Cooler weather is coming and time may not allow for a big knitting project. As knitters we do want to have something always on the needles. Little shawlettes might fit the bill. They don’t require a lot of yarn. They are easy to knit as take-along projects. They are useful in keeping our necks covered and warm.
After I knit the Sophie Scarf, I got into buying nice yarn and knitting short scarves. Any little scarf that ties up around the neck needs to be knit with a nice, soft yarn. I tried a few new cashmere blends which were all nice, but some were easier to knit with than others.
This is when I discovered Pascuali yarn. I used Pascuali for a couple of my little scarves and loved the outcome.
Now, I am getting ready to take a trip north and would love to bring some warm neck scarves. I’ll dig out the ones I made, and maybe look into starting a new project.
I’m listing some interesting patterns for quick knitting projects, with approximate yardage needed. If you have some yarn to use, maybe that will help with deciding on the pattern. Most of them look best in a solid color, unless noted.
Some Favorite Shawlette Knitting Patterns
Here is a list of some shawlette knitting patterns that are in my queue. Each link goes to the designer’s Ravelry page.
My favorite shawl and shawlette shape is crescent, but they can also be triangular or asymmetrical. Choose a yarn to match for warmth or for decoration.
Here is a short list of six little scarves, or shawlettes, that have caught my attention. All prices are US and were current at the time of writing – and are subject to change. Personally, I think that $10+ for a shawlette is asking too much.
- Alpine Aster Shawlette – (by Briana Arlene $8) Crescent shaped, takes 400 yards, light fingering yarn. Pattern directions are written and charted. Easy to medium difficulty. Two sides are knit and then grafted together.
- Dancing Droplet Skinny Scarf – (by Westknits $8.38) – Textured, 250 yards of DK weight yarn. He knit this with a fun, variegated yarn! Most knitters found this one very easy to knit.
- Riptide 135 Shawlette – (JST Designs $7.50) DK, 230 yards. Triangle shape, but not drastic. Easy to knit, from the ratings.
- Railings – (Woolenberry $10.18) A normal size, crescent shawl that can be made smaller. (Photo at the top of this post.)
- Azahar Scarf – (Azahar Knits $7) Cables scarf, DK weight, 100-300 yards.
- The Sage Scarf – (Violent Cat Lady) NEW and FREE pattern. Very cute – just came out as I was writing this blog post. For Aran / worsted yarn – 140 yards.
Sometimes finding a free pattern is great, and sometimes it can be a problem. Well known designers will offer them (great) and so can anyone (problem). Read my thoughts on free patterns here.
Yarn Ideas For a Shawlette
The first thing to consider for yarn when knitting a shawlette is softness. A small shawl does not take much yarn, so splurge on a soft yarn. Consider a cashmere or cashmere blend. A merino wool is a good choice, but stay away from rustic wool – like some of my favorites for sweaters – that will be too scratchy for the neck. Also be careful of a more fluffy mohair, which could be irritating. I did this, and regretted it when knitting the Railings scarf – where I added my own rows of mohair – not part of the pattern!
When choosing a yarn color, select solid colors to show off a textured pattern. Let all your knitting shine through. A variegated yarn will tend to take away from the details.
I personally don’t like cotton or acrylic, but it is completely up to you as the knitter. This is a list of more expensive and soft-feeling yarns. I’m listing the yardage per skein / ball.
- Woolfolk Tynd – Super soft Merino wool, fingering weight, 223 yard skeins. I’ve used this yarn and it is incredibly soft.
- Pascuali Cashmere – Light fingering, 122 yards.
- Knitting for Olive – Merino wool, 273 yards.
- CaMaRose Snefnug – Worsted / aran / bulky – 120 yards.
- Hedgehog Fibres DK – Merino – love the color selections – 218 yards.
- La Bien Aimee – Merino DK – 252 yards.
- Amano Eco Puna – Undyed baby alpaca, light DK – 273 yards.
- Ito Karei – a Japanese yarn, fine / light fingering – 191 yards
What are your thoughts on knitting little shawlettes? If you have a favorite pattern let us know in the comments.
