Take it Easy with the Oscillate Knit Shawl

The end of the year, for me, is all about looking back and looking ahead. It’s about comfort knitting, and comfort living. Simple projects that don’t require too much thinking, so I can use my mind to reflect on the year past and what I want for the year to come.

That may be why I decided last week I needed to cast on a simple top down raglan V-neck sweater. Like, right now.

If you don’t share that same urge to knit a sweater, might I suggest Oscillate by Vincent Williams?

This pretty shawl is worked in worsted weight yarn, and you’ll want to choose a pretty hand-dyed yarn if you have access to one, because part of the oscillation mentioned in the pattern’s name has to do with the subtle shifting of colors as you work through different stitch patterns and textures through the shawl.

It’s a simple boomerang shape that alternates between garter stitch and stockinette stitch for easy stitching but fun textures when you wear it. Because the stitches and the shape are easy you can also customize it to however much yarn you have or how large a shawl you want. If you know me, you know I want a huge one. As written it’s already good sized, though; the longest side is 75 inches (1.9 meters) and it is 17.75 inches (45 cm) deep.

You can wear it in all sorts of ways, from wrapping like a traditional shawl to curling around your neck like a cowl, or even wrapped around your head on chilly days.

The designer notes this one would be great for gift giving as well, which I’m sure is true, but I would knit one for myself first. It’s called pattern testing.

You can get your copy of this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Vincent Williams]

When I discovered Kate Atherley’s book Circular Knitting for Beginners and Beyond, I wasn’t sure there was enough to say about circular knitting to fill a book. It’s a pretty short book (144 pages) and includes 10 patterns to practice working in the round on small projects, and it provides a decent introduction to the various ways of working in the round.

The book covers using double pointed knitting needles, flexible double points and circular knitting needles with cables. It talks about working using the full circumference of a circular needle and various ways to work smaller circumference projects, such as using DPNs, magic loop and knitting with two circular knitting needles.

In addition there’s a discussion of preventing problems like twists and ladders, swatching in the round without actually swatching in the round, grafting, blocking and weaving in ends.

More specialized techniques likes knitting from the center out, stranded colorwork, helical knitting and jogless stripes are also explored, as well as working pieces like socks or mitts two at a time.

There’s also some information about seamless sweaters, including the different sweater designs that can be worked seamlessly (and why you might want seams in your sweaters) and how they are worked from the top down or the bottom up.

There are 10 patterns in the book, including a basic stockinette stitch cowl and one with a deliberate twist, wrist warmers, mitts and a pair of colorwork mittens, a hat worked in a solid color or in helical stripes, toe up and top down socks and a beret. It would have been nice to have a basic sweater pattern, too, since the book does talk about working larger garments with circular needles, but it’s still a nice collection of basic patterns worked in the round.

If you’re already comfortable working in the round in different ways, I’m not sure there’s much for you to learn in this book, but it is a good reference for people learning circular knitting or who maybe haven’t tried all the techniques yet or need skill building projects to try.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 10 patterns. Published 2026 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

Have you read?