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Stash-Busting Cowl Patterns

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I included a couple of cowls in my scarf roundup the other day, but they really do deserve their own day of focus because there are so many great ones out there. Plus, I’ve been wearing the heck out of my Striped Garter Stitch Cowl, which would be perfect as a stash-buster, that I felt I just had to share.

I think it’s funny that the first thing that pops up when you search stash cowls on Ravelry is the famous Honey Cowl from Madelinetosh, because it’s not typically worked in stripes. But of course stash busting means using anything you’ve been holding onto and doesn’t have to mean working in stripes or multiple colors. And it is a beauty regardless. Kristin Kapur uses slipped stitches on a smaller scale in her Chickadee Cowl, which I really like, too.

There’s also Jen Geigley’s GAP-tastic Cowl, again worked in a solid color in the original but it would use up a good bit of chunky yarn if you have a couple of skeins of the same color.

The Mockingjay Cowl by Stash Studio is a lot more what I think of when I think of stash busting; it’s worked in lots of different colors but is still really pretty with a multicolored slip stitch pattern. Laura Aylor’s Carrousel Cowl is another one that uses a slip stitch pattern to great effect.

Ami Madison’s Stacked Eyelet Cowl would be pretty in one color or stripes (the Favorite Cowl by Tajie Maxedon is similar), and the Sock Yarn Scrap Bag Cowl is perfection for people who knit a lot of socks (this one is by dorisann allenson).

The This Way Up Cowl form purl3agony is worked flat with a provisional cast on our of all sorts of leftovers, so it’s great when you need to get rid of odds and ends. (And it’s cute, too.)

If you have a skein of sock yarn you’ve been holding on to that you don’t really want to use for socks, try the Willow Cowl from Amelia Lyon.

There’s a fun roundup of stash-busting cowls, scarves and the like at the FitzBirch Crafts blog, which is sure to give you more ideas.

See anything you like? I’d love to hear how you’re enjoying the series or if anything has caught your needles yet!

Looking for more cowl patterns? Check these Pattern books out.

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.

Comments

  1. I’m really enjoying the series – the only time I’ve commented to something on CraftGossip. I currently have socks on the needles but an eyeing my stash for the future.

    Darla

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Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

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.