials instead of using a purse. Check out these cute backpack knitting patterns and stitch one up for your next project.

I couldn’t resist sharing this adorable bunny backpack (you can also make it without the ears) that is made on a circular knitting machine. This pattern is from Orange Olive Road and you can use a 46 or 48 needle machine for the bag but will also need a 22 needle machine if you opt for the bunny version.

If you prefer knitting by hand, check out the bucket bag pattern from WoolFans Knitting. This one calls for super bulky yarn in two or three colors (you could make it all in one color, too, if you’d rather) and it looks like the base is knit flat and then the sides are worked in the round.

You know I love a stashbuster, and that’s what you get with the Whidbey Bag from Wool and Pine Designs. This one calls for DK weight yarn for the body of the bag, which is actually worked in a single color from the top down. The colorful bits are woven in after the knitting is done, allowing you to use up all sorts of odd balls quickly.

Adding hardware to a knit bag makes it look that much more interesting, and the combination of leather accents and a sari silk yarn makes Le Backpack from Vanrey Knits a lot of fun. This pattern is on Ravelry and uses a super bulky yarn and seed stitch for a ton of texture.

Mama in a Stitch has a great free pattern for a little backpack with a flap closure. This one is worked in worsted weight cotton yarn with two strands held together for extra stability. It starts with a flat base with the body worked in the round and a knit flap and I-cord straps.

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