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Knit a Pretty Blossoming Wrap for Spring

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Sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to knit, and what knits to wear, when the weather starts changing. The good news is that spring is relatively unpredictable, and can go back and forth between warm and cold in the same week, or even the same day.

If you’re heading into spring (or fall) where you live, now’s a great time to make a shawl. This one, the Blossoming Wrap from Purl Soho, is especially nice because the textured stitches look like spring blooms on a branch (or maybe fall berries?).

The arc-shaped shawl, designed by Hiromi Glover, is worked in a bulky weight superwash wool yarn, which makes it quick to knit and easy to care for. Of course you can use whatever bulky yarn you have on hand, or even use a lighter weight yarn and just make the project bigger (the stitch multiple is included in the pattern so it’s easy to do just that).

The pattern repeats are surprisingly easy to work, and the texture is made with popcorn stitches, which are a little less fiddly than bobbles because you don’t have to turn the work to finish them.

Instructions are given both fully written out and with a chart so you can make it in whatever way is easiest for you.

You can find this pattern at Purl Soho.

Looking for more fun shawls to knit for spring? Here are a few I’ve shared in the past: Vibrance a triangle worked with sock yarn | a garter stitch triangle with textured edging | Adrift, an allover eyelet rectangle | Scrappy Bias, a great project for using up all your leftover bits or unused mini skeins

Summer shawls are great for those days when it’s more warm than not, so if you want to get a jump on a project you can use when it’s warmer, check out my collection of summer shawl knitting patterns, too.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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Coffee Cozy Knitting Patterns

During the summer (which is what it is where I am writing from) I like to share patterns for things that you can knit and use even when it’s warm out. And sometimes they are things you can use when it’s cold, too, like this collection of coffee cup cozies. Because hot coffee is a must almost any time of year. 

This simple pattern form Darling Jadore is a great one for beginners and could be a good first knitting in the round project. It uses worsted weight yarn and includes video tutorials if you need extra help. 

If you want a perfectly plain cozy that you can jazz up with your own designs, check out the Base Doodle Cup Cozy from Jamie Lomax. This free pattern on Ravelry comes in two sizes (short and long) and is meant to be used with her doodle charts to make it your own. You could also keep it plain, add stripes or design your own motifs to stitch on it. 

Most coffee cozy patterns that I see are just sleeves meant to go over travel mugs, but what if your mug has a handle? This pattern from Stacey’s Knit Wits has an I-cord loop and button so you can use it on a mug with a handle or a travel cup. It uses DK weight yarn.

Coffee cozies are a fun way to play with stitch patterns and learn new techniques. If you’ve never knit cables before, this cozy from Purple Wool Co. would be a great first cable project, as it features simple braided cables all the way around. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked in the round. 

Try double knitting to make an extra-insulating coffee cozy with this pattern from Tracy Leming. It includes little color changes so you can get the concept of how double knitting works on a small scale. It also can include a little pocket for a tea bag if you want. This one uses worsted weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Or try stranded knitting with the Love in the Air cozy from Danielle Thuen. It features hearts of different sizes and is worked in sock yarn. You’ll need to make sure those floats are nice and loose so it will stretch to hug your cup. You can find this pattern on Ravelry. 

They’re also a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise plain cup. KnitnKaboodle Designs has this lovely leaf-shaped cozy pattern, which you could use for hot or cold beverages by changing up the fiber you choose (that’s pretty much always true). It is made in pieces that are stitched together and can be worked in a single color or choose different colors for each leaf.