The cold is coming. Your needles are ready. Here are five projects that will have you casting on this weekend and wearing the results before the really cold nights arrive.
There is something about the approach of winter that makes a knitter sharpen their focus. Summer is for dreaming about projects. Autumn is for actually finishing them.
These five picks are chosen because they are genuinely achievable before the temperature drops. None of them require advanced techniques. All of them will earn their place in regular rotation through the colder months. And every single one has been paired with yarn from our studio that we think makes it something really special.
1. Terrazzo Sweater by Petite Knits
A top-down raglan turtleneck in DK weight with mohair held alongside for warmth and halo
Yarn: Prosper DK + Mint 100% Superwash Merino held alongside our kid mohair silk Mint for a dreamy halo effect
Pattern: Terrazzo Sweater on Ravelry
The Terrazzo Sweater is the kind of garment that earns permanent wardrobe status. It is worked from the top down, which means you knit the yoke first and then work down through the body and sleeves in the round. The construction is logical and satisfying once you get into it, and the turtleneck at the end is a lovely finishing touch that knits up much faster than it looks.
We love this one in our Prosper DK held together with a strand of Mint mohair. The mohair wraps around the merino as you knit and creates a soft halo in the finished fabric. The kind of sweater that feels like being wrapped in something extra lush. It is a considered project rather than a quick one, but it is completely achievable before the cold properly sets in if you cast on now.
2. Sophie Hood by Petite Knits
A bonnet and scarf in one, worked tip to tip in garter stitch with i-cord edges
Yarn: Beaut + Mint or Prosper DK
Pattern: Sophie Hood on Ravelry
The Sophie Hood has been one of the most popular knits on Ravelry and Instagram for good reason. It sits somewhere between a hood and a scarf, wrapping over the head and hanging down the front. The construction is tip to tip in garter stitch, which means the same stitch throughout, back and forth, with the shape built in through simple increases and decreases.
Our kit comes with everything you need including the pattern, stitch markers to track your increases and decreases, and a tapestry needle for finishing. You can choose between our Beaut Merino Singles held alongside a strand of Mint for a luxurious halo version, or our Prosper DK for a clean, crisp finish that shows every stitch beautifully. Both are gorgeous. The choice comes down to whether you want a soft cloud of mohair or a more defined texture.
3. November Balaclava by Petite Knits
A fisherman's rib balaclava worked top-down and held with mohair for the Brush version
Yarn: Brushtail + Mint 80% Merino, 20% NZ Possum held alongside Mint mohair for a deeply warm and fuzzy finish
Pattern: November Balaclava on Ravelry
Balaclavas had a moment and then became genuinely indispensable, which is exactly what should happen to good things. The November Balaclava by Petite Knits has a feminine fit that covers the ears and the back of the head without overwhelming the face. It is worked in fisherman's rib, which we think is a deeply satisfying stitch to knit once you get the rhythm of it and creates a fabric with exceptional stretch and warmth.
The Brush version is knitted holding a strand of mohair alongside your main yarn, which gives the finished balaclava a softness that you have to touch to believe. We are pairing this one with our Brushtail, a blend of 80% Merino and 20% New Zealand possum. Possum fibre has a hollow core, which makes it extraordinarily light and warm at the same time. Held with a strand of Mint mohair, the result is a balaclava that feels as good as it looks. A note on sizing: the pattern instructs you to wash the balaclava before wearing as the fisherman's rib grows to its correct size.
4. Cocoon Chokki by Noriko Ichikawa
A top-down seamless relaxed fit vest with a wide mock neck and cocoon silhouette
Yarn: Prosper DK 100% Superwash Merino in DK weight - soft, reliable and available in a beautiful range of colourways
Pattern: Cocoon Chokki on Ravelry
Chokki is a nostalgic Japanese word for vest, and this one earns its name. The Cocoon Chokki has a wide, gently oversized silhouette that drapes over the shoulders and body in a way that looks effortless. The mock neck is generous without being overwhelming, and the construction is seamless and top-down, which means no sewing up at the end.
This is one of those versatile pieces that works over everything. A shirt, a roll neck, a fine tee on a mild day. In our Prosper DK Superwash Merino it will be warm enough for New Zealand temperatures while being light enough to layer freely. The pattern has nearly 500 projects on Ravelry and a rating of 4.9 out of 5, which tells you everything you need to know. Pick a colourway you love and just start.
5. Paris Toujours by Isabell Kraemer
A garter and lace shawl designed to be knitted in a weekend, available in DK or fingering weight
Yarn: Legend DK 60% Merino, 20% Silk, 20% Yak - warmth, drape and a subtle natural sheen that makes this shawl exceptional
Pattern: Paris Toujours on Ravelry
Paris Toujours was designed at a knitting retreat in Paris over a single weekend with the explicit goal of being finished before the wine ran out. A challenge we can get behind! It is a big, drape-y shawl with alternating stripes of garter stitch and simple lace, and it is the kind of pattern that carries you along rather than demanding constant attention.
We are pairing this one with our Legend DK, a blend of 60% Merino, 20% Silk and 20% Yak. The yak brings warmth and depth of colour and is as soft as cashmere. The silk adds a quiet sheen and drape that makes the finished shawl move beautifully when you wear it. The DK version uses approximately 750 yards, which makes this a two to three skein project depending on your colourway choice. A shawl in Legend DK is the kind of thing you reach for every day from now until Spring.
Looking for a Kits
A few of these projects have kits available to buy right now. Others are on the way, and we are working through them as fast as we can. If you want to start on the Terrazzo Sweater, November Balaclava, Cocoon Chokki or Paris Toujours before the kit is ready, come and see us in store or send us a message. We love putting together custom bundles and making sure you have everything you need before you cast on.
New to knitting? If any of these projects have you wanting to learn or brush up on your skills, we run beginner knitting lessons right here in our Ponsonby studio. Small groups, friendly atmosphere, and you leave knowing exactly how to get started.
Click here to register your interest in a lesson
Whichever project you choose, we hope it brings you those quiet, satisfying hours that good knitting always does. The yarn is here. The season is right. All you need to do is cast on.
