5 reasons to knit a cowl

I know that shawls get a lot of attention and I am a complete sucker for a cute asymmetric shawl at the best times but bear with me here.

Often overlooked but super practical, the humble cowl has a few significant advantages over it’s larger, flouncier cousins.

It is easier to style (at least in my opinion): There is no need for advanced scarf drapery or tutorials on how to wear it. Also no loose dangly ends to dip in your coffee or catch on passing doorhandles. In my imagination I am serene, elegant and free of such obstacles, in real life - not so much.

Knit either way: One of the main advantages for me is that for most designs they can either be knit sideways (flat and then seamed, or with a provisional cast on) or they can be knit in the round. Both have their pros and cons but I enjoy their adaptability in this regard. Knitting flat and then seaming gives you the advantage that you can knit until you are happy with the length - perfect if you only have 1 skein of an aran weight yarn for example.

It is far easier to wear a single loop (slightly snug) cowl than it is to knit it in the round, miscalculate the number of stitches needed and end up with a thin, narrow tube around your neck 😂

Easily adjustable: shawls require a certain commitment in terms of the amount of yarn needed if you are to avoid trying to style an impossibly small triangle. Cowls offer a lot more flexibility and it is easier to calculate your yarn requirements in advance as your stitch count will remain the same throughout the project.

Working on a smaller scale: I love that cowls provide a smaller canvas for a pattern. It can be a really useful opportunity to assess how a given design drapes or works. The same is true of hats too but it is easier to wear a ‘slightly too drapey’ cowl. No one really wants to wear a baggy hat.

Less bulk: As someone who often wears a winter coat but strongly dislikes the feeling of too much bulk I really appreciate a snug, single-loop cowl on cold days. Whereas shawls can end up bunched under my chin, a cosy cowl knit in butter soft yarn is nothing but comforting (and warm).

How about you - do you prefer a cowl or a shawl?

I’ve added my favourite patterns below, but if you want to try out any of them for yourself all my cowl patterns currently have a 20% discount on my website - or use code COWL25 on Ravelry.

Sale

Coffee Break Cowl

Sale Price: £5.20 Original Price: £6.50

Sale

Colour Block Cowl

Sale Price: £5.20 Original Price: £6.50

Sale

Equinox Cowl

Sale Price: £5.20 Original Price: £6.50

Take the easy option

Don’t get me wrong, we all love a challenge from time to time. But there’s nothing wrong with going for the easier option every now and again.

If you have always admired the look of colourwork but felt slightly intimidated by it I know exactly how you feel. The thought of having to hold two strands of yarn at the same time, not to mention following a complex chart can be enough to make the bravest of souls think twice.

But this cunning, slip stitch pattern avoids the need for all that and creates a lovely intricate texture whilst only holding 1 strand of yarn per round.

Ideal for stashbusting too

The yarn I used for this sample is the beautiful West Yorkshire Spinners Fable Brushed Aran - a beautiful, slightly fuzzy blend of wool, alpaca and mohair.

But the entire, single-loop cowl only takes 80g aran weight yarn - making it perfect for using up those leftovers in your stash

Sale

Cappuccino Cowl

Sale Price: £5.20 Original Price: £6.50

Why summer is the perfect time to start a blanket

Hear me out - I know that traditionally the summer months (here in the northern hemisphere) are generally warm and not conducive to heavier knits. But have you ever thought that actually the summer is the perfect time to start a knitted blanket project.

You have plenty of time to plan and peruse your colour scheme. And then, when you start work on it, it’s pretty small and lap-sized at first. Then, when the colder months roll around it is getting to be the perfect size to snuggle underneath while you work on it - you already have a head start on your cosy winter knitting project.

Clever eh?

I remember thinking this back in 2020 when I knit my enormous Temperature Blanket. I was working a corner to corner rectangle so for the first few months (Jan-Mar) it was tiny and the rows super short. It was only once I got to the full width (Apr-Sep) that I realised that all of the full width rows would have to be done while the weather was at it’s hottest.

Not my smartest move and if I’m honest I fell behind quite a lot. Luckily I was able to catch up and did finish the project by Dec 31st - but next time around I would definitely do it differently.

If you want to plan your very own Temperature Blanket there is no rule that says you have to start in January. You could always start right now - or you could do some forward planning ready for the New Year.

Temperature Blanket eBook

£7.50

This is where my e-book comes in. This 19 page e-book contains tips, suggestions and resources such as:

• Working out a temperature scale

• Yarn choice

• Estimation of yardage

• Size and gauge

• Choosing colours

• Ideas for construction

It is essentially the guide I wish I had, before I started knitting 😂

Because Kindles like to be cosy too

Well, why not.

Sometimes we just want a project that is simple, straightforward and fun - and I think this cute little Kindle Sock manages to be all 3.

Knit using leftover sock yarn (fingering weight), it’s ideal for playing with colour or stripes or any kind of pattern you care to think of.

Essentially it is knit as a long tube, closed at both ends, you then fold it in half to create a simple, reversible pouch. The double layer of fabric giving some handy extra protection against accidental knocks whilst in your handbag.

And even better, the fact that the tube is closed means that you don’t even have to bother sewing in your yarn ends - they will safely be tucked away inside, free from prying eyes.

Kindle Sock

£3.00

Simple ways to make your knitting more sustainable

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking about the big changes when it comes to sustainability. To focus on the cars we drive, the flights we take (or don’t), the food we eat. But as others have repeatedly said, millions of people taking millions of tiny actions can have a significant impact, even if those changes are really, really tiny.

And our crafting and hobbies are no exception. Yes you can go for the full-on, raise your own sheep and spin your own yarn approach, but for most people that’s simply not realistic. Instead it is far better to focus on tiny changes that you can implement gradually and in doing so have a consistent, cumulative and positive effect on the environment.

A few simple things to think about:

1. Air miles. Using yarn that hasn’t been shipped halfway around the world is an obvious starting point. Yarn produced in your own country will have less of a carbon impact and if it is produced close to you then so much the better.

2. Support producers who are actively trying to reduce plastic use and who are committed to reducing their carbon impact. Most reputable sellers will include this information on their websites and if in doubt you can always ask them. Eden Cottage Yarns here in the UK is very forthright for example about the fact they are committed to being as plastic free as possible and all of their goods are shipped in recycleable paper products.

3. When buying yarn tell the vendor you don’t want or need the additional ‘treats’ that are often included and which often just get thrown away. Sweeties, teabags, pens etc are not required and just add to waste. Do you really need yet another organza bag with your purchase or a tube of sweets?

4. Use what you have. It seems as though we often forget the simple ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra but it’s effective for a reason. Shopping from your stash first before hitting the online cart, or maybe frogging something you never wear and reusing the yarn are both far more environmentally supportive actions than buying new. Also consider a yarn swap party with friends if you feel that your stash needs a freshen up.

5. Avoiding acrylic yarns is always a slightly contentious one to include, being mindful of everyone’s budgets and constraints. Using natural fibres is a more sustainable choice, in general, but some of the processing required commercially to turn banana fibre into yarn (for example) is extremely intensive and arguably as environmentally damaging as the production of acyrilc fibres especially if the former is shipped from overseas. It is a delicate balancing act and not as simple as ‘avoid acrylic’. It pays to do your research as a consumer and find out exactly where your yarn comes from and how it is made, and not to assume that something labelled natural is automatically better. In addition many yarn brands now are looking at making yarn from recycled fibres and some of these are well worth a look.

There is no denying that it is a complex area and it is tempting to just throw up your hands and do nothing. There are no shortage of people who will jump in to criticise your choices anyway or to point out that you are ‘typing this on your smart phone’.

Anything to do with climate change has a habit of attracting the naysayers who segue seamlessly from ‘our changes are too small to make an impact’ to ‘well, it’s too late to do anything about it anyway’.

It isn’t too late.

Any change however small is helpful.

We can all play a part.

What tiny changes have you made in your knitting? Do let me know in the comments and let’s share our ideas and contributions.

Have you ever knit a Princess Sole?

The Crow Moon socks featuring a princess sole and a garter stitch, short row heel

Have you ever knit a pair of socks with a princess sole before?

A Princess Sole is where you purl the stitches for the underside of the sock rather than knit them. This means that instead of walking on the side of the fabric that has the ‘purl bumps’ you instead have the smooth stockinette fabric against your foot.

Some people who have sensory issues with handknit socks find that this type of sole suits them much better. For myself, I don’t normally find it to be a problem except occasionally with a yarn that has a very firm, high twist.

Either way, it is a useful trick to have in your sock knitters bag of tricks. Although I feel as though I should give you fair warning and say upfront that it does mean you’ll spend more time purling in the round than you might like.

Purling the sole stitches is a straighforward practice although it does take a little bit of getting used to, especially if you are a longer term knitter used to doing a traditional sole. And if you have delicate tootsies it might well be worth a try.

Crow Moon Socks

£6.50

The Crow Moon socks are designed with a Princess Sole in mind and have a slipped stitch demarcation between the purled sole and the textured upper part.