Super Easy Lace Scarves

A scarf is a great place to start if you’re new to lace knitting because it’s small and quick to complete and usually uses the same, small, repeating stitch pattern throughout.

My Razor Shell Scarf uses a two-row repeat, and one of those rows is straight purling, so it’s about as easy as lace knitting gets. I also love the Zig Zag Lace Scarf, but it’s repeat is 16 rows and there’s action on both sides of the work, so it’s not ideal as a first lace project.

Here are some other ideas if you’re looking to get started on a quick and easy lace project. Fuschia12’s Easy Lace Scarf is as easy as lace knitting gets, just repeating yarn overs an knit two togethers. This one can be finished in no time with any pretty yarn from your stash and would be a great little quick gift, too. Ox Knit’s version is the same but with a row of straight knitting added between the eyelet rows. And Hockey Mom Knits has another one with a little garter stitch border on it that’s worked with stockinette as the base. Any of these versions is cute!

Turvid’s One Row Lace Scarf is another great option for new lace knitters, and it gives a pretty ladder effect.

Nancy J. Thomas’ Easy Lace Scarf is a little more complicated, for when you’re ready for some of those sk2p decreases we talked about yesterday. This one also has both written instructions and a chart if you’re ready to start working on chart reading.

Looking for more lace Scarfs? Check out these knitted lace scarf patterns on Etsy.

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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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