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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.

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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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Bucket Hat Knitting Patterns

As I was starting to write this post I thought that it was true that I’d never done a roundup of bucket hat knitting patterns before. But then I looked, and I actually did one last year (which you can find here) but there are plenty of cute bucket hats to do another post about, right? 

The one that made me want to write about this (again) is the Red Heart Knit Fanfare Bucket Hat from Yarnspirations. This cute striped hat can be worked in team colors, and while I might prefer a non-acrylic yarn for a summer hat, it would be fine when it’s not too hot outside (or try a cotton yarn instead). 

Claire Slade’s Sunlit Bucket Hat has an angled brim to help keep the sun out of your eyes. It’s worked from the bottom up using worsted weight cotton yarn, and comes in three sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Get a little air flow in your bucket hat with the Shady Bucket Hat from Wool & Beyond. This one uses DK weight yarn and an eyelet pattern throughout the body to keep it cool. It comes in sizes ranging from newborn to adult large, and is worked in one piece from the top down. You can grab the pattern (in English or Swedish) on Ravelry. 

If you’re looking for a fun, floppy sun hat for kids or adults, this pattern from Muki Crafts is a little more slouchy than a traditional bucket hat but it’s super cute. It comes in baby, toddler and bigger kid sizes and adult. I uses worsted weight yarn and is worked from the bottom up. 

Another variation on the classic bucket is this one that’s more of a cloche style. Made by branda, it uses bulky yarn so it’s more of a winter bucket hat, but now’s a fine time to knit it if you live somewhere that’s warm right now (or even more so if you live somewhere that’s cold right now). 

Another one to get you ready for colder weather is Tirmety, a two-layer bucket hat from ViTalina Craft, which has a textured stitch pattern on one side and stockinette on the other. You can wear either side out or even make them different colors if you want. The pattern is sized for toddlers, kids and adults. 

And if you want to add some extra cuteness to your bucket hat, I love this (of course totally optional but also totally adorable) embroidered deatila on the New York Bucket Hat from Pauline Fanguin. It uses two strands of DK weight yarn held together for extra sturdiness, and uses changes in needle size to shape the hat. Of course you could also knit stripes or use different textures of yarn to change up the look. This pattern is made to fit your head and is available in French and English.