Gift knitting is stressful, ain’t it? The good news is, everyone loves a cowl. (Girls, anyway.) So just like with last year’s holiday hat knitting cheat sheet, I’ve put together a little gift guide for you: fabulous patterns, and the ladies who’ll love them:
1. the academic: Inkling by Dianna Walla, a stately, timeless and seamless striped tube
2. the victorian lit lover: Imogen Cowl by Carrie Bostick Hoge, exquisite grafted lace
3. the city mouse: Warren Street Cowl by Michele Wang, understated geometric texture (See also: South Paris)
4. the country mouse: Big Herringbone Cowl from the Purl Bee, squishy textural bliss (free pattern)
5. the grande dame: Lowbrow Cowl by Thao Nguyen, a million times more elegant than its name
6. the vintage junkie: Pine Bough Cowl by Dianna Walla, truly amazing colorwork in another seamless tube (free pattern) (See also: Ticking Cowl)
7. the bon vivant: Hamanasu Cowl by Olga Buraya-Kefelian, the master of mind-bending stitchery
8. the globetrotter: Bogolan by Elizabeth Davis, a trio of two-sided, mud-cloth inspired patterns (thanks, Meg)
9. the traditionalist: Chalet Cowl by Yarn Garden, simply beautiful cables (See also: Cabled Cowl — free pattern)
10. the sophisticate: Kennebec by Dawn Catanzaro, beautifully proportioned brioche
Actually, that last one could work for anyone, depending on your yarn and color choice. So that might be the one you make a spare of, just in case.
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They’re all so beautiful.
Yes. They are all so beautiful!
This is a wonderful list. Thank you
For posting it.
Amazingly curated–I love them all!
Thanks for this wonderful post. I’ve been knitting Christmas gifts for a month and my inspiration was starting to dry up a bit. I’ve been knitting SO many hats.
Your post from last year tempts me though. I thought I was getting tired of hats…
Great suggestions!
YES!! Thank you, thank you – because cowls are exactly what my family is getting for the holidays and these are luscious. At the moment I’m thrilled to be knitting true moebius scarves (half twist) via a YouTube by Cat Bordhi (Moebus Scarf Tutorial.) However, can’t do one thing too long! These cowls and the hat post – oh yeah! Not to mention lovely early morning reading: the patterns and fantasizing the possibilities.
these are all so nice! :)
What a great list!! Thank you for the love, Karen! <3
You’re so welcome! I’m totally fascinated by this one.
These are all beautiful and I love the fun you’ve had in categorizing them. Your writing is as keen as your eye, Karen.
I’ve been making Xmas gifts too, in fact, for once, I started early, but more ideas are always welcomed, so thank you. (Though I want the Sophisticate for myself, ASAP. That color!)
I am already at work on a holiday cowl – Riverbank by Melissa Thomson. They are so simple and lovely and good for gifts! This is a great selection!
So many lovely cowls! Thank you for including Bogolan! ~Elizabeth
You’re welcome! I’m crazy for all those patterns.
Lovely selection!
Gorgeous collection KT! I can never decide whether being Aussie is a huge advantage because holiday knitting is pointless given it’s Summer, or totally disappointing not being able to be a part of all the goodness!
Yay cowl season is here! I’m so excited. That is all I have to say.
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I just down loaded the cowls,now where canifind the hats,that was mentioned
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Love this selection. Just wanted to point out though – you have Dianna Walla’s Pine Bough Cowl cited to Dianna Walls.
OMG I can’t believe nobody ever spotted that before! Sorry, Dianna!
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