Fluffy fine alpaca: Midnatssol
Brevue cardigan on fresh spring days
Little helpers and matching accessories
You can find all Maschenfein pattern here
They are currently on everyone's lips - or rather on everyone's necks: mini scarves are the trend of the knitting world. Hardly any designer has not created their own model and of course Maschenfein cannot ignore these small and practical accessories. In this inspiration, you can find out everything you need to know - with lots of inspiration for knitting newbies and "old hands"!
Starting off: Denmark
Photo: ©️ PetiteKnit
Shawls and scarves in every conceivable size have probably been around as long as there have been knitting needles, but that's the thing about trends - they're not really predictable. Although ... designs that come from Mette aka PetiteKnit often have what it takes to become a trend 😉
And so it didn't take long for the Dane to conquer the knitting world with her Sophie Scarf in summer 2022. Knitted from one or two balls of cashmere yarn (or whatever your stash has to offer), the little scarf is finished in no time at all and is also the perfect project for knitting beginners.
Mini wipes? Super fast!
Another great thing about mini shawls is that they are quick to knit! That makes them ideal gifts. They also fit into any project bag and thanks to the variety of designs, there is something to suit all tastes.
Our maschenfein mini shawl book
Maschenfein without scarves? That's not possible! And of course we also have small designs. In Mini shawls - Maxi Chic you will find 18 knitted shawl classics, but made small!
The book was recently published by EMF Verlag and we are very proud. The sixth Maschenfein book now bears our signature: From the layout and the choice of yarns to the lovely sketches, it brings Maschenfein to the bookshelf and onto the needles.
Photo: ©️ Marisa Nöldeke
Photo: ©️ Ines Grabner / Maschenfein
All knitting levels will be happy when choosing the right knitted mini shawl. Plain knit patterns can be used as well as sophisticated color, ajour, slip stitch or textured designs. Thanks to the smaller amount of wool, the matching knitting sets are also cheaper without having to compromise on quality.
If you think the 18 mini scarves are simply knitted smaller than the large original - far from it! We have invested a lot of love and time in each design so that the dimensions fit and it fits nicely around the neck.
For us, the maschenfein mini shawls are the perfect addition to any wardrobe. As the choice of color is completely free, everyone can knit the perfect piece. These little accessories are perfect for spring and fall: they are still warm enough, but still allow you to enjoy milder temperatures.
The material
For us, the manageable use of materials only has advantages: For example, those who normally avoid high-priced yarns may want to knit a small project with them for this very reason. The existing stash of wool can also come into its own: Leftover balls of yarn may not be enough for large designs - but a small accessory is usually possible. The shawls are also quicker to knit.
You will always find our favorite yarns in our mini shawls book as well as in the other knitting sets for little neck flatterers. We have put together a small selection - also for your own ideas - here:
Photo: ©️ Ines Grabner / Maschenfein
The right needles
Circular knitting needles are ideal for shawls. We prefer flexible needle systems here. This allows you to choose the right rope length for your project - in this case, slightly shorter ropes.
You can also use a needle system to compensate for differences in the strength of the stitches in the back and front rows. Simply screw a thinner needle - or a heavier one - to the end of the cable whose needle you are using to knit the back row, depending on how tightly you knit your knit or purl stitches.
The conclusion of your project
Photo: ©️ Ines Grabner / Maschenfein
Once you've finished knitting, don't forget one important step: washing and stretching! Only after a gentle hand wash and drying under - careful! - tension will the pattern of your model really come into its own.
In addition to suitable wool detergents, you will of course find everything you need for this step at Maschenfein. We recommend comb needles and tension wires - although you will need the latter more for large cloths. The flexible wires from KNOOLS are a good alternative. You can also use them to optimally stretch out the curves of your fabrics.
In any case, stretch mats on which you can fix the knitted piece are particularly helpful. Depending on the size of the shawl, you can puzzle the mats together. You can find out more about how to finish your project correctly in our tutorial "Washing and stretching knitted pieces".
About Sophia
I'm Sophia, live in Hannover and since October 2020 I've been taking care of the blog posts, the newsletter, planning the podcast and coming up with actions for social media. By the way, I also happen to be a knitting addict, which benefits me at work.
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1 comment
Good evening, I bought the booklet on Tuesday and will be working one or two shawls from it.
Very nice layout. I particularly like the model.
Best wishes and keep up the great ideas