The Garter Stitch Scarf, Made Prettier

I’d guess just about every knitter has at one point or another knit a garter stitch scarf. It’s often one of the first things you knit because it’s an easy way to get comfortable with forming the knit stitch. You don’t have to think about shaping or even how much you’ve knit or how much you have left to knit because you can just keep going until it’s a good length, or you’re bored or run out of yarn.

But this take on the garter stitch scarf from NobleKnits shows you that the plain old garter stitch scarf doesn’t have to be abandoned as soon as you learn how to purl. This is still an easy project, but the yarn choice — a “railroad” yarn with a strand of wool running through the “track” for extra stability — makes it look fancier than it is.

Because this is a novelty yarn it’s a little harder to see your stitches than a plain wool would be, so I wouldn’t recommend it for your first knitting project, but when you’re on garter stitch scarf two or three and are looking for something a little different but still dead simple, this is the one for you.

[Photo via NobleKnits.]

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

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