Fall and winter knitting doesn’t have to just be about cowls, scarves, and hats. Shawls are also perfect for fall or winter weather. Fall and winter shawls knit in a heavier yarn or tighter stitch pattern are very warm and cozy.
I talked about kite-shaped shawls (Halcyon Shawl and From Summer To Fall) in my previous two posts so I won’t cover those again here. They’re still great for this time of year. But as it gets colder outside I know I want something a little warmer.
Worsted Weight Shawls
The Moody Shawl is a triangular shawl and it is worked from the top down with increases at each edge and on either side of the centre spine. It uses three colours of worsted weight yarn and various stitch patterns to keep the knitting interesting. This also creates a pretty shawl with a nice variety of colour and pattern.
My original version of the Moody Shawl (shown above on the left) was knit in Black Cat Custom Yarn Let’s Get Worsted. The colours shown here are Void Talon, Foundry, and In The Navy. I knitted a second version (on the right) in Sweetgeorgia‘s Superwash Worsted in Tumbled Stone, Bison, and Cocoa.
And by the way, the Moody Shawl also has a sister pattern: The Moody Cowl. Check out the two versions I knitted in this post: A New Moody Cowl. It’s a great winter knitting project too!
DK Weight Fall And Winter Shawls
Here are two perfect DK weight shawls for this time of year. Texture & Colour is an asymmetrical shawl in three colours of DK weight yarn. And the Indulgence Wrap is a rectangular shawl also in a DK weight yarn.
Texture & Colour uses three colours of Plucky Knitter Cozy. The colours used here are Mums The Word, Choo Choo, and Wintry Mix.
The Indulgence Wrap was originally designed and is shown here in Lush DK from Red Sock Blue Sock Yarn. The colour shown here is Storm. Unfortunately it is discontinued. It’s a silk and merino blend and a perfect substitute could be Malabrigo Silky Merino. I’ve been wanting to knit myself another Indulgence Shawl in Silky Merino for a very long time. Maybe this winter it will actually come to fruition!
Substituting Heavier Yarns
Some shawl patterns are suited to changing up the weight of the yarn used. The triangular asymmetrical shawl style is especially great for this. The shape grows sideways as it’s knit so you can use any weight of yarn. Experiment with different yarn weights and needle sizes to get a nicely draping fabric and then knit away until the shawl reaches your desired size.
Three examples of sideways asymmetrical patterns are: The Eyelet Chain Shawl, Lovely Eyelets and 8 Simple Stripes. Choose a heavier yarn and a little larger needle and follow the pattern as written.
Free Shawl Patterns For Fall and Winter
And finally, here are some free shawl patterns. The first two are both done in a DK weight yarn. The Truly Triangular and Totally Triangular Scarves are easy to knit and completely free!
If you’re interested in experimenting with a free shawl pattern try a heavier yarn and larger needle on the free Dappled Shawl pattern or Blended Shawl pattern. These two patterns are written for fingering/sock yarn but are easily adaptable to heavier yarns.
The Blended Shawl pattern is hugely popular and knitters often ask if it can be made in heavier yarns. The answer is absolutely yes! I’m knitting one in DK weight yarns right now and I’ll be sharing it with you soon in a new post.
Enjoy your fall and winter knitting!