9 lovely knits in owl

Three cheers for Owl! Our darling little bird has finally made its way back to the nest (AKA our warehouse in Saco). With last week’s re-launch of the Plain & Simple Collection—with all 11 patterns now available for individual purchase AND all garments carefully updated to fit everyone within our supported size range—our love for this yarn grows by the day. And so it only seems right to take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of our most beloved patterns in this luxuriously soft blend of American wool and alpaca.

Scroll down for some Owl-spiration…

Sweaters (of course!)

Left to right: Filar by Hanna Maciejewska in cerulean, Birch by Pam Allen in togian and snowy, and Brushwood by Hanna Maciejewska in tawny.

Filar by Hanna Maciejewska

Our little Owl, a blend of American wool and alpaca, takes flight in Hanna’s stunning top-down pullover. Filar features beautiful cables that seem to swoop off a ribbed backdrop, for a uniquely sculptural piece, full of movement and texture. A classic neckline and silhouette make for a staple garment you’ll be reaching for in your handmade wardrobe. Purchase this pattern individually or as part of the 4-piece Artisan Collection: Hanna Maciejewska.

Birch by Pam Allen

Birch combines classic colorwork and comfort-knitting at its best! Plus, this pullover is a cool hybrid of bottom-up and top-down knitting: The body is knitted from the bottom up, with stitches cast on provisionally for the sleeves, all the way to the neck, and the sleeves are picked up from the waste yarn and knitted down to the cuffs. Newly updated to fit everyone within our supported size range (up to a 64-inch bust), Birch is now available for individual purchase or as part of the 11-piece Plain & Simple Collection.

Brushwood by Hanna Maciejewska

Hanna brings us a stunner in Brushwood—from its cables to its reverse Stockinette stitch saddle shoulders to its side panels and sleeves. We love its clever top-down construction and its sweet details at the ribbed funnel neck. If you’re looking for a compelling knit that celebrates color, texture, and movement, you’ll absolutely adore Brushwood. Purchase it individually, or as part of the 9-piece Autumnal Equinox collection.

Shawls & Scarves

Left to right: Faileas by Sierra Morningstar in bog and sokoke, Leading Bird by Leah Thibault in abyssinian, and Crossing by Hanna Maciejewska in sokoke.

Faileas by Sierra Morningstar

Faileas combines simple colorwork and texture in this richly patterned cowl. Worked in the round as a long tube, the beginning and end are grafted together to form a cowl. We love the natural, woodsy palette of bog and sokoke but you might consider the warmth of mesa with abyssinian, an ocean blue palette like allagash and cielo, or a neutral, undyed pair like papuan and elf. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Leading Bird by Leah Thibault

Inspired by the song “The Leading Bird” by Markéta Irglova, Leah designed this cozy half-pi shawl with the idea of creating a woolly piece with a rustic yet graceful feel. Worked top down in Owl, and featuring garter stitch and dropped stitch techniques, Leading Bird is the perfect project to take with you wherever you may go.

Crossing by Hanna Maciejewska

We love this enormous wrap, combining meditative garter with a stunning cable panel that looks more complex than it really is. Available in two sizes, this piece worked up in Owl promises warmth and gorgeous style.

Hats & Mitts

Left to right: Textured Hat & Mitts by Hannah Fettig in elf, Shadbush by Pam Allen in papuan and snowy, and Mansard by Cassie LaFollette in allagash.

Textured Hat & Mitts by Hannah Fettig

If you’ve never knit with Owl and want to sample it with a quick knit, then look no further than Hannah’s Textured Hat & Mitts. Requiring only 2 skeins of Owl for both, the set features a simple knit-purl texture that can be whipped up in no time. Mitts are always great for keeping fingers free and functional, and the hat is a no-brainer to bring with you on a chilly day. Find this pattern set as part of the Texture Collection.

Shadbush by Pam Allen

Top reasons to find Shadbush irresistible: This hat knits up in no time, and features skinny stripes and a fun two-color pom pom. The only tricky part is choosing colors from Owl's gorgeous palette. Pictured above in the colors papuan and snowy, we could see it in a multitude of color pairings—from soft and subtle to bold and contrasting. Enjoy incredible savings when you purchase Shadbush as part of the Plain & Simple Collection.

Mansard by Cassie LaFollette

Everyone needs a go-to cozy hat, and we think you’ll find none finer than Mansard. Cassie’s design starts off with a folded ribbed brim and gives way to lush honeycomb brioche. This irresistibly squishy stitch pattern traps air, making for an especially warm and insulated hat. Topped off with a plush pom pom and written in a range of three sizes, we can’t wait to knit a Mansard (or two, or three) ourselves. This pattern is also available as part of the 11-piece collection, Atelier.

Ready to cast on something soft and cozy in Owl? You might also enjoy our recent post on the Plain & Simple re-launch, which you can find here. And don’t forget, you can find even more patterns in Owl in our dedicated pattern collection. Happy knitting!