Some Fun Scarves, Shawls and Cowls

I’m back with another lightning round of patterns from yarn companies that would make perfect projects for fall. This time it’s a bunch of accessories that go around the neck. Enjoy!

carves

The Zig Zag Scarf from Lion Bran Yarn is an easy but fun little project where you’re increasing and decreasing regularly to make the undulating shape. Worked in a tweed yarn, it’s a lot of fun, but it would surely be great in a solid as well.

Berroco calls the triangular Fleming a scarf, but it could also be labeled a shawlette. Either way, it has a really interesting cable and lace motif and is worked in cozy alpaca and wool yarn. Berroco’s Bal Bullier is another genre-spanning warmer, this time a wide geometric scarf worked in garter stitch with a bit of intarsia at the color changes.

Meg Meyer’s Avalanche Scarf for Classic Elite Yarns is a cozy take on a drop-stitch scarf, spacing drops between large, wide swaths of garter stitch.

Shawls

In the “definitely a shawl” category are a couple of great season-spanning projects. Berroco’s Malemute uses three different kinds of yarn for an ethereal shawl that’s also still plenty warm.

And Josephina is a lovely three-color shawl with eyelets, stripes and a lace edging, designed by Amanda Rios in a merino and silk yarn for a little bit of shine all year long.

Cowls

A cowl is like an easier to deal with version of a scarf, and I find myself knitting a lot more cowls than scarves lately. If you feel the same way, check out the Big Hug Cowl from Rock and Purl, which is worked in the round with a pretty easy eyelet pattern and contrasting edging.

Or try the Kendal Cowl from Tahki Stacy Charles, another quick and easy project that uses drop stitches for big effect.

See a pattern you like? I’d love to hear what you’re queuing.

For more Valentine’s Day knitting pattern roundups, check out my collection of knit hearts and heart-themed scarves.

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

carves

Shawls

Cowls

Next Pattern:

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