First Person
Making It: Knitters Lead the Way
Well, well, well, knitters, it appears we’ve yet again started (or at the very least contributed to) a trend. Bandannas and skinny neck scarves are having a fashion moment.
From celebrities like Rihanna sporting bandannas over their heads to people wrapping skinny scarves around bag handles to emulate the Hermès Twilly to machine-knit skinny scarves arriving in retail stores this season—neck scarves are officially everywhere.
I recently saw a TikTok of a man saying he asked his grandmother to make him one. And it looked suspiciously familiar—but we’ll get to that in a minute. No matter the format, one thing’s for sure: neck scarves are the It Items this year.
In the 2024 menswear shows, bandannas and skinny scarves were a standout. Gucci’s Fall 2024 menswear collection was full of the look. Even two of my most fashionable friends recently started a bandanna and scarf line called Sable NY.
The trend isn’t limited to menswear; it’s popping up in ready-to-wear collections too, with appearances in Saint Laurent’s Spring 2024 show.
Now, knitted neck scarves have entered the mainstream.
From &Daughter’s Fionn Cashmere Foulard (priced at $220.00) to LǎOLAO STUDIOS’s The Mini Scarf-Scarlet ($95.00 and proudly claims to be “hand-made by grandmother artisans”) to Suzie Kondi’s luxurious Madilli Scarf ($255.00). These versatile accessories are officially everywhere!
But this trend didn’t just pop up in the past two years. All trends wrap around (cue the cerulean monologue from The Devil Wears Prada).
It’s remarkable how many times I’ve referenced this speech in my writing. What Miranda Priestly nails in that monologue is that trends always begin somewhere. Designers are humans who pull inspiration from their daily lives and fashion moments throughout history.
When I was in fashion school, a teacher once reviewed my sketches and said “You don’t have to try so hard to reinvent the wheel.” Shoutout to Shane Gabier for that gem of wisdom.
The truth is, both Miranda and Shane were correct: all trends come from somewhere. And many stitchers, because of this, already have the perfect finished object in our closets to jump on this trend today. Enter The Sophie Scarf by PetiteKnit.
I like to imagine that the larger trend began with a designer sitting at a cafe who looked up and spotted a Sophie Scarf on some unsuspecting knitter.
As you may or may not know, The Sophie Scarf can be made in two different lengths to fit your personal style. I made mine using Jane Yarn in Aubergine. One skein was enough to make the small version of the Sophie Scarf and I had a bit left over.
There are so many ways to wear yours to jump on this trend but here are a few of my favorites:
For my Sophie, I’ve never been much of a fan of the knotted look, mostly because I’ve never perfected tying the knot so that the tails lay perfectly flat. Instead, I typically opt for a simple twist. Wapping it over itself once just to secure it in place without stretching and knotting it up.
But I recently heard of a trick where you can use a ring and slip both ends of the scarf or bandanna through it. This works similarly to a bolo tie: it lets you keep the length you’d lose when knotting and allows you to switch up the look with a more attention-grabbing ring—and it’s now my go-to style choice.
For a real throwback, you can pop it onto your head and wear it over your ears for warmth or simply to cover up a bad hair day—nothing to see here! I like to use hair clips to hold mine in place and add another twist to this classic style.
Whether you’re knotting, looping, or adding a ring, the knitted neck scarf is the perfect accessory to stay ahead of the trend…or behind the trend, depending on how you look at it.
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I’ve been admiring bandana-sized neck scarves and have just finished knitting one. I like the idea of using a ring to keep it in place. Now I just have to decide on a ring , Even more important, I’d love to know if there’s a pattern available for that beautiful, brilliant blue sweater !! Please share!
I just added the full story in the comments below 🙂
Xx Sam
I’d like to know about the sweater you’re wearing in your pictures! Looks like a lovely compilation of freeform squares and rectangles? Is there a better picture of it?
I just added the full story in the comments below. I should post more photos of it! Its construction is very cool!
Xx Sam
I came here for the sweater pattern also!
Great article! What is that amazing sweater she is wearing? Pattern?
Girl, I love your vibe energy and joyful embrace of color. This old lady needs to see some bright colors as we are ensconced in NE chill. I digress, I knit my 1st skinny scarf after seeing Susan Sarandon, with a torn strip of denim around her neck. My 1st skinny scarf was born. Thx for listening, back to your story.
Your vibrant blue sweater is stunning! Is it your pattern? It looks like I am not the only one swooning over it. Do tell!
Sewing in my Sophie ends later today.
Great observations! And…. add me to the cardigan curiosity list, please!
Hello beautiful knitters! I see a few questions about the sweater I’m wearing in these photos so I wanted to answer those questions…and pop in with a quick story.
When I first began my career I was working in the fashion industry. I had the opportunity to work at a few different well known brands but the one I spent the most time at was Donna Karan.
At one point, I was given the opportunity to assist the knitwear department. This mainly meant running around like Andy in the Devil Wears Prada but for much kinder people. While I knew how to crochet and knit at the time I was still very much a beginner and seeing the process of knitwear design was a lightbulb moment for me. Part of the job was to help the designers in their process to develop the knits that would appear on the runway.
This blue sweater was one of those rejected sample knits from a 2005 runway show – which would have been made in 2004. And because it never made it to the runway it also never made it into development. It’s one of one. It’s label reads
“DONNA KARAN
Sample Not For Resale
Y05
Divina +Aran
DK10”
I personally think it’s the most beautiful hand made item I own and it represents a time in my life where I often got very little sleep working on beautiful things that never saw the spotlight. So I’m more than amused that you all saw the value in it today. Thank you 🙂
Xx Sam
I love this story so much.
A friend in London who was just out of fashion school worked on VW’s knitwear collections and while she was not well paid or well treated in general, she collected some absolutely amazing pieces and wore the heck out of them.
I bet some of these smart folks could re-invent it if you pictured the front, back, sides and measurements. On your right sleeve, it almost looks like large entrelac, but I would have to see it spread out and close up. It’s like when Julia Farwell-Clay unvented the Prada sweater and now has made lots of things to wear in its style. I, for one, made the shawl! (https://www.ravelry.com/projects/saradenbo/eddy-wrap)
I actually think that would be a super fun way of approaching it! The sweater is actually made up of individual swatches each one a different size and all seamed together with the seams facing out. Some are garter stitch, others purl, and others knit! It’s made in three sections. One for the back and the two in the front overlap. It’s deceptive, lol! And was not picked for production because of how complicated it is to make even though it appears quite simple on a first glance.
I’ll try to post a few more photos of it 🙂
-Sam
Thank you! Let us know where you’ll be posting those photos please, Samantha, when you can.
MJ
Thanks, Samantha!
Timely. I have had the Sophie Scarf pattern for years and never made one. Time to pull out some yarn and get stylish! Although, by the time I finish it, I might have to wait until the next style cycle to be “in.”
Skinny cashmere neck scarves were my go to Christmas gifts in 2024, all well received.
I’ve made Sophie scarves for others, but just made one for myself. Love it.
This Blue Sweater, Cardigan rather… It may have been rejected 20 years ago from some runway. However, it seems that MDK knitters are interested in having a go at it. Is there a chance some more detailed photos of this creation could be published in your newsletter?
Thanks so much for considering it…
Totally love that sweater and will troll (is that the right term?) Ravelry for something similar. Also love the Sophie scarf color! And a great reward for reading Comments: I have lots of denim for that Susan Sarandon scarf!
Petite Knits is having a moment! Cited here for their Sophie Scarf and recently mentioned in a NY Times article (1/12/25] for their pattern Sophie Hood.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophie-hood
Also a shoutout for My Little Lace Scarf from Lisa Hannes, a talented pattern designer. On trend as in the above post but knit in an easy lace pattern.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/my-little-lace-scarf
I love the scarf and the sweater! I have the Sophie Scarf pattern already, so it is time to knit it. I am never in fashion, so this would be so cool.
Thanks!
Samantha I like the Sophie scarf, but I love the sweater you are wearing. We are intriqued by the sweater, especially the pattern and, for me, the color of the yarn!! Thanks for your article!!
I’m always having a bad hair day because my hair is short and I sleep on my left side so when I take my dog out early in the morning before a shower or coffee I’m always hoping that it’s cold enough for a hat. And 100% wool is intolerable, but interesting idea
I just weigh my yarn before starting a Sophie and work until it’s half the weight, then reverse. I’ve made them a bit wider as well when I had enough yarn. It’s a great project for those random single skeins. (Autocorrect wants me to say single skeletons… What?!?)