Getting all dressed up for the holidays doesn’t have to mean buying a whole new glitzy outfit and accessories – you can keep it simple and still wow the crowd. All you need is a fun holiday accessory! For the holidays, many people opt for a new necklace or pair of earrings – the bigger and bolder, the better. Pairing a piece like that over a simple dress is definitely one way to stand out during holiday parties, but it’s just as easy to knit your own bold statement accessory.

Paired with a simple black or solid-colored dress, a simple knit accessory makes a world of difference. You can choose something that’s purely decorative, like a necklace or an intricate lace scarf, or go with something that keeps you warm as well, such as a wide shawl or wrap. Made in contrasting or bold colors, a knit accessory can stand out just as much, if not more, as a statement necklace or pair of earrings. Plus, you’ll have the pride of knowing you made the item yourself. With knit accessories, you can endlessly customize every aspect of the design, from yarn type (light weight vs worsted weight), yarn content (wool vs silk), color (solids vs variegated) and even any embellishments (beads). Whatever the occasion calls for, there’s a knit accessory for it. Whether you’re a novice knitter or have some pretty serious needle-wielding skills, your perfect little something is out there!

One of my favorite holiday accessories is a scarf. I get cold often, so having something substantial to wrap around myself that also looks chic and matches what I’m wearing is a wonderful thing. The pattern below, from Yarnspirations, is a great example of a festive party accessory. It’s simple, but picture it with a black dress (or a bold, white dress, if you like to mix it up!) – it’s definitely at home in any party environment.

Chill Chaser Cowl

Pattern by Yarnspirations

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 15″ wide x 59″ around

Gauge: 11 sts and 14 rows = 4” [10 cm] with U.S. 11 (8 mm) knitting needles

Materials

Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky (100% acrylic; 108 yards [99 meters]/100 grams): #28223 Grass (5 balls)
Needle: US sizes 9 (5.5 mm), US size 10½ (6.5 mm) and US size 11 (8.0 mm) knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Cable needle

Abbreviations

C6B: Slip next 3 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work. K3, then K3 from cable needle
C6F: Slip next 3 stitches onto cable needle and leave at front of work. K3, then K3 from cable needle
Cr4F: Slip next stitch onto cable needle and leave at front of work. K3, then K1 from cable needle
Cr4B: Slip next 3 stitches onto cable needle and leave at back of work. K1, then K3 from cable needle
K1tbl: Knit next stitch through back of loop
Kfb: Increase 1 stitch by knitting into front and back of next stitch
P1tbl: Purl next stitch through back of loop
P2(3)tog: Purl next 2(3) stitches together
Psso: Pass slipped stitch over
Ssk: Slip next 2 stitches knitwise one at a time. Pass them back onto left-hand needle, then knit through back loops together

Special Stitches

Cable Panel

(worked over 21 sts – See Chart I)
Row 1 (RS): K6, P2, K2tog, yo, P1, yo, ssk, P2, K6.
Row 2: P6, K2, P2, K1, P2, K2, P6.
Row 3: C6F, P2, yo, ssk, P1, K2tog, yo, P2, C6B.
Row 4: As Row 2.
Rows 5-6: As Rows 1-2.
Row 7: K6, P2, yo, ssk, P1, K2tog, yo, P2, K6.
Row 8: As Row 2.
Row 9: C6F, P2, K2tog, yo, P1, yo, ssk, P2, C6B.
Row 10: As Row 2.
Row 11: As Row 7.
Row 12: (P2, K2) twice, P2, K1, (P2. K2) twice, P2.
Row 13: Yo, ssk, P2, K6, P1, K6, P2, K2tog, yo.
Row 14: P2, K2, P6, K1, P6, K2, P2.
Row 15: K2tog, yo, P2, C6B, P1, C6F, P2, yo, ssk.
Row 16: As Row 14.
Rows 17-18: As Rows 13-14.
Row 19: K2tog, yo, P2, K6, P1, K6, P2, yo, ssk.
Row 20: As Row 14.
Row 21: Yo, ssk, P2, C6B, P1, C6F, P2, K2tog, yo.
Row 22: As Row 14.
Row 23: As Row 19.
Row 24: As Row 12.
These 24 rows form Cable Panel pat.

Pattern

With US 11 (8.0 mm) needles, cast on 45 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K2, P10. Work 1st row of Cable Panel across next 21 sts, P10, K2.
Row 2: K2, *P3tog, (K1, P1, K1) all in next st. Rep from * once more, K2, Work 2nd row of Cable Panel across next 21 sts, K2, **(K1, P1, K1) all in next st, P3tog. Rep from ** once more, K2.
Row 3: K2, P10, Work 3rd row of Cable Panel across next 21 sts, P10, K2.
Row 4: K2, *(K1, P1, K1) all in next st. P3tog. Rep from * once more, K2. Work 4th row of Cable Panel across next 21 sts. K2. **P3tog, (K1, P1, K1) all in next st. Rep from ** once more. K2.
These 4 rows form Trinity St pat. Cable Panel is now in position.
Cont in pat, keeping cont of Cable Panel, until work from beg measures approx 59” [150 cm] ending on a 10th row of Cable Panel pat.
Cast off in pat. Sew cast on and cast off edges tog.

I Like Knitting has some of it’s own great knitting accessories to explore – would any of these fit in with your holiday plans?

• La Carlotta Collar Cuff 
• Colors of the Seal Shawl 
• Wildfire Block Cowl
• Apricot Lace Scarf 
• Chevron Lace Scarf