5 Giftable Colorwork Projects

The abrupt turn to colder weather had me rooting through my yarn stash, selecting potential skeins to pair with patterns for gifting this winter. If you’re looking to do some stash-busting of your own, might I suggest considering some colorwork projects?

In the cold gray landscape of the winter, bright pops of knitted color are a welcome sight. I always love knitting with color while snow falls outside. And, as an added benefit, you may be able to use up more yarn by knitting with two (or perhaps even three!) colors from your stash instead of just one.

To that end, Interweave has put together a delightful collection of five colorwork projects that is just perfect for gifting this season. As you start on your holiday knitting, consider giving one (or more!) of these patterns a try.

Slippery Slope Socks

Who doesn’t love getting socks? Especially gorgeous, handknit socks made in cozy, soft wool yarn. General Hogbuffer’s Slippery Slope Socks from Interweave Knits Spring 2016 use slip-stitch colorwork to create solid lines of colors that move over a striped background, forming a hypnotically colorful design. We knew we had to include at least one pair of socks in this collection, and these are the perfect thing to add to your gifting list!

Pipette Hat

For something simple and modern, consider knitting the Pipette Hat by Interweave’s very own Laura Hulslander. This hat was originally published in Interweave Knits Winter 2020, which itself featured many gorgeous colorwork patterns. This hat uses tuck-stitch welts in different colored yarn, giving the pattern both texture and color. It’s worked in worsted-weight yarn from the bottom up, making it a quick and easy colorwork project!

Silver City Shawl

If you’ve got a little more time for knitting, consider a larger project like Fiona Munro’s Silver City Shawl from Interweave Knits Summer 2019. This gorgeous wrap uses 100% highland wool, making it perfect for cuddling up with on chilly winter days. Narrow bands of garter-stitch edging on either end add some texture, while the repeating stranded-colorwork motif on the body makes this pattern straightforward to knit.

Quiet Nights Cowl

Enjoy more slip-stitch colorwork with the Quiet Nights Cowl by designer Jennifer Miller Comstock. Worked in the round from the bottom up, this lovely little cowl is knit in 100-percent superwash Merino wool using a two-color slip-stitch pattern that has one color seeming to dance over the other. Originally published in Interweave Knits Fall 2019, this is also a wonderful colorwork project for winter.

Moby Hat

Fresh off the pages of Interweave Knits Fall 2020, Amy Gunderson’s Moby Hat combines crossed stitches with stranded-colorwork in two shades of stunning, self-shading yarn. You’ll work this cozy beanie in the round from the bottom up in 100% Merino wool, with the result that this hat is deliciously warm for winter. This is a great project for knitters looking for a little more challenge in their colorwork projects.

What are your favorite colorwork projects? Let us know in the comments, and, as always,

Happy Knitting,
Julia

Originally published 9/11/2020. Updated 9/14/2021.

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