This post is part of the Fall Shawl Together, a collaborative featuring great shawl-related content from designers, bloggers, and podcasters. We’re featuring a new week, now – December. You can check out all the posts on the Fall Shawl Together Project Page and show us what you’re working on by tagging your shawl projects! #shawltogether

In my part of the world, fall is the perfect time of year to wear shawls. It’s not always cold enough to wear a sweater or a coat, but sometimes you still need something to take that edge off. And if you’ve been knitting for any length of time you’ve probably been encouraged (ahem… coerced, peer pressured, persuaded) into knitting a shawl. If not, remind me to tell you about them sometime– they’re super fun to knit, usually involve interesting construction, fun patterns and sometimes some color play.But if you’re anything like me, figuring out how to wear shawls can be tricky. If you flip through the latest fashion magazine or your favorite Pinterest inspiration boards you won’t likely see anyone wearing a shawl. A cowl or scarf? Perhaps. But that doesn’t always translate. You’ve invested all this time knitting something beautiful but you want it to actually look beautiful when you put it together with an outfit. To help, I’ve compiled 6 great shawl looks and some bonus tips to make your hand knit shawls part of your fall style.

Look 1: Wear a shawl like a shrug

Kristine is shown here wearing her Caritas shawl. It’s a semi circular shawl that can be worn in many ways, but I think it looks especially nice worn as a shrug with the ends tied behind. I also love how the pinks tones in the shawl highlight the pops of pink in Kristine’s top, socks & earrings. It really brings the outfit together.

Tip: Choose a shawl in a similar color family as your favorite accessories to tie your outfit together.

Find Kristine on Instagram as kdlb & Yarnings Podcast

Look 2: Kerchief style with ends tucked

This is my personal favorite way of wearing shawls. It’s usually referred to as kerchief or bandana style. I love that it’s quick and doesn’t take much adjusting throughout the day. I put the point of a triangular shawl (or the widest part of a crescent shaped shawl) in front and tuck the ends underneath. I usually secure the ends with a shawl pin, clip or sometimes a stitch marker (in a pinch). 

Tip: Wear clothes and a shawl that are all neutral and then add splash of color with your shoes or jewelry.

Tip: If you wear a lot of plain colors (especially for tops), consider choosing yarn(s) for a shawl project that are bright and saturated. Even if you rarely wear a color like hot pink, adding it (especially in combination with other colors you’re more comfortable with) can be a great way to expand your horizons without stepping too far outside your comfort zone.

Find Jen on Instagram as BostonJen1

Look 3: Kerchief style with ends exposed

This look is similar to the last, though notice how Coralie has tied her shawl with most of the body of the shawl in front, but with the ends woven through and tied. I think this really makes the most of this shawl’s colors and textures. I also love that, set over a very neutral outfit, the addition of the peach adds some warm color up near Coralie’s face.

Tip: A shawl, especially with more than one color, adds a little something extra to an otherwise monochromatic outfit.

Find Coralie on Instagram as Cool_cocotte

Look 4: Shawl meets Scarf

Emilia is wearing her Lintilla by Martina Behm. I love how you can see the beautiful curve of the shawl in the front but the ruffled, long edges also look beautiful as they stream down her torso. The red in the scarf brings a bright pop of red close to her face and ties in the colors in her outfit nicely. The overall effect is similar to a scarf, but as we knitters know- knitting a shawl, even a narrow one is just that much more interesting than knitting a scarf! So go with what works for you.

Find Emilia on Instagram as Emilcarv1963

Tip: Look through your closet to see what colors you wear most. Choose yarn for a shawl based on what colors you’re drawn too and are likely to easily mix and match with multiples things already in your closet.

Look 5: The Sideways Shawl

Wearing your shawl with the majority of the fabric draped to one side is a beautiful look. Stacie looks lovely with her Tan House Brook shawl over an otherwise simple dress. You can tuck the ends of the shawl under and pin them to keep them out of sight.

Find Stacie on Instagram as muststashsheep & the Must Stash Video Podcast

As an alternative, you could wrap or tie the ends of the shawl around on the opposite shoulder to add a little visual interest on both sides while maintaining and asymmetrical look.

Tip: Use a shawl pin to hold the shawl in place and to replace the need for jewelry (or to add a little extra bling to your outfit).

Look 6: Go Traditional

While there are lots of ways to wear shawls, let’s not discount the traditional, shoulder-wrap look. It’s classic for a reason, and with stunning yarn and pattern combinations it won’t look anything like the ads and patterns you’ve seen in your grandmother’s magazines! What an easy way to dress up a simple outfit and make it something memorable (while also keeping you snug and warm)!

Find Lorna on Instagram as winky52

I hope these tips give you some new ideas and inspiration for incorporating your handmade shawls into your everyday style this season! Please come share how you wear shawls by posting on Instagram with #fallshawlstyle.

Jennifer Lassonde is knitter and designer. She hosts the Down Cellar Studio Podcast where she shares her love of knitting and other crafty pursuits (like sewing, scrapbooking and photography). Check out Jen’s blog for knitting, photography and family fun related articles.

This post is part of the Fall Shawl Together, a collaborative project featuring great shawl-related content from designers, bloggers, and podcasters. We’re featuring a new post each week, now – December. You can check out all the posts on the Fall Shawl Together Project Page  and show us what you’re working on by tagging your shawl projects!  #shawltogether

Not long ago, Cate dropped a little email in my inbox about the Fall Shawl Together, which is a wonderful idea!  From last month until December, the Shawl Together page will be updated with lots of great bloggers posting about different aspects of knitting and shawls.

This week, is the turn of the shape of the shawl.

Which do you prefer?  Why?  And do you prefer to knit one shape, but prefer to wear another?  It’s very interesting to hear how this small decision can divide a group of knitters before even choosing your colours.

The most common shape to crop up when searching for shawls on Ravelry, and the one you probably knit first, is the good ol’ triangle.  The first shawl I knit was the ‘Age of Brass & Steam‘ Kerchief by Orange Flower Yarn.  It was simple, it was a trangle, I figured it wouldn’t make me cry.

Not that all triangual shawls are simple! For example, Rosemary Hill creates magnificent shawls, through the whole scpectrum of difficulty.  Saying that, my favourites are still Artesian and Knitwitch.  They’re based on a simple idea, but have wonderful touches added.

Triangles hang well over the shoulders, lending themselves well to shawl pins or being tied at the corners. 

Sticking to the simple shapes, you could knit a square.  This shape is definitely easier than the triangle, but that all depends on which stitch patterns you fill it with!  There are some beautiful examples of the square shawl on Rav; this is Quill by Jared Flood.  It just looks so cozy.

Squares are slightly less easy to wear than triangles, and tend to be used as lap blankets or folded back into triangles before wearing.

Semi-Circles are one of my new favourite shapes to knit.  I love the way it seems to radiate outward around a wee central shape to grow into something wonderful.  My most recent design, Aston Lane, is a semi-circlar shawl which incorporates short rows to allow different distances between the strings of beads.  It’s inspired by a lane filled with fairy lights and cobblestones near my flat in Glasgow.

There are also some wonderful circular shawls, though I’ve yet to bring myself to attempt one of these lovelies, they’re usually massive and made from lots of laceweight.

Semi circles are similar to triangles in that they cover the shoulders nicely but sometimes do need a little help staying on.

Time for my favourites.  Crescent shawls are my favourite to wear (which is confusing because, as I just said, the semi-circles are my favourite to knit!).  Because of this, Bru & Kelvinway are garter & lace crescents.  I find that crescent shawls fit well, and sit snugly around my neck without the need for pins.  They’re also usually made from one skein of yarn which makes for a nice portable project.

Many people love wearing crescents because they stay on much like scarves.  Longer and thinner than your typical shawl, we can wrap them around our necks, no shawl pins required.

Last but not least on this list, is the asymmetrical shawl.  One of the largest KALs I’ve taken part in was Ysoldas ‘Follow Your Arrow‘, which provided 5 stages with two options for each.  I used Manos Silk blend which was magnificent.   There are too many combinations to describe, so if you’re interested the projects page is amazing.

Now, this isn’t by any means an exhaustive list!  There are heart shaped, pentagonal, hexagonal – you name it, I’m sure you could find it (or make it yourself).  My favourite atypical shape is this beauty – it’s the Maple Leaf shawl by Elfmoda.

If you’re just starting out knitting shawls, last weeks contribution to the shawl together project was about the garter tab cast on by Alex Tinsley.  This is a very common technique which is used to start off a shawl – it ensures your shawl can start with enough stitches in a small space whilst looking very presentable.  And stuck for colours?  Cate’s post on colour theory was very pretty!

What’s your favourite shawl? or shape?

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Amanda Collins lives in Glasgow, surrounded by yarn & coffee. With patterns both self-published and featured in several news-stand magazines, Amanda likes to draw inspiration from her surroundings into her knits.  Her love for knitting accessories led to the Stitch Marker Shop, and her patterns can all be found on Ravelry.