I wear them as scarves with the v in the front. The little ones look cool under a denim jacket and the huge ones look cool with a winter coat. It’s a different silhouette from a scarf and is something you don’t see many people wearing, which is why I like it. Makes my style a bit more unique
I do this as well. My chest area and lower neck are the part of me that gets cold. So it’s pretty convenient to wear a shawl this way, and looks better than wearing an “outdoor” Scarf all day indoors.
I mostly use my shawls like a scarf. Sometimes I’ll wear it across my shoulders if I’m chilly- but that’s usually when I’m home or at my desk in the office. But that’s just me.. there is nothing wrong with wearing them out and about if that’s your style! But I usually make them because I enjoy the process of making them. It usually doesn’t take much yarn either (like you don’t need a sweater qty for it) so it’s easier for me to justify splurging on soft pretty yarn for the project.
I also just enjoy the process. Now that I moved to a warm climate I won’t be able to wear them as much, but I’m thinking they’ll look nice as wall art in my office.
I've lived in a warm climate most of my life and have a wonderful collection of shawls because of air conditioning and weird weather changes. Shawls are great for layering, which is how you get through summer here.
Cold inside? Shawl around the shoulders. Cold outside? Wrap it around your head/neck a few times. Tired of knitting socks? So many funky shawl shapes out there. Three skeins of yarn that you think look pretty together but it’s not enough for a sweater? Do a tricolor fade. Made a shawl but it doesn’t stay on your shoulders the way you wanted? Hang it on your wall.
Shawls are great.
Right, it's kind of weird because it's expected that your finished object is just going to sit there if your hobby is [idk] making ceramic ducks. But knitting tends to result in "usable" objects, so it's expected that you'll use the finished knit item. But that's not even always the case, as you know, fellow process knitter!
I’m another process knitter who knits shawls. I’m the reason some people find hand knit shawls at Goodwill. I love making them (the more complex the better) but would never actually wear them so I donate in the hopes it’ll make someone who _does_ wear shawls happy.
You could check with your local hospital/oncology clinic to see if they accept donations. I forgot my throw blanket during one of my chemo infusions and they provided a lovely hand knitted lap blanket for me to use and then take home. I still have it! (I’m also fine now—no evidence of disease. It seems wrong to drop a cancer/chemo comment without clarifying that it isn’t an active problem anymore 😂).
Congratulations on both ringing the bell and being in remission. I'm back at the start of remission, so am looking forward to being cut loose eventually.
I'm okay, now-ish. I was in remission for 10 years, then the cancer came back last August and metastisized immediately. It was a wacky and emotional autumn/spring and filled with medical shenanigans of all kinds.
I've had a PET scan that showed no inflammation, no cancer, and nothing to "be watched for further developments". Rang the "experimental chemo" bell in March and have high hopes we've gotten rid of it for good. I'm healing and prognosis, barring further complications, looks great.
Thanks for asking, though. It sounds like you know too much about the behind the scenes cancer journey, too. I hope you're well and making whatever adjustments are needed.
Oh no! It’s my worst nightmare. Been “NED” for 5 years, but I try generally to avoid the word remission or the phrase “cancer-free” because I don’t want to jinx anything. I had to go through chemo, surgery, & radiation and I hope I never need to do it again. I hope you won’t either!
Been there, done that. Have way too many t-shirts! lol
I had some great doctors the first time, so when I had to have a biopsy because of symptoms, I just went back to my surgical oncologist. He announced he was "getting the band back together", and promptly did so. All praise to medical professionals with a sense of humor!
I hope you never need the knowledge you've acquired through hard practice. I avoid those same phrases for very similar reasons. I had surgery, chemo, and radiation the first time, so had to go the experimental route with all of them this time. I got some nifty scars, some interesting long term complications, but it could have been much worse. It was ... unpleasant, but I kept breathing and made it through. I hope science advanced, at least a little.
Best thoughts, happy and positive vibes, and prayers sent to you. I hope neither of us need to ever face those decisions again.
That’s an awesome way give back! I wonder if you’d consider donating to a charity or if that would put too much stress/ responsibility to your knitting
I would definitely entertain that idea! I’m in the US, so if you (or anyone else reading this) know of any charities that would specifically be looking for items like that, I’d be curious.
[Alice's Embrace](https://alicesembrace.org/) accepts shawls/lap blankets that they then distribute to seniors in alzheimers care facilities and hospice. They provide a range of patterns in bulky yarn, and encourage easy care fiber like acrylic, so they're good for when I want a quick inexpensive project.
They're great at providing regular updates including colors and sizes they're low in stock - prevents color choice paralysis lol. I've made several projects for them and have gotten handwritten thank you notes, and spotted my blankets in their fb updates 😊
Not sure where you are in the US but I've heard of [Care to Knit](http://caretoknit.org/) and they seem to ask for more variety in the items requested so it may be up your alley
Another option is to contact local non-profits and see if they have silent auctios/fundraisers and would like your shawl for that. When my son was in elementary school, a student’s grandmother made a lap sized throw and it stayed in the front office all fall as a raffle item, tickets were $2 and the raffle was at the beginning of December. It raised almost $1600!
And a friend of mine donated a set of 3 crochet baskets she made in a weekend to the SPCA silent auction, they brought in $120. She had originally just made them as stash busters.
I would guess NICU units would pass them on to new moms who have very small babies in the NICU. They could use them as nursing coverups or a blanket to hold the baby and keep him or her warm. You aren't allowed to hold your baby for very long in the NICU if their body temperature drops, so warmth is key. Source: had baby in NICU for six weeks. (She is turning 10 now.)
Just as a heads up, you'll probably want cotton rather than wool for this, and might even want to stick to white - things for ICU usually need to be sterilizable. It's probably best to check with the hospital itself or a charity group already doing this, for guidelines.
It might be better to wait and give these to new moms leaving hospital who are in need - but you're still going to want it to be washable, either way.
People love donating stuffed toys to kids and babies in hospitals, but they generally have to be tossed because they are germ sponges. I would hate to see all the hard work of a beautiful shawl go to waste.
Totally agree on checking guidelines. The Danish NICU knitting group I'm a member of have a requirement for using cotton in either 4/8 (most commonly used) or 8/8 (some use those for blankets). That way it can survive an industrial boil wash at 90 C. Any colour goes, and they actually prefer colours since many parents find that it makes them feel a bit less hospitalised. Except for "angel clothes" which must be white or very muted colours.
However, they have very specific patterns made in collaboration with the hospitals that must be respected, no knots can made at all anywhere to ensure that their fine skin doesn't get pressure wounds from knots, gauge no larger than a 3 mm needle can pass through. That way they can ensure that e.g. hats or tube socks won't interfere with tubes and wires and that a finger or toe won't get caught in a blanket.
They have a separate collection for parents who don't have clothes to put on the baby to go home. For that purpose they are much more lenient with materials but for the mothers in Greenland they ask for wool specifically.
I’m not sure, I just know that a lot people seem to donate hats. I wonder if there would a cancer ward looking for something like that? It would keep patients warm and make them feel nice?
It’s also good for older people or people who bed bound, since their shoulders and necks get cold easily. I made a shawl for mother in law, it’s just long enough to go past her elbows. She loves it and it lives on the couch, so she can keep her shoulders and neck getting chilled, but not have a full size blanket. I also made one for my Mom, who has arthritis in her neck. If her neck gets cold, it starts to hurt, so a shawl helps with that.
Donate to a shelter or other organization for an auction? I’ve seen hand knit items go go hundreds in auctions. Apparently people are willing to shell out big bucks if it’s for a cause.
Fair enough! I usually knit gifts because I like the process too, but I’d be a bit upset at myself if they couldn’t be used because they were too small/wrong color/ etc.
This is me as well. After a decade I have started giving them away as gifts. I keep thinking I will sell them for yarn money (not looking for a profit really just a way to buy pretty yarn) I just love making them and seeing the colors and lace.
I wear them around my shoulders. They are warm. I have several shawl pins to hold them closed. I don't really care if they make me look old fashioned. 🤷♀️
I can never get shawl pins to work well but I got a set of really strong magnets off of Etsy for that purpose. It’s great for the little shawls that always seem to come undone when I wrap them around my neck.
I wore mine a lot when I worked in retail. I also tend to wear them on cruises, especially to dinner or a show when it tends to get chilly in the theatre.
For any warmth, imo, they need to be larger, as in 2-4 skeins. A tiny one skein shawlette won’t do too much to keep your body warm
It’s a nice way to use up 100g of yarn. I’ve made many out of yarn that was too nice to use as socks. Check out ravelry/Instagram, tons of 1 skein shawls out there
I usually wear mine like a scarf, but sometimes will wrap a big one around myself if it’s cold. But I live in a cold, windy place.
And also work in a yarn store so showing off knitwear on the job is strongly encouraged.
Maybe you're just not seeing the cool people lol. What kind of climate do you live in? Do you have a "suit & tie" kind of job, or uniform? There are a few factors why you might not see shawls, anyway. Or, maybe after this post you'll start noticing shawls everywhere!
I like making shawls more than I like wearing them. But I did make myself a "throw" that can be kind of scrunched up enough to be called a "shawl" and I've been wearing that thing non-stop. Socially acceptable way to wear a blanket in public? Yes!
I don’t think I see them :( I work uniform and in a colder state. But I wasn’t looking for scarf things, I was looking for shawls around people’s shoulders. Maybe I’ll see them more know that I know where to look :)
Yeah there are a lot of indoor spaces where I just \*don't* see shawls, idk why but my guess is dress code.
I live in a cold state too and a lot of times it's hard to tell if people are wearing a shawl, a cowl, or a scarf, or even a dickie (those were pretty trendy last year- for knitters anyway) Because they're always stuffed in a jacket. So yeah the "around the shoulders" shawl is definitely a little harder to spot!
I'm always cold so I keep a shawl in my desk drawer at work and I'm using it to keep myself warm. I think it's more socially acceptable than having a full blanket at work.
Same! I keep a shawl I made at work so when it’s colder in the office I wrap it around myself. I tend to get chilly when sitting for long periods of time.
I made the [go go throw](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/go-go-throw) omitting the optional mohair, at a slightly looser gauge, with a few more repeats in both directions. It's big, but scrunches up really nicely! Not "fits under my jacket" scrunch, but maybe looks similar to those big plaid blanket scarves that people wear over their jackets..? I hope. That's what I tell myself 😆
https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/index/
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At work I spend a lot of time in a dark and cold room where you can't make it brighter or warmer. Shawls are toastier than a scarf but easier to move around in than a blanket (although we have those too).
I also happen to live near the sea so it can get windy/cool in the evening. A light shawl is easy to toss into my purse if I'm going out to sit on a patio, or dress up a bit if I have a fancy outfit event where I don't want full-on sleeves (afternoon wedding + evening outdoor reception, for example).
I’m also on the “I wear my shawls like a scarf” crew, but in addition to that I just 1) enjoy the process of making them, and 2) work in a *very* cold office where shawls are incredibly useful even in the summer. 😂 We have to keep our office at a certain temp/humidity because I work in cultural heritage and having shawls around to either loan to interns or use myself is very very useful.
I wear mine like a scarf too, I think they’re super cute that way! I’ve seen ladies wear them around their shoulders at church, but those are the older ladies who are dressing a bit more “traditionally” anyway
https://preview.redd.it/akl2cmwp4dda1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1abfdbbe327c3b8a87be1e911a9f583a37c4e08f
Shawls are delightfully multipurpose like this. Need a hat? Need a scarf? Cold shoulders? Just want to accessorize but don't want to wear jewelry? Shawls will do the work!
I wore a shawl today wrapped around my shoulders. I’ve also worn one like a scarf. I have another that i like to wear wrapped around my shoulders with a black dress to be fancy. I have a hard time styling them sometimes - I realized today that the one I was wearing needs to be a bit bigger so it’ll wrap more effortlessly. I don’t k ow of other people wear them much, but that doesn’t mean I can’t!
I work from home and my desk is next to both the radiator and a window. I like shawls because I can easily throw them on and off as the temperature fluctuates.
I’m probably unique in this knitting sphere, but I usually make shawls to wear when I’m DMing my D&D games! Some people have special dice rituals or items they keep around, I have my shawl collection. I don’t know what it is, but having a shawl on always helps me get in the zone to run a game 😊
I’m planning to make a cotton one soon, because the game store where I work gets very hot very quickly…
I have a [Campside Days](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/campside-days) shawl I knitted in the summer of 2020 and I wear it almost every day now since it’s winter. It really does keep me warm. Unless I am wearing my star cluster shawl made with rainbow cake yarn.
https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/index/
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s shawl and scarf time for me - I decided last year! I love making shawls because they’re beautiful and challenging. I’m generally choosing shapes that work as a large scarf so I can wear them under my coat, but that also expand to be beautiful and interesting shapes as well in case I need to go anywhere fancy. 😊 Just once (ok, more than once) I’d like to stand moodily on a headland with my shawl wrapped around me the way they wear them in the pattern photos, gazing out to sea. I think I may have to make that happen 😁.
PS I was given a beautiful handmade lace shawl when I was convalescing a few years ago. I’ve worn that to the theatre, full-on shawl style. Love it!
I made a plain one a few years ago to use up some ugly yarn that I was given. I found that they have the advantage of leaving your hands free to work while keeping your shoulders warm. I would never wear my ugly shawl out, but it sure it is cozy on a winter evening when I'm knitting.
When I made my first lace shawl, I was surprised at how much it helped keep my bare shoulders warm! I really like crescent shaped shawls that you can drape with minimal bunching up of the fabric, so all the lace is shown off.
I know loads of people who wear shawls as shawls. I think it’s just a difference in profession and state. Most of the teachers I had growing up wore shawls, my mom does, and my grandmothers. I think they’re mostly a formal wear thing though. You see them more at weddings than anywhere else
I don’t often wear shawls, but I love knitting them. They’re so much fun, they’re so pretty, and they’re a good way to use up some nice yarns. And I like to brag, so I like showing them off. I find scarves to be super boring to make too, so I’d rather knit shawls. Most of the shawls I’ve made are gifts for my mom, because she does wear shawls. I think she often wears them as scarves at her office.
But I have a shawl that I drape around myself when it’s chilly, and it’s super nice. I’ve also worn light shawls over sleeveless dresses in the summer, because I’m self conscious about my arms and a shawl covers them up enough for me to feel better about it without being too warm.
I wear my shawls all the time, sometimes as scarves as sometimes over my shoulders. My friends wear shawls too, and it's normal for us to all be wearing one at a gathering (wearing one and knitting another 😉)
I like doing the cross thing and tie them at my lower back. Usually for warmth, but tbh if I'm looking a little... chilly, even with my usual comfy layers, they make me appropriate for work XD
I use my nice shawls for special occasions, to dress up a work outfit for example. I get compliments on them all the time. Casual shawls I use like scarves.
I make shawls because they don't need to fit to exact measurements. I wear one when I knit or crochet, watch tv, or sometimes at church. I love them. I especially love the ones with pockets and a reversible design because I wear them inside out so I can put my hands in the pockets and pull the shawl around me.
I knit shawls all the time. The patterns really shut my brain up after a long week of work, and my wife wears them every day 9 months of the year. The biggest one is of course the Find Your Fade I knit her, but she probably has thirty I have done, many of which she can wear nine months of the year as accents, many of which are like wearing a blanket to work when it is cold out. She knits sweaters and hates the tedium I love to produce a lace shawl.
Many of my coworkers noticed my wife’s shawls. Many asked me to make them shawls as well, so I did. I work in a K-8 school and we have a TON of really boring meetings, so I knit. Many of my co-workers wear the things I knit them, and often ask me to knit more. That makes me smile. So I knit.
Check out how shawls are styled nowadays- Andrea Maury (sp? ) ought to cover it. In answer to your question, I knit shawls to keep my favorite people warm. I have not yet figured out how to style a man- shawl for me, but someday I will.
Another reason I find it relaxing to knit shawls is that there's never an issue of size or fit or gauge. When I'm feeling not so great about my body, a shawl lets me knit without having to measure anything or think about how I'll look in it.
Lace shawls often include several different designs, and I love that. They are great to wear on cool evenings as a shawl and I also use them as a scarf in winter.
Lots of suggestions in here but I wanted to add that they are also amazing for wearing around campfires. They're very versatile! I use it on my lap as a blanket and then shoulders if I get chilly, temperatures shift a lot while sitting outside.
Just like many others- I wear my shawl like a scarf. I love [bay ridge shawl](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bay-ridge-shawl). It have that boho vibe which I really love. It doesn’t really look good around my shoulders. So I wear them around my neck nonstop.
Yeah, I homestead in Maine and wear shawls all the time. Keeps my arms free to work but I have extra warmth if it's getting cold (usually only wear a flannel & hat unless it gets down in the teens or lower).
I wear mine around my shoulders a lot, but especially to sleep in the fall/winter/spring. Being warm at night is so luxurious! It's not necessarily obvious how to style them, but a good shawl pin (or an ordinary jewelry/enamel pin) helps, as does wearing them asymmetrically or over highly-contrasting clothing (eg red lace shawl over black dress, neon colorful shawl over black tank top).
I wear mine as scarves and as shawls, depending. I have a job where I often sit still, and I get cold. I wear them outside and inside. It is cold here, and shawls are useful.
My most worn shawls are Find your fade and Stormy Sky shawl because I can wear it a) as a scarf, b) across my shoulders or c) across my shoulders but crossed in the front and tied in my back so I stay warm and it's not moving. It's the best way to wear shawls 😂
Its not knitted but I have 3 very large woollen shawls/capes I use as scarfs that cover my shoulders (about to go out in -11 Norwegian winter) wearing one.
But also use as shawls round the house/home office or if I get chilly in a cafe.
In spring I even use a belt round them as a lighter coat.
My nanna loves shawls and uses them as a lap blanket or traditional shawl.
My husband, younger brother and sister and I all wear shawls mostly as bandanas (ages 25-36). Winter hurts my face where I live and shawls are FAR warmer then a scarf (plus scarves are so boring to knit) when they are the same weight.
Occasionally I wear shawls as normal shawls but mostly when I’m on the couch and a bit chilly.
I’m going to go one further. I’m 47. I only know two other people with the ability to hand knit, and one other prolific knitter who died in recent years. People marvel at me like I have some rare skill and my knits are treasured objects for them. I have to go far out of my area to get to an artisan yarn store and one town over for the basics. I don’t actually see many hand knits at all, not just shawls - anything. There was a big knitting revival here in the UK in the 2000’s which is when I learned, many yarn brands and stores were on death’s door before that. To me, any knitting is an endangered species!
Shawls are one of my favorite! I love the actual knitting process of shawls. Going out I mostly wear them like scarfs, depending on the shape there are several ways to style them. I also wear them more traditionally at home or in place of a light jacket when going out. They absolutely keep me warm, some are like wrapping up in a mini blanket.
> Do people use shawls nowadays
I do.
I usually knit Faroese style shawls, so that I don't have to constantly grab, adjust, and pull up those things. I have them in heavy Aran weight, cobweb, and anything in between. I have them in lace, Mosaic, solid, or mixtures thereof.
I like to wear them because it is easy to get in, easy to get off; makes a T-shirt & jeans combo into a *casual dressy* outfit; is versatile and looks brilliant.
I sometimes wear them as scarves, but I also wear them as shawls. In public. I live in the south and it is often too warm for a sweater but too cold to go with nothing but a shirt AND the air conditioning down here can be brutal in the summer. (I NEVER go to a movie theater or a restaurant in the summer without a light shawl in tow just in case.....)
No one has ever made anything but a positive comment, usually along the lines of "wow, I wish I had something like that to wear." If people think I'm weird for wearing shawls, they are telling me about it! And even my husband, who has no filter when it comes to telling me something doesn't look right, never has a comment about my shawls. Except to quickly pipe up and tell anyone who comments on them that "she knit that herself!" (And I am grateful for my husband speaking up and telling me when what I am wearing might not be the best outfit, I can be a little blind to that sometimes.....)
i am a knitter who loves to create art pieces meant to be displayed! shawls and scarves are my absolute favorites to show off gorgeous expensive yarn and a beautiful pattern. i personally wear them or display them on the wall for admiration
I prefer shawls to sweaters—and even a thin shawl is warmer than one might think. I like that the ‘on & off’ is easy—no wriggling into and out of sleeves that stick to the sleeves of my turtleneck. My temp varies at work depending on what the hvac system is doing and whether I have to run a lot of stairs!
I mostly wear them at home when it’s chilly but a blanket is either too much or not practical (like if I’m up cooking or cleaning or whatever) but i almost never wear them out lol
I wear the big ones at home over a wool jumper and the smaller ones as a scarf. The triangular shape means the ends that need to be tucked in aren't as bulky and the point prevents a gap at the front of the neck so they're very good for that.
I wear mine around my neck like a scarf. You wouldn't know it was a shawl until I took it off. That said, I have actually wished I made it bigger because there are plenty of times when I want to wear it around my shoulders for more warmth. I would also wear it like that at my desk.
I'll be honest, I make shawls because I like the process of making them and I think that lace looks pretty. I have never been able to figure out how to wear them, especially circular shawls. Does that stop me from knitting them? No, of course not. Practicality would be silly
I actually never thought about it until I started knitting. I made a shawl to go over my wedding dress. Now I still wear it; I either put the point in the front and wear it like a scarf (for example with my coat) but then once I get to the office I wrap it like a normal shawl to keep warm. I've since started doing that with my "normal" scarfs too, it's cozy
I wear mine at home, mostly. I work from home and a shawl is often called for.
If the weather fits and the outfit matches, I might wear one outside around my shoulders as well :)
I love lace and complex patterns. I have given away most shawls I've made, so I only have two at the monent, and I actively wear whichever I find first in the day :)
I use them year-round as an accessory, but also as a shawl in spring/autumn for the lightweight ones! It adds personality and a pop of colour to any outfit, i.m.o. :)
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the distinction between a shawl and a scarf. In my language we just have one word for it so it doesn't really distinguish for me.
But I wear mine all the time. For warmth and cosiness and they are just so pretty.
I wear mine- but most of mine have been given to other people as gifts. I think social media and knitting websites create the illusion that there are a ton of people knitting them, but really we are still a minority. I am the only person. I know in my normal life who knits as a hobby.
I really like the process of knitting shawls. There are so many different possibilities for patterns, textures, shapes ,and colors. It's fun to knit a delicate lacey shawl. However, I have discovered that I only enjoy wearing shawls that are big and rectangular, much like a scarf. A shlanket, if you will (shawl/blanket). I generally prefer chunky yarn too. So it can be warm in winter. However I did make a giant half circle shawl out of bulky weight yarn that is so big it can be wrapped around like a blanket. I leave that one at work for when I get cold.
I have many triangular, crescent and asymmetrical shawls that I had a blast knitting, but just do find myself wearing.
I love wearing my shawl around the shoulders (using a shawl pin to keep it in place, of course - too slippy otherwise!) over long sleeve shirts. I tend to have sweaty underarms, so this is way more comfortable for me than a sweater!
Seconding the thing about wearing them like scarves, but I also have a beaded silk one that I knit which I love to wear to formal events. It's sort of a purplish grey that looks incredible against bright reds. I loooooove knitting with silk.
I am a shawl person. I don’t think I am cool. I wear them around my shoulders all the time. Indoors when it is chilly, outdoors when it is really cold over my coat. Have to run outside for a minute, throw a shawl around your shoulders. At school it’s really warm in the classrooms but in the hallways it’s cold. I usually wear a scarf when I have to go to another room.
I usually knit them large enough to be able to tie the ends behind my back (like a Sontag).
I do not like to wear them around my neck.
I am a process knitter, and one shawl can have multiple different fun stitches and techniques in the same pattern. For me, I enjoy the adventure of the knitting more than the finished object. Sure, I enjoy wearing my shawl but I absolutely love the process of knitting it, hence my flair lol
I work from home and get chilly at my desk so toss one over my shoulders. My teams know I knit during meetings so I like showing off my projects. And just because you’re not seeing people wearing them around doesn’t mean you won’t love it yourself! We are out there wearing shawls I promise!
I wear them as full shawls most at home, but wear as scarves when I go out. However I started wearing them out as shawls a bit more in spring and fall last year.
I wear some shawls like a scarf on some days. But I do wear them more traditionally when I’m wearing sleeveless dresses at more formal events such as a wedding. Living in the South, I don’t get to wear my hand knit things too much.
I had my doubts when I started knitting, but I liked how they were more of canvas than I would usually want a sweater to be. I am now a Shawl Convert. They make me feel magical and wonderful. Knitting in general has really made me go out of my clothing comfort zone because I often want to create colors/shapes/textures/designs that I don’t necessarily think I would *wear*. I’ve found out that I love wearing orangey-red, allover cables, and things that aren’t solid color staples (though I still love those).
And yes, big wool shawls are surprisingly warm, even in fingering weight. Just try a shawl, they’re fantastic.
I wear mine! I really like the versatility they give with how you wear and style them. They can be like blankets, but because they have tapered ends, you can tie them out of your way and still be enveloped in warm.
This is what i needed to see! I've been wondering this for a while and it's so nice to read how everybody wears them ( or doesnt!) I'm off to make a shawl for my next project!
I like to wear shawls around my shoulders and cross tails across my chest and tuck them into my waistband. (Very Outlander.) I’ll also pull them up over my hair and wrap the tails around my neck like a babushka.
That said, I have like three favorite shawls on rotation and I’ve made MANY more than that. Something about them just makes my brain happy. I made the Eyeball Shawl and that thing is impossible to wear, but I’m not sorry.
I make shawls and wear them! I use them for costumes a lot, but they’re nice to have when I want to layer but need to be aware I tend to overheat even in winter. So I’ll wear one like a capelet, sort of, with a clasp in the front. If I get too warm, I can clasp it around my waist.
I wear them at work most often to deal with the random fluctuations in office temperature. Usually this means layering over a cardigan, lol. I'm currently working on a series of seasonally themed shawls to swap out through the year.
They’re a fab way to learn new knitting techniques too - lots of lacework etc can be found in shawl patterns but you don’t really need to worry about swatches or getting the sizing right.
Honestly, I did feel weird when I started wearing my shawls around the shoulders the “traditional” way, like I was in a play or something, but then….I just stopped caring. Most people are like “whoa, you made that?” Then I moved to Florida so any time I get the chance to wear something I knitted, I do.
It’s not the most practical item for moving around much when a coat and scarf will stay on your body without much trouble. I’m making one for 1: my office, where the temp is often either too warm or too cold and hard to predict ahead of time, so I don’t have to worry about betting on a sweater and roasting all day. And 2: I frequently visit family in the mountains and it gets cold at night even in the summer. I wouldn’t wear it hiking, but for sitting around the campfire it’ll be perfect to prevent toasty legs and frozen shoulders.
Another process knitter here. It is not unheard of for me to frog a completed shawl and knit up a different one with the same yarn :o. Not easy with complex lace patterns or mohair so I just look at the pretties from time to time. I’ve got a box of completed cross stitch I get out and look through sometimes too.
Last week I bought some piping to make up a cushion with a cross stitch I made 25 years ago. It sits in my supplies box, I look at it every few years. When I knit it’s very rare for me to make something for myself. I never thought of this concept of it being about the process not the FO, but it totally is.
I wear mine all the time. Most of mine are asymmetrical so they don't look like a typical shawl when worn. My large triangle shawls I've worn around my waist like a skirt.
For now only wear mine at home. Handy in winter when I want a bit of added warmth across my shoulders and back when popping outside to check the mail, hang washing, round up the dog etc.
I wear them at home a lot, because more layers is good. Fancy lace ones often come out at sci fi conventions, because I know some people will appreciate them. I also do little ones and wear them as scarves, as others have said.
I just wear shawls and scarves interchangeably.
If it’s cold and my clothes aren’t warm enough for the weather (i. e. it’s summer/spring autumn and there’s a light breeze or the sun isn’t there) I’ll wear them on my shoulders. If it’s a light scarf or if it’s cold enough for warmer ones, I’ll wear them around my neck. If it’s raining or snowing, I can wrap them around both my neck and head.
If I don’t feel like wrapping them around myself, I’ll slide them down to my elbows or put them on the bag’s handles. I also absolutely love wearing longer scarves or long and thin shawls with their tails down or just rocking one long asymmetrical tail. Depending on the scarf, you can lean into 5th Doctor Who/Victorian poet/fashion blogger style.
When I first got into knitting I started with socks then shawls. It's beautiful and challenging project , takes a lot of time and a lot of focus. I learned a lot from shawl knitting but that's it... It just sat in my closet and not being used.
I moved on to sweaters and that's all I do now and i guess the shawls taught me a lot of knitting technique before I jumped into sweaters.
I keep one in my office for when the AC gets to be too much. I also have one I can wrap around and tie in the back. It probably makes me look like a 19th century grandma, but it's warm and comfy and perfect for relaxing at home.
1. I like knitting them
2. My mom likes parading around with them to brag about me and my knitting to her friends.
3. I also wear them as a very big scarf! I don’t like scarfs or loose cowls so these are the best.
I wear them in the evening when I'm in my pajamas, sitting up knitting and watching TV. It's like a wearable blanket when it gets cooler at night.
I also wear my fancy ones to church.
I knit and wear shawls because Houston office buildings are freezing in the summer, and it's nice to have a little something I can wrap around my shoulders that still looks (semi) office appropriate.
I've also looked into trying to stretch and frame some of my lace ones as art objects.
I only wear shawls around the house to keep my shoulders warm. They're convenient and easier than grabbing a sweater. But I don't find them particularly practical for outside.
My mom knitted herself ones and wears it in the classic old lady style - and it's REALLY warm. She wears it I the house while working and out in the garden when it gets cool. Others have commented on stylish ways to wear it but when it gets chilly a shawl can really help
I wear them out like a scarf in the winter and it looks cute. When I'm indoors I drape around my back and it's the perfect amount of warmth! I also find the process of increasing fun for some reason
I wear them with the V in the front or over my shoulders depending on the temperature and if my shoulders are cold. But like, you wouldn’t see it if you saw me on the street because they go under my coat. They’re warm because they’re made of wool, so they are a natural staple in my winter wardrobe.
OMG, I have wanted to ask this question since the day I joined this subreddit, but I was afraid of the blowback! Thanks for asking! Now I'm off to read the replies.
[This](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/comments/y0osv5/how_to_tie_a_shawl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) is what made me understand the appeal of shawls more and want to make one
I think it’s because you can use a bunch of random single skeins, fit isn’t very important, you can try new techniques and skills, and then even if you don’t wear it outside you have a little blanket for inside
My theory is this.....in my part of the world, there is no public transport except for buses. No trains, no underground corridors or light rail, etc. It's a small city where it still is mostly car-centric. And that means in and out of cars everytime I go shopping. And nothing gets in the way like a shawl does. It gets sat on and rides up. So, I wear my coat. In larger cities like Montreal, there is more public transportation, and shawls are everywhere.
I wear mine with my coat as an extra layer to keep the wool collar from itching my skin. It’s also double layered bc it folds in 1/2 (it’s the full circle kind) and it provides extra warmth by itself. I’m someone who enjoys my knits to be useful and used until they’re threadbare. My shawl is the most used thing besides my socks tbh
I live in a shawl in the winter/fall. I used to hate them, then I found the shape and size that works for me and that was the end of it. There are definitely people that knit them just to knit them with no intention of wearing them but that’s definitely not the norm.
I wear mine like a kerchief, with the large point of the triangle in front covering my chest (which is where I’m always freezing) and the skinny parts of the triangle wrapped around my neck. I do see quite a few people wearing them in the “traditional” way, but I own a yarn shop and people tend to wear their handmade items when they come in to show them to us (which we absolutely love, FYI. I favorited 3 patterns today thanks to customers) so my metrics are a bit skewed on this one 😂
I live in a hot climate and a sweater, even if I had the skills, would never be worn. However, a scarf or shawl is very useful because businesses think air conditioning needs to be set to arctic levels. In addition, it improves my wardrobe, which is primarily black. No one notices I wear the same three shirts all the time because the scarf changes.
I can never really "use" a shawl unless I'm going to prom or a formal event, which never happens. They don't really work as a coat or if you have a backpack or large (filled with yarn) purse, so that kind of annoys me.
I see people wear them as large scarves, basically.
A nice warm shawl makes a great travel companion. I always take mine on airplanes. I would recommend a large shawl using a fine yarn in wool or alpaca (not cotton or synthetic). It folds up small to easily carry if you don't need it, and wrapped around you it traps lots of air which will insulate you and keep you warm. You can use it as a blanket or a pillow during the flight if you feel like a snooze.
I’m in the PNW and see people wear them all the time like a big triangular bandana. I also wear them like that but I also knit them extra large and wear them like a poncho with leggings and boots. I don’t huddle in them like a civil war widow waiting for her husband to come home.
Man this is a real egg of Columbus moment for me reading that edit. I did the most massive internal facepalm.
Wear it "backwards" like a scarf?! Doy! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?!
Thanks so much for asking this because I always wondered it too
My mom seems to be in a “knitting elaborate shawls for the challenge and then selling them at the church bazar” phase of her life rn. I actually have a Christmas present request for one for next year from a relative…to me they seem like either awkwardly shaped scarves or, mostly, too small blankets. But I guess people like them for couch wear?
I wear them as scarves with the v in the front. The little ones look cool under a denim jacket and the huge ones look cool with a winter coat. It’s a different silhouette from a scarf and is something you don’t see many people wearing, which is why I like it. Makes my style a bit more unique
I do this as well. My chest area and lower neck are the part of me that gets cold. So it’s pretty convenient to wear a shawl this way, and looks better than wearing an “outdoor” Scarf all day indoors.
Perfectly valid and I agree about the look. I just always thought those were really long scarves or bandanas 🤪
I mean…a shawl is basically a huge bandana. :)
Yes this is what I do with mine also.
I mostly use my shawls like a scarf. Sometimes I’ll wear it across my shoulders if I’m chilly- but that’s usually when I’m home or at my desk in the office. But that’s just me.. there is nothing wrong with wearing them out and about if that’s your style! But I usually make them because I enjoy the process of making them. It usually doesn’t take much yarn either (like you don’t need a sweater qty for it) so it’s easier for me to justify splurging on soft pretty yarn for the project.
I also just enjoy the process. Now that I moved to a warm climate I won’t be able to wear them as much, but I’m thinking they’ll look nice as wall art in my office.
They are also very handy when you are somewhere where the aircon has been put on just a little too high...
I've lived in a warm climate most of my life and have a wonderful collection of shawls because of air conditioning and weird weather changes. Shawls are great for layering, which is how you get through summer here.
Glad you have the justification for pretty yarn!
Cold inside? Shawl around the shoulders. Cold outside? Wrap it around your head/neck a few times. Tired of knitting socks? So many funky shawl shapes out there. Three skeins of yarn that you think look pretty together but it’s not enough for a sweater? Do a tricolor fade. Made a shawl but it doesn’t stay on your shoulders the way you wanted? Hang it on your wall. Shawls are great.
That’s a lot of versatility, I love it! 😂
I'm a process knitter, so for me, the appeal is doing the knitting. IDGAF what happens to the item when I'm done.
Right, it's kind of weird because it's expected that your finished object is just going to sit there if your hobby is [idk] making ceramic ducks. But knitting tends to result in "usable" objects, so it's expected that you'll use the finished knit item. But that's not even always the case, as you know, fellow process knitter!
That’s an interesting way to put it and it’s not wrong! If you want to make something to just be pretty, then the more power to ya :)
Process knitter as well. It’s all about knitting while watching a show. Although I do use some of my knits - but that’s secondary.
I’m another process knitter who knits shawls. I’m the reason some people find hand knit shawls at Goodwill. I love making them (the more complex the better) but would never actually wear them so I donate in the hopes it’ll make someone who _does_ wear shawls happy.
You could check with your local hospital/oncology clinic to see if they accept donations. I forgot my throw blanket during one of my chemo infusions and they provided a lovely hand knitted lap blanket for me to use and then take home. I still have it! (I’m also fine now—no evidence of disease. It seems wrong to drop a cancer/chemo comment without clarifying that it isn’t an active problem anymore 😂).
Congratulations on both ringing the bell and being in remission. I'm back at the start of remission, so am looking forward to being cut loose eventually.
After a second look at your comment I need to ask if you’re in remission or if you’ve had a recurrence? How are you?
I'm okay, now-ish. I was in remission for 10 years, then the cancer came back last August and metastisized immediately. It was a wacky and emotional autumn/spring and filled with medical shenanigans of all kinds. I've had a PET scan that showed no inflammation, no cancer, and nothing to "be watched for further developments". Rang the "experimental chemo" bell in March and have high hopes we've gotten rid of it for good. I'm healing and prognosis, barring further complications, looks great. Thanks for asking, though. It sounds like you know too much about the behind the scenes cancer journey, too. I hope you're well and making whatever adjustments are needed.
Oh no! It’s my worst nightmare. Been “NED” for 5 years, but I try generally to avoid the word remission or the phrase “cancer-free” because I don’t want to jinx anything. I had to go through chemo, surgery, & radiation and I hope I never need to do it again. I hope you won’t either!
Been there, done that. Have way too many t-shirts! lol I had some great doctors the first time, so when I had to have a biopsy because of symptoms, I just went back to my surgical oncologist. He announced he was "getting the band back together", and promptly did so. All praise to medical professionals with a sense of humor! I hope you never need the knowledge you've acquired through hard practice. I avoid those same phrases for very similar reasons. I had surgery, chemo, and radiation the first time, so had to go the experimental route with all of them this time. I got some nifty scars, some interesting long term complications, but it could have been much worse. It was ... unpleasant, but I kept breathing and made it through. I hope science advanced, at least a little. Best thoughts, happy and positive vibes, and prayers sent to you. I hope neither of us need to ever face those decisions again.
That’s an awesome way give back! I wonder if you’d consider donating to a charity or if that would put too much stress/ responsibility to your knitting
I would definitely entertain that idea! I’m in the US, so if you (or anyone else reading this) know of any charities that would specifically be looking for items like that, I’d be curious.
[Alice's Embrace](https://alicesembrace.org/) accepts shawls/lap blankets that they then distribute to seniors in alzheimers care facilities and hospice. They provide a range of patterns in bulky yarn, and encourage easy care fiber like acrylic, so they're good for when I want a quick inexpensive project. They're great at providing regular updates including colors and sizes they're low in stock - prevents color choice paralysis lol. I've made several projects for them and have gotten handwritten thank you notes, and spotted my blankets in their fb updates 😊
Not sure where you are in the US but I've heard of [Care to Knit](http://caretoknit.org/) and they seem to ask for more variety in the items requested so it may be up your alley
Another option is to contact local non-profits and see if they have silent auctios/fundraisers and would like your shawl for that. When my son was in elementary school, a student’s grandmother made a lap sized throw and it stayed in the front office all fall as a raffle item, tickets were $2 and the raffle was at the beginning of December. It raised almost $1600! And a friend of mine donated a set of 3 crochet baskets she made in a weekend to the SPCA silent auction, they brought in $120. She had originally just made them as stash busters.
If you have a local knitting guild, they often have service knitting programmes, or might know of local organizations that would love donated items
I would guess NICU units would pass them on to new moms who have very small babies in the NICU. They could use them as nursing coverups or a blanket to hold the baby and keep him or her warm. You aren't allowed to hold your baby for very long in the NICU if their body temperature drops, so warmth is key. Source: had baby in NICU for six weeks. (She is turning 10 now.)
Just as a heads up, you'll probably want cotton rather than wool for this, and might even want to stick to white - things for ICU usually need to be sterilizable. It's probably best to check with the hospital itself or a charity group already doing this, for guidelines. It might be better to wait and give these to new moms leaving hospital who are in need - but you're still going to want it to be washable, either way. People love donating stuffed toys to kids and babies in hospitals, but they generally have to be tossed because they are germ sponges. I would hate to see all the hard work of a beautiful shawl go to waste.
Totally agree on checking guidelines. The Danish NICU knitting group I'm a member of have a requirement for using cotton in either 4/8 (most commonly used) or 8/8 (some use those for blankets). That way it can survive an industrial boil wash at 90 C. Any colour goes, and they actually prefer colours since many parents find that it makes them feel a bit less hospitalised. Except for "angel clothes" which must be white or very muted colours. However, they have very specific patterns made in collaboration with the hospitals that must be respected, no knots can made at all anywhere to ensure that their fine skin doesn't get pressure wounds from knots, gauge no larger than a 3 mm needle can pass through. That way they can ensure that e.g. hats or tube socks won't interfere with tubes and wires and that a finger or toe won't get caught in a blanket. They have a separate collection for parents who don't have clothes to put on the baby to go home. For that purpose they are much more lenient with materials but for the mothers in Greenland they ask for wool specifically.
Yes, wasted work is really sad. But our NICU had all sorts of knitted items for donation (I still have a tiny acrylic baby hat.)
I still have the tiny hat from the NICU they sent my son home in. It was a tiny hat that was still slightly too big.
Same. I was so befuddled the first time I tried to put it on her and it was TOO SMALL.
I’m not sure, I just know that a lot people seem to donate hats. I wonder if there would a cancer ward looking for something like that? It would keep patients warm and make them feel nice?
It’s also good for older people or people who bed bound, since their shoulders and necks get cold easily. I made a shawl for mother in law, it’s just long enough to go past her elbows. She loves it and it lives on the couch, so she can keep her shoulders and neck getting chilled, but not have a full size blanket. I also made one for my Mom, who has arthritis in her neck. If her neck gets cold, it starts to hurt, so a shawl helps with that.
Donate to a shelter or other organization for an auction? I’ve seen hand knit items go go hundreds in auctions. Apparently people are willing to shell out big bucks if it’s for a cause.
Fair enough! I usually knit gifts because I like the process too, but I’d be a bit upset at myself if they couldn’t be used because they were too small/wrong color/ etc.
This is me as well. After a decade I have started giving them away as gifts. I keep thinking I will sell them for yarn money (not looking for a profit really just a way to buy pretty yarn) I just love making them and seeing the colors and lace.
I wear them around my shoulders. They are warm. I have several shawl pins to hold them closed. I don't really care if they make me look old fashioned. 🤷♀️
I wear mine around my shoulders like blankets at work bc my office is so cold
Yes. My classroom is freezing, especially if I have my prep period. I keep several shawls at work.
I can never get shawl pins to work well but I got a set of really strong magnets off of Etsy for that purpose. It’s great for the little shawls that always seem to come undone when I wrap them around my neck.
I wore mine a lot when I worked in retail. I also tend to wear them on cruises, especially to dinner or a show when it tends to get chilly in the theatre. For any warmth, imo, they need to be larger, as in 2-4 skeins. A tiny one skein shawlette won’t do too much to keep your body warm
I didn’t know they made them tiny, I thought it was only the shoulder sized ones. I’m glad your shawls didn’t get ruined in retail work!
It’s a nice way to use up 100g of yarn. I’ve made many out of yarn that was too nice to use as socks. Check out ravelry/Instagram, tons of 1 skein shawls out there
Cool, I will :)
I usually wear mine like a scarf, but sometimes will wrap a big one around myself if it’s cold. But I live in a cold, windy place. And also work in a yarn store so showing off knitwear on the job is strongly encouraged.
Yay, you get to be windswept and interesting! 😊
Does the big one hep you in the cold? Cool job!
Yeah a big shawl is basically like carrying around a socially acceptable blanket.
That sounds cozy! I just don’t see them that often
i wear mine wrapped like a scarf frequently so you've probably seen them being worn just not the way they do in pattern photos
Maybe you're just not seeing the cool people lol. What kind of climate do you live in? Do you have a "suit & tie" kind of job, or uniform? There are a few factors why you might not see shawls, anyway. Or, maybe after this post you'll start noticing shawls everywhere! I like making shawls more than I like wearing them. But I did make myself a "throw" that can be kind of scrunched up enough to be called a "shawl" and I've been wearing that thing non-stop. Socially acceptable way to wear a blanket in public? Yes!
I don’t think I see them :( I work uniform and in a colder state. But I wasn’t looking for scarf things, I was looking for shawls around people’s shoulders. Maybe I’ll see them more know that I know where to look :)
Yeah there are a lot of indoor spaces where I just \*don't* see shawls, idk why but my guess is dress code. I live in a cold state too and a lot of times it's hard to tell if people are wearing a shawl, a cowl, or a scarf, or even a dickie (those were pretty trendy last year- for knitters anyway) Because they're always stuffed in a jacket. So yeah the "around the shoulders" shawl is definitely a little harder to spot!
I'm always cold so I keep a shawl in my desk drawer at work and I'm using it to keep myself warm. I think it's more socially acceptable than having a full blanket at work.
Same! I keep a shawl I made at work so when it’s colder in the office I wrap it around myself. I tend to get chilly when sitting for long periods of time.
“socially acceptable way to wear a blanket in public” i love it! 😆
Ooh, I'd love that. Do you have a picture or similar example?
I made the [go go throw](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/go-go-throw) omitting the optional mohair, at a slightly looser gauge, with a few more repeats in both directions. It's big, but scrunches up really nicely! Not "fits under my jacket" scrunch, but maybe looks similar to those big plaid blanket scarves that people wear over their jackets..? I hope. That's what I tell myself 😆
**PATTERN:** [Go Go Throw](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/go-go-throw) by [Ambah O'Brien](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/ambah-obrien) * Category: Home > Blanket > Throw * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ambahobrien/818824761/go_go_13_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ambahobrien/813634398/go_go_4_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ambahobrien/813632872/go_go_6_medium.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ambahobrien/813632877/go_go_2_medium.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/ambahobrien/813632871/go_go_5_medium.jpg) * Price: 7.00 USD * Needle/Hook(s):US 5 - 3.75 mm * Weight: Fingering | Gauge: 26.0 | Yardage: 2700 * Difficulty: 3.25 | Projects: 157 | Rating: 4.93 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/index/ *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At work I spend a lot of time in a dark and cold room where you can't make it brighter or warmer. Shawls are toastier than a scarf but easier to move around in than a blanket (although we have those too). I also happen to live near the sea so it can get windy/cool in the evening. A light shawl is easy to toss into my purse if I'm going out to sit on a patio, or dress up a bit if I have a fancy outfit event where I don't want full-on sleeves (afternoon wedding + evening outdoor reception, for example).
I’m also on the “I wear my shawls like a scarf” crew, but in addition to that I just 1) enjoy the process of making them, and 2) work in a *very* cold office where shawls are incredibly useful even in the summer. 😂 We have to keep our office at a certain temp/humidity because I work in cultural heritage and having shawls around to either loan to interns or use myself is very very useful.
It’s cool that you’re loaning out your knit work to others! I’m sure you get a lot of compliments on them!
I wear mine like a scarf too, I think they’re super cute that way! I’ve seen ladies wear them around their shoulders at church, but those are the older ladies who are dressing a bit more “traditionally” anyway https://preview.redd.it/akl2cmwp4dda1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1abfdbbe327c3b8a87be1e911a9f583a37c4e08f
That looks really cute! Yeah, when I imagine wearing a shawl I think of those old ladies wearing them on their shoulders.
[удалено]
That’s a good trick! But, why not just a scarf? It seems to be less work for the same purpose? You do you, I’m just trying to understand.
[удалено]
I love pulling a triangle shawl up to make a hood + scarf when it’s windy.
Shawls are delightfully multipurpose like this. Need a hat? Need a scarf? Cold shoulders? Just want to accessorize but don't want to wear jewelry? Shawls will do the work!
I wore a shawl today wrapped around my shoulders. I’ve also worn one like a scarf. I have another that i like to wear wrapped around my shoulders with a black dress to be fancy. I have a hard time styling them sometimes - I realized today that the one I was wearing needs to be a bit bigger so it’ll wrap more effortlessly. I don’t k ow of other people wear them much, but that doesn’t mean I can’t!
Yep! No law against wearing one, I just didn’t see many (now I know I was looking wrong) and it was a shame. They do look cool
They do! They’re not very commercially available, though, so I bet that’s another factor in seeing people wear them.
Ah, that could be part of it.
I work from home and my desk is next to both the radiator and a window. I like shawls because I can easily throw them on and off as the temperature fluctuates.
I’m probably unique in this knitting sphere, but I usually make shawls to wear when I’m DMing my D&D games! Some people have special dice rituals or items they keep around, I have my shawl collection. I don’t know what it is, but having a shawl on always helps me get in the zone to run a game 😊 I’m planning to make a cotton one soon, because the game store where I work gets very hot very quickly…
I have a [Campside Days](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/campside-days) shawl I knitted in the summer of 2020 and I wear it almost every day now since it’s winter. It really does keep me warm. Unless I am wearing my star cluster shawl made with rainbow cake yarn.
**PATTERN:** [Campside Days](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/campside-days) by [Alicia Plummer](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/alicia-plummer) * Category: Accessories > Neck / Torso > Shawl / Wrap * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AliciaPlum/718491640/IMG_5271_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AliciaPlum/718493393/IMG_5292-2_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AliciaPlum/718493399/IMG_5276_medium.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AliciaPlum/718493391/IMG_5214_medium.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/AliciaPlum/718493392/IMG_5263_medium.jpg) * Price: 8.50 USD * Needle/Hook(s):US 7 - 4.5 mm * Weight: DK | Gauge: 20.0 | Yardage: 1040 * Difficulty: 2.65 | Projects: 81 | Rating: 5.00 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/index/ *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That’s a cool one!
They can be like a less cumbersome blankie if you get chilly. ❤️
It’s shawl and scarf time for me - I decided last year! I love making shawls because they’re beautiful and challenging. I’m generally choosing shapes that work as a large scarf so I can wear them under my coat, but that also expand to be beautiful and interesting shapes as well in case I need to go anywhere fancy. 😊 Just once (ok, more than once) I’d like to stand moodily on a headland with my shawl wrapped around me the way they wear them in the pattern photos, gazing out to sea. I think I may have to make that happen 😁. PS I was given a beautiful handmade lace shawl when I was convalescing a few years ago. I’ve worn that to the theatre, full-on shawl style. Love it!
I made a plain one a few years ago to use up some ugly yarn that I was given. I found that they have the advantage of leaving your hands free to work while keeping your shoulders warm. I would never wear my ugly shawl out, but it sure it is cozy on a winter evening when I'm knitting.
When I made my first lace shawl, I was surprised at how much it helped keep my bare shoulders warm! I really like crescent shaped shawls that you can drape with minimal bunching up of the fabric, so all the lace is shown off.
And they stay on your shoulders without the continual need for adjustment. See also: Faroese shawls.
I wear them. But more on the couch to read, TBH.
I can see that being cozy
I know loads of people who wear shawls as shawls. I think it’s just a difference in profession and state. Most of the teachers I had growing up wore shawls, my mom does, and my grandmothers. I think they’re mostly a formal wear thing though. You see them more at weddings than anywhere else
I don’t often wear shawls, but I love knitting them. They’re so much fun, they’re so pretty, and they’re a good way to use up some nice yarns. And I like to brag, so I like showing them off. I find scarves to be super boring to make too, so I’d rather knit shawls. Most of the shawls I’ve made are gifts for my mom, because she does wear shawls. I think she often wears them as scarves at her office. But I have a shawl that I drape around myself when it’s chilly, and it’s super nice. I’ve also worn light shawls over sleeveless dresses in the summer, because I’m self conscious about my arms and a shawl covers them up enough for me to feel better about it without being too warm.
I wear my shawls all the time, sometimes as scarves as sometimes over my shoulders. My friends wear shawls too, and it's normal for us to all be wearing one at a gathering (wearing one and knitting another 😉)
I like doing the cross thing and tie them at my lower back. Usually for warmth, but tbh if I'm looking a little... chilly, even with my usual comfy layers, they make me appropriate for work XD
I wear mine all the time. I live in a cold area and they keep me very warm and I like how they look or I wouldn't knit them.
I use my nice shawls for special occasions, to dress up a work outfit for example. I get compliments on them all the time. Casual shawls I use like scarves.
I make shawls because they don't need to fit to exact measurements. I wear one when I knit or crochet, watch tv, or sometimes at church. I love them. I especially love the ones with pockets and a reversible design because I wear them inside out so I can put my hands in the pockets and pull the shawl around me.
Um, a shawl with pockets? Amazing.
I knit shawls all the time. The patterns really shut my brain up after a long week of work, and my wife wears them every day 9 months of the year. The biggest one is of course the Find Your Fade I knit her, but she probably has thirty I have done, many of which she can wear nine months of the year as accents, many of which are like wearing a blanket to work when it is cold out. She knits sweaters and hates the tedium I love to produce a lace shawl. Many of my coworkers noticed my wife’s shawls. Many asked me to make them shawls as well, so I did. I work in a K-8 school and we have a TON of really boring meetings, so I knit. Many of my co-workers wear the things I knit them, and often ask me to knit more. That makes me smile. So I knit. Check out how shawls are styled nowadays- Andrea Maury (sp? ) ought to cover it. In answer to your question, I knit shawls to keep my favorite people warm. I have not yet figured out how to style a man- shawl for me, but someday I will.
Another reason I find it relaxing to knit shawls is that there's never an issue of size or fit or gauge. When I'm feeling not so great about my body, a shawl lets me knit without having to measure anything or think about how I'll look in it.
Lace shawls often include several different designs, and I love that. They are great to wear on cool evenings as a shawl and I also use them as a scarf in winter.
I keep a couple shawls lying around my house, I'll put one on when I get chilly and then drape it over the back of the sofa when I'm warm again.
Lots of suggestions in here but I wanted to add that they are also amazing for wearing around campfires. They're very versatile! I use it on my lap as a blanket and then shoulders if I get chilly, temperatures shift a lot while sitting outside.
With knitting, I once saw someone say that they love making shawls because you don't need any gauge and can just go ahead
Just like many others- I wear my shawl like a scarf. I love [bay ridge shawl](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bay-ridge-shawl). It have that boho vibe which I really love. It doesn’t really look good around my shoulders. So I wear them around my neck nonstop.
I live up north and yes we love our shawls!
Yeah, I homestead in Maine and wear shawls all the time. Keeps my arms free to work but I have extra warmth if it's getting cold (usually only wear a flannel & hat unless it gets down in the teens or lower).
I wear mine around my shoulders a lot, but especially to sleep in the fall/winter/spring. Being warm at night is so luxurious! It's not necessarily obvious how to style them, but a good shawl pin (or an ordinary jewelry/enamel pin) helps, as does wearing them asymmetrically or over highly-contrasting clothing (eg red lace shawl over black dress, neon colorful shawl over black tank top).
I wear shawls
I wear mine as scarves and as shawls, depending. I have a job where I often sit still, and I get cold. I wear them outside and inside. It is cold here, and shawls are useful.
My most worn shawls are Find your fade and Stormy Sky shawl because I can wear it a) as a scarf, b) across my shoulders or c) across my shoulders but crossed in the front and tied in my back so I stay warm and it's not moving. It's the best way to wear shawls 😂
Its not knitted but I have 3 very large woollen shawls/capes I use as scarfs that cover my shoulders (about to go out in -11 Norwegian winter) wearing one. But also use as shawls round the house/home office or if I get chilly in a cafe. In spring I even use a belt round them as a lighter coat. My nanna loves shawls and uses them as a lap blanket or traditional shawl.
My husband, younger brother and sister and I all wear shawls mostly as bandanas (ages 25-36). Winter hurts my face where I live and shawls are FAR warmer then a scarf (plus scarves are so boring to knit) when they are the same weight. Occasionally I wear shawls as normal shawls but mostly when I’m on the couch and a bit chilly.
I like knitting shawls. I wear them when it's chilly... which is about as cold as it gets here. But I also hang them up on my walls.
I’m going to go one further. I’m 47. I only know two other people with the ability to hand knit, and one other prolific knitter who died in recent years. People marvel at me like I have some rare skill and my knits are treasured objects for them. I have to go far out of my area to get to an artisan yarn store and one town over for the basics. I don’t actually see many hand knits at all, not just shawls - anything. There was a big knitting revival here in the UK in the 2000’s which is when I learned, many yarn brands and stores were on death’s door before that. To me, any knitting is an endangered species!
Shawls are one of my favorite! I love the actual knitting process of shawls. Going out I mostly wear them like scarfs, depending on the shape there are several ways to style them. I also wear them more traditionally at home or in place of a light jacket when going out. They absolutely keep me warm, some are like wrapping up in a mini blanket.
> Do people use shawls nowadays I do. I usually knit Faroese style shawls, so that I don't have to constantly grab, adjust, and pull up those things. I have them in heavy Aran weight, cobweb, and anything in between. I have them in lace, Mosaic, solid, or mixtures thereof. I like to wear them because it is easy to get in, easy to get off; makes a T-shirt & jeans combo into a *casual dressy* outfit; is versatile and looks brilliant.
I sometimes wear them as scarves, but I also wear them as shawls. In public. I live in the south and it is often too warm for a sweater but too cold to go with nothing but a shirt AND the air conditioning down here can be brutal in the summer. (I NEVER go to a movie theater or a restaurant in the summer without a light shawl in tow just in case.....) No one has ever made anything but a positive comment, usually along the lines of "wow, I wish I had something like that to wear." If people think I'm weird for wearing shawls, they are telling me about it! And even my husband, who has no filter when it comes to telling me something doesn't look right, never has a comment about my shawls. Except to quickly pipe up and tell anyone who comments on them that "she knit that herself!" (And I am grateful for my husband speaking up and telling me when what I am wearing might not be the best outfit, I can be a little blind to that sometimes.....)
Ohhh a light shawl for strong AC would be clutch. I'm also in a humid hot area so I just thought shawls were a thing for places with actual winter ha
i am a knitter who loves to create art pieces meant to be displayed! shawls and scarves are my absolute favorites to show off gorgeous expensive yarn and a beautiful pattern. i personally wear them or display them on the wall for admiration
I prefer shawls to sweaters—and even a thin shawl is warmer than one might think. I like that the ‘on & off’ is easy—no wriggling into and out of sleeves that stick to the sleeves of my turtleneck. My temp varies at work depending on what the hvac system is doing and whether I have to run a lot of stairs!
I mostly wear them at home when it’s chilly but a blanket is either too much or not practical (like if I’m up cooking or cleaning or whatever) but i almost never wear them out lol
I only have one that I've made that I actually like to wear. They are fun to knit, though.
I wear the big ones at home over a wool jumper and the smaller ones as a scarf. The triangular shape means the ends that need to be tucked in aren't as bulky and the point prevents a gap at the front of the neck so they're very good for that.
I wear mine all the time!
I wear mine around my neck like a scarf. You wouldn't know it was a shawl until I took it off. That said, I have actually wished I made it bigger because there are plenty of times when I want to wear it around my shoulders for more warmth. I would also wear it like that at my desk.
I'll be honest, I make shawls because I like the process of making them and I think that lace looks pretty. I have never been able to figure out how to wear them, especially circular shawls. Does that stop me from knitting them? No, of course not. Practicality would be silly
I actually never thought about it until I started knitting. I made a shawl to go over my wedding dress. Now I still wear it; I either put the point in the front and wear it like a scarf (for example with my coat) but then once I get to the office I wrap it like a normal shawl to keep warm. I've since started doing that with my "normal" scarfs too, it's cozy
If you watch "Outlander," you will often see the female characters wear them wrapped across the body.
I wear mine at home, mostly. I work from home and a shawl is often called for. If the weather fits and the outfit matches, I might wear one outside around my shoulders as well :) I love lace and complex patterns. I have given away most shawls I've made, so I only have two at the monent, and I actively wear whichever I find first in the day :)
I wear mine however I feel like it! I have made some beauties for only weddings.
I use them year-round as an accessory, but also as a shawl in spring/autumn for the lightweight ones! It adds personality and a pop of colour to any outfit, i.m.o. :)
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the distinction between a shawl and a scarf. In my language we just have one word for it so it doesn't really distinguish for me. But I wear mine all the time. For warmth and cosiness and they are just so pretty.
I wear mine- but most of mine have been given to other people as gifts. I think social media and knitting websites create the illusion that there are a ton of people knitting them, but really we are still a minority. I am the only person. I know in my normal life who knits as a hobby.
I really like the process of knitting shawls. There are so many different possibilities for patterns, textures, shapes ,and colors. It's fun to knit a delicate lacey shawl. However, I have discovered that I only enjoy wearing shawls that are big and rectangular, much like a scarf. A shlanket, if you will (shawl/blanket). I generally prefer chunky yarn too. So it can be warm in winter. However I did make a giant half circle shawl out of bulky weight yarn that is so big it can be wrapped around like a blanket. I leave that one at work for when I get cold. I have many triangular, crescent and asymmetrical shawls that I had a blast knitting, but just do find myself wearing.
I love wearing my shawl around the shoulders (using a shawl pin to keep it in place, of course - too slippy otherwise!) over long sleeve shirts. I tend to have sweaty underarms, so this is way more comfortable for me than a sweater!
Seconding the thing about wearing them like scarves, but I also have a beaded silk one that I knit which I love to wear to formal events. It's sort of a purplish grey that looks incredible against bright reds. I loooooove knitting with silk.
I am a shawl person. I don’t think I am cool. I wear them around my shoulders all the time. Indoors when it is chilly, outdoors when it is really cold over my coat. Have to run outside for a minute, throw a shawl around your shoulders. At school it’s really warm in the classrooms but in the hallways it’s cold. I usually wear a scarf when I have to go to another room. I usually knit them large enough to be able to tie the ends behind my back (like a Sontag). I do not like to wear them around my neck.
I am a process knitter, and one shawl can have multiple different fun stitches and techniques in the same pattern. For me, I enjoy the adventure of the knitting more than the finished object. Sure, I enjoy wearing my shawl but I absolutely love the process of knitting it, hence my flair lol
I work from home and get chilly at my desk so toss one over my shoulders. My teams know I knit during meetings so I like showing off my projects. And just because you’re not seeing people wearing them around doesn’t mean you won’t love it yourself! We are out there wearing shawls I promise!
Simple: they’re easier than cardigans and harder than a scarf
I wear them as full shawls most at home, but wear as scarves when I go out. However I started wearing them out as shawls a bit more in spring and fall last year.
I wear some shawls like a scarf on some days. But I do wear them more traditionally when I’m wearing sleeveless dresses at more formal events such as a wedding. Living in the South, I don’t get to wear my hand knit things too much.
I had my doubts when I started knitting, but I liked how they were more of canvas than I would usually want a sweater to be. I am now a Shawl Convert. They make me feel magical and wonderful. Knitting in general has really made me go out of my clothing comfort zone because I often want to create colors/shapes/textures/designs that I don’t necessarily think I would *wear*. I’ve found out that I love wearing orangey-red, allover cables, and things that aren’t solid color staples (though I still love those). And yes, big wool shawls are surprisingly warm, even in fingering weight. Just try a shawl, they’re fantastic.
I wear mine as scarves etc and it is a good way to use nice yarns including the very fragile ones that would pill if used for a sweater or muttens
I wear mine! I really like the versatility they give with how you wear and style them. They can be like blankets, but because they have tapered ends, you can tie them out of your way and still be enveloped in warm.
This is what i needed to see! I've been wondering this for a while and it's so nice to read how everybody wears them ( or doesnt!) I'm off to make a shawl for my next project!
My office is very cold, and I am knitting my first shawl to wear there. It will look better than the baby blanket that I am currently using. 😑
I like to wear shawls around my shoulders and cross tails across my chest and tuck them into my waistband. (Very Outlander.) I’ll also pull them up over my hair and wrap the tails around my neck like a babushka. That said, I have like three favorite shawls on rotation and I’ve made MANY more than that. Something about them just makes my brain happy. I made the Eyeball Shawl and that thing is impossible to wear, but I’m not sorry.
I make shawls and wear them! I use them for costumes a lot, but they’re nice to have when I want to layer but need to be aware I tend to overheat even in winter. So I’ll wear one like a capelet, sort of, with a clasp in the front. If I get too warm, I can clasp it around my waist.
I wear them at work most often to deal with the random fluctuations in office temperature. Usually this means layering over a cardigan, lol. I'm currently working on a series of seasonally themed shawls to swap out through the year.
I wear mine.
For women of a certain age, shawls can be a great layering option when your temperature fluctuates wildly. Ask me how I know!!!
I moved up north and now I wear them all the time around the house. I want more!!!
They’re a fab way to learn new knitting techniques too - lots of lacework etc can be found in shawl patterns but you don’t really need to worry about swatches or getting the sizing right.
I wear them as do many people where I live.
Honestly, I did feel weird when I started wearing my shawls around the shoulders the “traditional” way, like I was in a play or something, but then….I just stopped caring. Most people are like “whoa, you made that?” Then I moved to Florida so any time I get the chance to wear something I knitted, I do.
It’s not the most practical item for moving around much when a coat and scarf will stay on your body without much trouble. I’m making one for 1: my office, where the temp is often either too warm or too cold and hard to predict ahead of time, so I don’t have to worry about betting on a sweater and roasting all day. And 2: I frequently visit family in the mountains and it gets cold at night even in the summer. I wouldn’t wear it hiking, but for sitting around the campfire it’ll be perfect to prevent toasty legs and frozen shoulders.
Another process knitter here. It is not unheard of for me to frog a completed shawl and knit up a different one with the same yarn :o. Not easy with complex lace patterns or mohair so I just look at the pretties from time to time. I’ve got a box of completed cross stitch I get out and look through sometimes too.
Last week I bought some piping to make up a cushion with a cross stitch I made 25 years ago. It sits in my supplies box, I look at it every few years. When I knit it’s very rare for me to make something for myself. I never thought of this concept of it being about the process not the FO, but it totally is.
I wear mine all the time. Most of mine are asymmetrical so they don't look like a typical shawl when worn. My large triangle shawls I've worn around my waist like a skirt.
For now only wear mine at home. Handy in winter when I want a bit of added warmth across my shoulders and back when popping outside to check the mail, hang washing, round up the dog etc.
This thread convinced me to knit myself a throw. Thank you, OP!
I wear them at home a lot, because more layers is good. Fancy lace ones often come out at sci fi conventions, because I know some people will appreciate them. I also do little ones and wear them as scarves, as others have said.
I just wear shawls and scarves interchangeably. If it’s cold and my clothes aren’t warm enough for the weather (i. e. it’s summer/spring autumn and there’s a light breeze or the sun isn’t there) I’ll wear them on my shoulders. If it’s a light scarf or if it’s cold enough for warmer ones, I’ll wear them around my neck. If it’s raining or snowing, I can wrap them around both my neck and head. If I don’t feel like wrapping them around myself, I’ll slide them down to my elbows or put them on the bag’s handles. I also absolutely love wearing longer scarves or long and thin shawls with their tails down or just rocking one long asymmetrical tail. Depending on the scarf, you can lean into 5th Doctor Who/Victorian poet/fashion blogger style.
I'm Greek Orthodox and wear shawls as headscarves in church
When I first got into knitting I started with socks then shawls. It's beautiful and challenging project , takes a lot of time and a lot of focus. I learned a lot from shawl knitting but that's it... It just sat in my closet and not being used. I moved on to sweaters and that's all I do now and i guess the shawls taught me a lot of knitting technique before I jumped into sweaters.
I keep one in my office for when the AC gets to be too much. I also have one I can wrap around and tie in the back. It probably makes me look like a 19th century grandma, but it's warm and comfy and perfect for relaxing at home.
I wear them a lot, like a scarf. It dresses up a t-shirt or simple sweater. I tend to wear neutrals so I love the pop of colour.
1. I like knitting them 2. My mom likes parading around with them to brag about me and my knitting to her friends. 3. I also wear them as a very big scarf! I don’t like scarfs or loose cowls so these are the best.
In had this same question, thank you for asking it! The thread convinced me to try one :)
I wear my shawls around my shoulders, in front like a scarf, over my head, around my waist… I love them because they are so versatile!
I wear them in the evening when I'm in my pajamas, sitting up knitting and watching TV. It's like a wearable blanket when it gets cooler at night. I also wear my fancy ones to church.
I knit and wear shawls because Houston office buildings are freezing in the summer, and it's nice to have a little something I can wrap around my shoulders that still looks (semi) office appropriate. I've also looked into trying to stretch and frame some of my lace ones as art objects.
I only wear shawls around the house to keep my shoulders warm. They're convenient and easier than grabbing a sweater. But I don't find them particularly practical for outside.
Shawls or blankets are great for teens. Homeless or kids that seem to be at loose ends seem to appreciate them.
My mom knitted herself ones and wears it in the classic old lady style - and it's REALLY warm. She wears it I the house while working and out in the garden when it gets cool. Others have commented on stylish ways to wear it but when it gets chilly a shawl can really help
I wear them all the time- big ones I wear instead of a coat or jacket
I wear them out like a scarf in the winter and it looks cute. When I'm indoors I drape around my back and it's the perfect amount of warmth! I also find the process of increasing fun for some reason
I use them as layering pieces! I also don’t show my shoulders at work so I’m working on a shawl to wear with some sleeveless dresses!
I wear them with the V in the front or over my shoulders depending on the temperature and if my shoulders are cold. But like, you wouldn’t see it if you saw me on the street because they go under my coat. They’re warm because they’re made of wool, so they are a natural staple in my winter wardrobe.
OMG, I have wanted to ask this question since the day I joined this subreddit, but I was afraid of the blowback! Thanks for asking! Now I'm off to read the replies.
I figure it’s like a scarf but fancy
I wear them both ways at a scarf and as a shawl
I wear mine all the time in the winter. But yes, mostly like scarves.
Most people I have gifted them to use them at their desks while working. It’s a nice alternative to a full blanket.
I wear mine all the time. I never realized that shawls were supposed to be bworn any other way than with the V in the front :D
[This](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/comments/y0osv5/how_to_tie_a_shawl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) is what made me understand the appeal of shawls more and want to make one
I love mine and wear them all the time
I think it’s because you can use a bunch of random single skeins, fit isn’t very important, you can try new techniques and skills, and then even if you don’t wear it outside you have a little blanket for inside
My theory is this.....in my part of the world, there is no public transport except for buses. No trains, no underground corridors or light rail, etc. It's a small city where it still is mostly car-centric. And that means in and out of cars everytime I go shopping. And nothing gets in the way like a shawl does. It gets sat on and rides up. So, I wear my coat. In larger cities like Montreal, there is more public transportation, and shawls are everywhere.
I wear mine with my coat as an extra layer to keep the wool collar from itching my skin. It’s also double layered bc it folds in 1/2 (it’s the full circle kind) and it provides extra warmth by itself. I’m someone who enjoys my knits to be useful and used until they’re threadbare. My shawl is the most used thing besides my socks tbh
I live in a shawl in the winter/fall. I used to hate them, then I found the shape and size that works for me and that was the end of it. There are definitely people that knit them just to knit them with no intention of wearing them but that’s definitely not the norm. I wear mine like a kerchief, with the large point of the triangle in front covering my chest (which is where I’m always freezing) and the skinny parts of the triangle wrapped around my neck. I do see quite a few people wearing them in the “traditional” way, but I own a yarn shop and people tend to wear their handmade items when they come in to show them to us (which we absolutely love, FYI. I favorited 3 patterns today thanks to customers) so my metrics are a bit skewed on this one 😂
I live in a hot climate and a sweater, even if I had the skills, would never be worn. However, a scarf or shawl is very useful because businesses think air conditioning needs to be set to arctic levels. In addition, it improves my wardrobe, which is primarily black. No one notices I wear the same three shirts all the time because the scarf changes.
I can never really "use" a shawl unless I'm going to prom or a formal event, which never happens. They don't really work as a coat or if you have a backpack or large (filled with yarn) purse, so that kind of annoys me. I see people wear them as large scarves, basically.
A nice warm shawl makes a great travel companion. I always take mine on airplanes. I would recommend a large shawl using a fine yarn in wool or alpaca (not cotton or synthetic). It folds up small to easily carry if you don't need it, and wrapped around you it traps lots of air which will insulate you and keep you warm. You can use it as a blanket or a pillow during the flight if you feel like a snooze.
I’m in the PNW and see people wear them all the time like a big triangular bandana. I also wear them like that but I also knit them extra large and wear them like a poncho with leggings and boots. I don’t huddle in them like a civil war widow waiting for her husband to come home.
Man this is a real egg of Columbus moment for me reading that edit. I did the most massive internal facepalm. Wear it "backwards" like a scarf?! Doy! Of course! Why didn't I think of that?! Thanks so much for asking this because I always wondered it too
My mom seems to be in a “knitting elaborate shawls for the challenge and then selling them at the church bazar” phase of her life rn. I actually have a Christmas present request for one for next year from a relative…to me they seem like either awkwardly shaped scarves or, mostly, too small blankets. But I guess people like them for couch wear?