Stitch Up a Cowl Full of Color and Texture

Some patterns just look like they would be amazing stash busting projects. I know the vast majority of the time designers make a project with a particular yarn for a reason, and knitters tend to like having more information about the yarn used in a pattern than “some random stuff I found in my stash.”

All of that is true of the Ellensburg Cowl pattern from Blue Sky Fibers, too, but when I look at this project I see a stash buster.

It’s hard not to imagine all your little odd balls going into this generous cowl, which features slipped stitches, stripes, textured stitch patterns and a bit of stranded knitting, too.

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, including one hank that’s about 123 yards and a bundle of colors, each of which is only 12 yards, so it would be easy to find odd balls and leftovers in your stash to make this project with. In all it uses eight colors, and makes a cowl that measures about 9 inches high and 45 inches long. That size is perfect for wearing as one long loop or twisted around your neck twice for extra warmth.

It uses a size 8 US circular knitting needle and is rated for advanced beginners.

This kind of project is super inspiring to me as a designer and a person with a lot of stash I want to use, because it shows you how a bunch of different colors can look harmonious in the same project. Of course that’s easier when you’re using a bundle of yarn that’s made to coordinate, but you can do it with balls from your stash as well.

This pattern is available as a free download (but you will need to set up an account to download it) from Blue Sky Fibers.

[Photo: Blue Sky Fibers.]

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.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply