Introduction to Knitting a Shawl with Pockets: What You Need to Know
Knitting a shawl with pockets can be a fun, creative and practical project for beginner and experienced knitters alike. Pockets are a great feature to add to your knitting projects—not only do they look stylish, but they also provide a convenient place to keep small items such as keys or phone. With a few simple steps, you can easily learn how to knit one of these pocketed shawls!
You will need basic knitting supplies: circular needles in the size desired (a commonly used size is US 
and worsted weight yarn (which is good for blankets and scarves). You should have an understanding of some fundamental knitting techniques, such as casting on stitches, creating knit/purl stitches, increasing/decreasing stitches when necessary, binding off your finished product. You will also need scissors and safety pins or stitch holders to help keep track of your projects progress.
The process of knitting a pocketed shawl begins with choosing the right pattern- there are literally hundreds available online for free or on purchase websites like Etsy. Once you’ve selected one that captures your eye and meets your skill level, print it out if necessary so that you can easily reference throughout the project. Make sure to read through the entire pattern before beginning so that you understand all the elements involved- from the number of stitches needed at each step to which kind of increases should be used where. This will help make it easier once you start working on it!
Begin by casting on the number of stitches indicated by the pattern instructions- this will typically include more than what’s required for just pockets alone since those will require additional footage later down the line. Follow along with each row until all knitted work has been completed; typically this means doing rows with no pockets plus several rows featuring pocket shaping at certain points throughout- both front/back included! Finish up by using decrease methods specified in order to reduce stitch count back down one final time
Step-by-Step Guide for How to Knit a Shawl with Pockets
Materials:
-worsted weight yarn, about 1000 yards or 6 skeins
-circular knitting needles, US size 7 (4.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
-tapestry needle for weaving in ends
-stitch markers to mark the pockets
-yarn needle and thread to sew the pockets into place
Gauge: 18 sts x 24 rows = 4 inches (10cm), using stockinette stitch. Before you begin, it’s important to make a swatch so that you can measure your gauge.
Directions:
STEP 1: Cast on 178 stitches using your preferred method and place a marker at the start of the round. Knit in stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) until it measures 24 inches from cast on row. Place two stitch markers 10 inches apart – these are where your pocket openings will be placed later on. Just keep going with stockinette stitch for another 9 inches – this is your pocket section where you’ll be doing some shaping soon!
STEP 2: Now we’re ready to shape our pockets! The next 5 rows will decrease one stitch at each side before and after the pocket openings (marked by stitch markers). On this section of 5 rows, every other round K2tog before & after each marker; knit all even rounds between decreases with no changes. After those five decreases have been worked, continue knitting in plain stockinette for 13 more rounds (therefore creating 3 pockets each at 10 inch widths). Once finished knitting up till this point, our piece should measure 41inches from beginning of casting sts@step1.
STEP 3: Next we’ll bind off 12sts on each side of the pockets ahead of us which will create jersey waistband border around them; bind off sts
Finishing Touches: How to Attach the Pockets and Decorate Your Shawl
As you near the end of your knitting journey, it’s time to add the finishing touches that will take your shawl from a handmade craft project to a professional-level garment. Attaching pockets and decorating your shawl are essential techniques that can make all the difference in turning an ordinary piece of knitwear into something truly special.
To make sure your pocket looks neat, begin by carefully cutting two pieces of fabric to fit the size of your pocket. Place them right sides together and pin around the outer edge – a tailor’s awl may come in handy for this task. Sew around the outside using a reinforced stitch, leaving an opening at either side so that you can turn it with ease. Once turned, press before edging with bias binding or foldover tape.
When both pouch pockets are complete, try them against your shawl (or on yourself) for size and shape until you’re happy with how they hold up against gravity when worn. Starting at one side seam and then working across evenly spaced rows as predetermined, tuck each pocket underneath where it should be placed on either side of the front body of the garment. Aligning top edge and raw edges together, place pins through all three layers ensuring they join securely before pulling forward slightly onto wrong side of work beyond original row alignment length selected; this provides a good gapping spacing between pockets when viewed from right side so they sit below waistline correctly upon completion. Now sew carefully around entire circumference making sure to ‘catch & hold’ pocked sides addressing gaps 0f stitches within same perimeters: secure loops now centralised! This perfect combination not only fuses pocket & shawl perfectly but also ensures award-winning look every time ; box pleat effect offers ‘piped’ stability as wearer goes through daily motions without sleeve dropping or garment destabilizing… result = great fit plus recognisable respect from peers !
FAQs about Knitting a Shawl with Pockets
Q: What type of yarn should I use for knitting a shawl with pockets?
A: The type of yarn you should use will depend on what look and feel you are trying to achieve. Natural fiber yarns such as wool, alpaca, mohair and merino will result in a more traditional style shawl that is warm and has a bulky texture. If you want a lightweight option, then cotton, linen or bamboo can be used. For something that drapes nicely without being too heavy, acrylics or polyester blends work well. You may also want to consider the thickness of the yarn; thicker yarn means quicker knitting but larger end products!
Q: How long will it take to knit a shawl with pockets?
A: Depending on your experience level, the complexity of the design, and how fast you knit, a pocketed shawl could take anywhere from two hours to several days. It’s generally easier to start with a simpler pattern if you’re just getting started so that you can finish quickly before moving on to more complex designs. Of course, if time is not an issue for you—just enjoy the process!
Q: Do I need any special skills or tools to knit a shawl with pockets?
A: The basics needed for knitting a pocketed shawl are similar regardless of its design—casting on (or gathering stitches together), doing basic knit stitch patterns (stockinette stitch for example), increasing and decreasing stitches as required by the pattern (used to shape knitted items) and binding off (or finishing off). You would also need sharp scissors and tapestry needles to assemble each part of your project when necessary. As far as tools go —knitting needles in different sizes depending on your chosen yarn—shorter needles are convenient while longer circular ones are better suited for larger projects like pocketed shaws. Finally, using stitch markers might help keep
Five Fascinating Facts About Knitting a Shawl with Pockets
Knitting a shawl with pockets is an amazing and unique way to enjoy one of the oldest, most classic crafts. It combines traditional techniques with something as modern as adding pockets – making this type of garment truly one of a kind. Here are five fascinating facts about knitting shawls with pockets:
1. Knitting this style of shawl is highly versatile and customizable – the pocket can be the same color or pattern as the rest of the shawl, contrasting for added visual interest, or even omitted entirely for those who want a traditional look without any hidden surprises.
2. Adding a pocket to any project usually greatly increases its complexity by introducing additional stitch manipulation, but with these types of shawls you only need two extra rows after knitting your last row before shaping your shoulder in order to make the pockets!
3. A great benefit when using a pattern specifically designed for making shawls with pockets is that all necessary calculations will already be calculated for you, meaning you don’t need to guess how large the pockets should be in order to fit objects such as keys or cell phones securely!
4. In some instances you may find patterns offering options on where you plan to place your flat-bottomed pocket, allowing you more creative freedom so it appears exactly where you’d like it on your garment!
5. You have endless options when it comes to embellishing your garment – from adding contrast colors and design elements around the pocket opening, sewing fabric motifs over top of them, or even crocheting lace edgings around edges; these add further texture and intrigue while helping create breathtakingly unique pieces just waiting to be worn or gifted!
Conclusion: Why You Should Consider Knitting a Shawl with Pockets
Knitting is a creative and fun hobby that can produce amazing garments, home décor, and other small projects. If you’re looking for a project that is both stylish and functional, knitting a shawl with pockets may be perfect for you! Not only do pockets add an extra layer of warmth and practicality to the shawl, but they also look great in whatever style or pattern you choose. This project requires some intermediate experience in knitting, so if you’re relatively new to the craft it might not be the best choice.
Shawls with pockets are incredibly versatile and can be worn or used as a variety of accessory. They can range from fashion-forward wrap shawls to lightweight pocket scarves. Pockets can be added anywhere within the design so there’s no limit to versatility — pockets on the shoulder area keep your essentials close while keeping your hands free; lower pockets are just right for warming chilly digits or hide away an important item; interior faces provide maximum security of valuables against pickpockets; side seam compartments built for carrying coins, cards, or keys and many more creative possibilities.
Creating knitted shawls with handy pockets takes skillful knitting prowess combined with thoughtful construction techniques. If done correctly the entire piece will look like one continuous garment without any exposed seams showing on either side occasionally—an added plus when creating this kind of look is being able to use different colors on each side without sacrificing style or functionality!
In addition to being fashionable as well as functional for cold weather outerwear, knit shawls also make lovely gifts! While sewing times vary based on how quickly you work up your stitches (and fabric choice), these handmade creations are typically quite easy to create making them ideal presents throughout winter months!
In conclusion then: knitting a shawl with pockets isn’t just an enjoyable crafting opportunity but one that provides extra style points too—functional pieces become far more appealing when they
