5 Free Knitting Patterns for Comfort Shawls Offer Warmth & Love
Looking for simple, snuggly knitting patterns for shawls? These five free knitting patterns create warm comfort shawls for any charity
Comfort shawls have a long history in charity knitting, and for good reason. For anyone who is struggling — physically, emotionally, mentally — a comfort shawl is a way to knit a tangible source of love and support.
After all, what is a comfort shawl but a way to offer a constant hug made of fiber?
I have knitted comfort shawls for a friend suffering depression and a friend whose son had recently been deployed in the military. Many of my knitting friends have created shawls for individuals struggling with illness.
It isn’t difficult to find a beautiful free shawl knitting pattern; I’ve seen hundreds just online! However, many of these patterns are lacy, intricate shawls intended for lace-weight yarn.
That’s not a bad thing, of course. But some of us might prefer knitting shawls with a bit more substance to them. Warmer, snugglier, perhaps even more comforting.
(Or, perhaps all we have available is worsted-weight yarn, and so that’s what we want to use!)
For these purposes, here you will find a series of free knitting patterns for shawls that can be used to knit warm, cuddly shawls that are perfect to give as charity projects!
Warm, Comforting Shawls
Valis’ Triangle Shawl: A very simple triangular shawl pattern with a ruffle at one end. Great for beginning knitters or more experienced knitters seeking mindless knits.
Kinetic: For a little more of a challenge, try this rectangular shawl. It has an attractive basketweave-like design, and you can easily adapt it to make a scarf as well.
Kinetic 
Photos: Berroco
Photo: maggieblueberry on Ravelry
Stash Shawls, rectangular and triangular: As the name implies, you can knit these two comfort shawl patterns with whatever you have in your stash!
Autumn Comfort Prayer Shawl: This is another very simple triangle shawl. The name comes from the colorway in which the shawl shown was created. Of course, you can of course use any colorway you wish. Maybe you’d rather create a “spring,” “summer,” or “winter” shawl, with colorways correlating to each? You can!
With any of these patterns, you can turn out as many warm, cuddly comfort shawls as you wish!
I need to read that today, that someone needs what I knit. Yesterday through my pastor I found out that all of the intricate hats I donated for the young kids for Christmas were instead thrown in a box and donated to a second hand place. Had told me they don’t need them this year, send them someplace else. I will. It really deflated my hope and heart. So this year they will go someplace that wants and needs them.
Oh, KJ, I’m so sorry that happened to you! If it’s any consolation, I’m sure that the second-hand shop that your hats went to were greatly appreciated by whomever got them. (I’ll bet they were delighted to find such beautiful hats!) Take heart–there is *definitely* someone out there who needs what you knit! ❤️
So sorry to hear this. it’s often best we find, to knit to order. Our group has knitted purple baby hats and xmas pudding hats for NICUs as requested and currently, cardigans and cot blankets for hospitals. a Seaman’s mission requested scarves and hats for foreign sailors and also we have been asked by a vicar to provide warm accessories for asylum seekers and overnight shelter users for the coming winter.
Better to liaise and thus not be disappointed.
Very true. I encourage all charity knitters to ask before they send, for this very reason. Thank you for all you do!
I’m so sorry to hear that. Obviously whoever decided to do that was not a knitter/crocheter! It’s a bit short sighted as cold weather is just around the corner for most areas of the country. Just know that maybe your hats are getting into the hands of those that will need it the most and not just those that your church helps. When I was an Educational Assistant I would start collecting hats and mittens at the end of the summer for the upcoming school year. That’s when I found the best deals and maybe that’s where your wonderful hats are going – to the neediest of school children. And sadly, there are very many of them.