Knit a Cowl Using Simple Mosaic Designs

Mosaic knitting is such a fun and easy technique and a great way to do repeating graphic colorwork designs in two colors. It makes projects look more complicated than they are, and it’s really fun and pretty fast to knit this way, since you’re slipping stitches to make the pattern.

The Edda Cowl from Mieka John is a great way to get a lot of mosaic colorwork practice if you’ve never tried it before. It’s worked in sport weight yarn with two mosaic sections separated by garter ridges. Another garter ridge at the end gives you a place to join the cowl into a loop.

You have the option of knitting the pattern flat or in the round as a tube. If you knit it as a tube, you have to purl every other round because the mosaic pattern is worked in garter stitch. If you knit it flat you need to sew the side seam along the length of the cowl to turn it into a tube. In both instances you need to graft in garter stitch to attach the short ends to each other. You’ll also need to work a provisional cast on.

The pattern includes two sizes, for kids and adults. If you want to use a heavier weight yarn on the project you could try making the child’s size with DK or worsted weight yarn so it doesn’t end up so much wider than was intended. Mosaic patterns are usually pretty easy to alter if you want to make it a custom width or length, too.

The pattern is available on Ravelry.

Looking for more fun mosaic knitting patterns? I have a roundup of mosaic knitting projects you can try. It includes socks, a sweater, blanket, bag and more. And speaking of mosaic knit blankets I can’t resist sharing the Mosaic Diamonds Blanket pattern again because it’s such a beauty!

[Photo: Mieka John]

One of my favorite things to make on a circular knitting machine is scarves, because they’re a great way to use leftover yarn and certainly faster than knitting by hand.

But if you pay attention to the colors you’re using and how you are using them, you can make fun knitting machine scarves that look like something different when you roll them up.

One of the first versions of this I saw was the sushi scarf, are there are a lot of variations on this one. For example this one from Flower and Anchor that uses five colors of yarn, or this one from Three Threads NE that uses four. These generally are made to look like California rolls, but you could change up the colors to make them different things if you like. Just make sure the outside of the “roll” is black or green to indicate the nori. I found another version on Pinterest if you’re looking for a free pattern, but there’s no image of it rolled up.

Another popular variation is making a scarf that rolls up to look like a mug with coffee, tea or another fun beverage inside. This collection of three mug scarf circular knitting machine patterns from Idaho Cottage Creation includes green tea, a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and a candy cane colored confection (which honestly reminds me of the Grinch since it has a green mug!). Again you can change the colors of the mug part and the drink part. The little handle looks like it’s crocheted on these, and it doubles as a loop you can thread the scarf end through when you wear it.

Again there’s a version of the green tea scarf on Pinterest with crocheted elements. I also found a latte done with a striped yarn and a red mug that’s pretty cute and gives you an idea what a different beverage would look like.

I also love this pumpkin pie scarf designed by Jodi Favish Saunier. It has a bit of crocheted edging to give it a fancy crust but you can omit that if you don’t crochet. These are all on Facebook but she also has a watermelon and lemonade pattern that are super cute.

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