Stretch Your Skills with This Brioche Shawl Knitting Pattern

I usually post knitting patterns that are relatively easy, not necessarily because I expect my audience is mostly beginners, but because knitters of all skill levels can potentially enjoy projects on the easier end of the skill level scale, especially when they have interesting design elements or details.

But every now and then I come across a pattern that’s decidedly not easy but is just so pretty I can’t resist sharing it for people who have those skills or want to learn those skills. (Remember: skill levels in knitting patterns do have specific meanings, but any pattern is doable as long as you can learn the skills involved.)

This is one of those “not easy but totally worth it” kinds of knitting patterns.

The String of Pearls shawl from Padma R. is a top down triangular shawl worked in brioche stitches in three colors. It also features cables and lace, but the designer has worked hard to make it approachable.

She notes in the pattern description on Ravelry that there are no complex cast ons or bind offs (though the bind off does include bobbles, there’s an option that doesn’t use them if you prefer). She also notes that shaping and patterning only occur on light color, right side rows, which leaves a lot of resting rows where nothing complicated is going on.

In addition, the pattern includes a 19-page photo tutorial to help you through the tricky bits, so it’s actually a good introduction to doing lace and cables in brioche (it’s a good idea to be familiar with brioche knitting and two-color brioche before you take this one on, though).

And while the name sounds like it was inspired by, well, pearls, the design was actually inspired by a plant called the string of pearls, which is a succulent that grows like a vine with round leaves that look like pearls. So fun!

You can grab a copy of this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Padma R.]

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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.

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