Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

The Perfect Scarf to Knit for a Misty Morning

by

I love big scarves. If you have to go outside on a day when it’s cold and rainy or snowy or just cold even, wrapping a big scarf around your neck makes it a little bit better. 

The Misty Morning Scarf from ChiWei Ranck aka One Dog Woof is a great example of the type of scarf I mean — simple to knit, colorful and warm. This one is made with two strands of mohair blend yarn held together for extra coziness, and it’s worked on much larger needles than you would expect, so it’s a pretty quick project despite its size (finished as shown it measures 12.75 inches wide and 66 inches long).

It’s mostly stockinette stitch with little ridges of purls, which keeps the knitting fast and fun but a little bit interesting. This would be a great scarf pattern to have on hand for holiday knitting, and of course you could knit it with different fibers and at different gauges if you like.

You can grab the pattern on Ravelry.

If you’ve never worked with mohair before, here are some good tips from A Knit Sheep. Using big needles is one of the tips, which this pattern already does. They also recommend wooden needles to help combat the stickiness and slippery nature of this kind of yarn. Stitching slowly can make working with this slippery yarn a little easier, too.

I don’t know if this would technically qualify as a super scarf, but if you knit it even longer it definitely would be. If you’re looking for a more substantial super scarf to get you through the coldest winter days, check out this pattern.

Looking for more patterns using mohair? Check out the Fernanda Sweater, the Tirlo Tee, Lilitha Shawl or this cozy knit poncho pattern with lace panels. So many fun options!

[Photo: ChiWei Ranck]

 

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Coffee Cozy Knitting Patterns

During the summer (which is what it is where I am writing from) I like to share patterns for things that you can knit and use even when it’s warm out. And sometimes they are things you can use when it’s cold, too, like this collection of coffee cup cozies. Because hot coffee is a must almost any time of year. 

This simple pattern form Darling Jadore is a great one for beginners and could be a good first knitting in the round project. It uses worsted weight yarn and includes video tutorials if you need extra help. 

If you want a perfectly plain cozy that you can jazz up with your own designs, check out the Base Doodle Cup Cozy from Jamie Lomax. This free pattern on Ravelry comes in two sizes (short and long) and is meant to be used with her doodle charts to make it your own. You could also keep it plain, add stripes or design your own motifs to stitch on it. 

Most coffee cozy patterns that I see are just sleeves meant to go over travel mugs, but what if your mug has a handle? This pattern from Stacey’s Knit Wits has an I-cord loop and button so you can use it on a mug with a handle or a travel cup. It uses DK weight yarn.

Coffee cozies are a fun way to play with stitch patterns and learn new techniques. If you’ve never knit cables before, this cozy from Purple Wool Co. would be a great first cable project, as it features simple braided cables all the way around. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked in the round. 

Try double knitting to make an extra-insulating coffee cozy with this pattern from Tracy Leming. It includes little color changes so you can get the concept of how double knitting works on a small scale. It also can include a little pocket for a tea bag if you want. This one uses worsted weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Or try stranded knitting with the Love in the Air cozy from Danielle Thuen. It features hearts of different sizes and is worked in sock yarn. You’ll need to make sure those floats are nice and loose so it will stretch to hug your cup. You can find this pattern on Ravelry. 

They’re also a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise plain cup. KnitnKaboodle Designs has this lovely leaf-shaped cozy pattern, which you could use for hot or cold beverages by changing up the fiber you choose (that’s pretty much always true). It is made in pieces that are stitched together and can be worked in a single color or choose different colors for each leaf.