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.

Coffee Break Cowl

£6.50

Colour Block Cowl

£6.50

Equinox Cowl

£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

Cappuccino Cowl

£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

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.

New Year - New Socks

Wolf Moon socks - a new design released in January 2025

In a somewhat ambitious fit of enthusiasm I have decided to give full rein to my sock knitting this year. Finally releasing some of those designs that have been either on my needles or loitering among the pages of my knitting journal for far too long.

Because I love nothing more than a year-long project I decided to fully embrace the concept and release a new sock pattern for each New Moon of 2025. There will be a mixture of toe-up and cuff down designs and I will be aiming to include a few different heel and toe options - if you are the kind of knitter that likes to ring the changes. And I’m hoping there will be something to tempt even the most experienced sock knitter.

Wolf Moon - pictured above was released at the very end of December.

Snow Moon - pictured below is the latest release on 29 January

Snow Moon Socks

£6.50

The next one - Crow Moon - will be a toe-up design being published at the end of February.

Be sure to sign up to my email list to make sure you don’t miss a release. I normally offer an early bird price as well just for my email subscribers, so signing up ensures you won’t miss anything.