Get ready to build a custom colorwork pattern that you won’t be able to put down!

Doodles by Pacific Knit Co. are modern, modular patterns that allow makers to design and knit exactly what they want within an easy to follow framework. Because every motif works with every pattern shape, Doodle Patterns enable endless customization within one pattern!

4 Easy Steps to Doodle with Yarn

1: CHOOSE YOUR PATTERN

Cowls, Hats, Socks, & more! Charts work on any Base Doodle pattern!

2: CHOOSE YOUR CHARTS

Pick a theme or grab a few Doodles to mix-and-match!

3: CHOOSE YOUR YARN

Grab a main color and a few accents or create the perfect stash buster!

4: START KNITTING!

Choose your first motif and colors and simply start knitting!

 

The Doodle Framework is clear, consistent, and everything works together, which creates approachable patterns for both beginners or seasoned knitters who want to learn how to customize patterns, but just don't know where to start.

Use this framework to knit patterns again and again, because it’s different every time!

 

STEP 1 Choose your Pattern

For a deeper dive, head over to How to Use Base Doodle Patterns.

Base Doodle Patterns are the blank canvas for your design! Choose from accessories like cowls, hats, socks, and more! And because every Base Doodle Pattern is designed for the Doodle Framework, you can use ANY Base Pattern to knit up ANY Doodle Chart! 

Our Base Patterns are a great way to expand your knitting skillset and learn the basic construction methods and techniques behind your favorite shapes. All of our patterns include links to tutorials for the required techniques, but they also include guidance on how to modify the pattern, so they're perfect for beginners and experts alike!

Check out some beginner-friendly Doodle Patterns available to plug your charts into:

Doodle Cowls: A Standard Cowl is a great place to start, because cowls don’t require any shaping, increasing, or decreasing - simply cast on and start knitting! Want to learn a new skill? Try an infinity or reversible cowl to practice provisional cast-on and grafting!

Doodle Hats: Ready to go to the next level? Add a little crown decrease! Our Base Doodle Hat patterns come with flexible brim options and two different crown decreases. Plus, hats make great gift projects because they are quick, fun, and portable!

Doodle Socks: The next colorwork level – socks! Time to add some heel work and wedge toe decreases. Not as scary as it sounds, I promise! These socks make a great canvas to plug and play ANY Doodle theme. Try Winter or Autumn socks for seasonal favorites!

Advanced level: Try adding Doodles to other patterns! You can use your Doodle Chart collection with (almost) any knitting pattern that has an area available to add some colorwork. All you need to do is ensure you can incorporate a 24-stitch repeat. Try adding Doodles to your favorite sweaters, shawls, blankets, scarves, and more!

Want to learn more about our Base Doodle Patterns?

Check out our post about How to Use Base Doodle Patterns as well as our FREE Base Doodle Patterns for a standard cowl, infinity cowl, hat, socks and cup cozy!

STEP 2 Choose your Charts

For a deeper dive, head over to How to Choose & Arrange your Doodle Charts,

Doodle patterns can have one theme – or many! Choose from hundreds of mix-and-match micro charts to make exactly what you want. All of the charts work together, so the opportunities are endless!

And there's no need to buy a full pattern every time. Once you have a few Base Doodle Patterns, you can just pick up a Doodle Card Deck or a Charts-Only expansion pack to grow your chart library!

Take a look at the list below to help decide which charts you want to start with:

Basic Doodles are great for beginners and are perfect for a filler between charts. They include simple dots, plus signs, zig zags, diamonds, and other non-thematic motifs. The best part is, there are no long floats to catch, and the minimalist shapes are easy to memorize so they knit up super fast!

Spring Doodles are all about flowers, leaves, bugs, and spring animals. They include butterflies, bees, snails, tulips, daisies, mums, winding vines, and many other floral designs.

Summer Doodles are all about hiking in the mountains and swimming in the ocean. They include waves, octopus, seaweed, shells, boats, sunglasses, fish, rivers, mountains, tress, and more.

Autumn Doodles are all about chilly (rainy) autumn walks in the woods. They include dozens of fall leaves, umbrellas, rain boots, pumpkins, acorns, foxes, sheep, apples, trees, mushrooms, and more.

Winter Doodles are all about snowy wonderlands, knitted goods, and cozy coffee. They include snowflakes, stairs, snowmen, reindeer, holly berries, pine trees and boughs, Nordic stars, and other festive motifs.

Expansion Decks are all about fun, whimsical themes that you won't find anywhere else. Whether you want to knit a sweater motif on your sweater, or make socks with your pet cat's face, you can find all sorts of unique charts across our always-growing range of Expansion Decks!

Browse our full library of Doodle Collections to see them all!

Want to learn more about working with Doodle Charts?

Check out our post about How to Choose & Arrange your Doodle Charts as well as our FREE downloads (+ how-to guides) for our Blank Master Doodle Chart, Draw-It-Yourself Blank Doodle Mini-Charts, and Doodle Letter Charts! We also have guides on Doodle Stitch Repeats and Estimating Chart Height!

STEP 3 Choose your Yarn

For a deeper dive, head over to How to Choose Yarns for your Doodle Project.

Here’s your chance to get creative with color! Head to your LYS or dive into your stash to find the perfect yarns for your new project. Don’t have the full skeins you need? Don’t worry! The best part is that you can really use anything you have (even tiny leftovers) because you can use as little as 10g per color to build a palette that works for you! (check out our blog for calculating yardage and weight of stash yarn).

Here are some of my favorite tips for choosing yarns & colors:

Solids vs. Variegated: Colorwork typically works best when you use solids or semi-sold colors. A good solid-color yarn allows for the smaller stitches to really stand out, while variegated yarns can cause some of the smaller colorwork sections to become blurry. If you want to use that special variegated skein, I recommend using it as a contrast color and picking a main color that is solid or neutral.

Color & Contrast: You can’t really go wrong with color choice in Doodle patterns. Try a themed or coordinated palette, use just two colors for a minimalist look, or create a rainbow by using minis or leftovers – the opportunities are endless! Colorwork tend to show up best when you have high contrast colors within a motif. This means you will want to choose yarns that have a difference in underlying tones.

Yarn Weight: While the majority of the Doodle patterns are written for a DK or light worsted weight, the 24-stitch chart repeat is versatile so all you need to do is make sure your new stitch count is a multiple of 24-stitches (i.e. a whole number when divided by 24).

Yarn Fiber: Use pretty much anything you can block – but usually it’s recommended to use wool or a wool blend for colorwork. Although I encourage you to play with it and try other fibers or even hold double with mohair to make a fuzzy motif!

Stash-Busting: You don’t need any yarn kits or full skeins for these projects - less than 10g will do! These are the perfect patterns to try to combine different weights, fibers, and dyers! Because anything is possible, this will quickly become your new favorite stash buster!

Want to learn more about choosing your yarns? 

Check out our post about How to Choose Yarns for your Doodle Project. We also have a super simple guide for a 3-Step Color Palette, and a tutorial on Checking Contrast with a B&W Filter. If you want to dive into your leftovers stash, you can also learn Doodle Math about Weighing Yarn & Estimating Yardage, as well as how to Change Yarn Weight & Gauge!

STEP 4 Start Knitting!

For a deeper dive, head over to Doodle Tutorials!

Let’s Do(odle) this! Your unique Doodle pattern is created by combining micro charts together in different arrangements. Once you have your pattern, charts, and yarn in hand, it’s time to get started!

Pick your first chart and first colors and start knitting your pattern!

All of the Doodle Charts work together, so get creative with how to use them. Use some or all of the charts in a theme, repeat the same chart all over, or try different color combinations to make it pop. Shift the charts as necessary to align each consecutive chart as desired. Some Doodle patterns work well with motifs offset from the previous one. Most importantly – be creative!

Check out my top tips for Doodles:

If helpful, print and cut out charts to rearrange, re-draw your charts on graph paper, or check out the Doodle Card Decks for a fully modular chart option.

Create the ultimate stash buster by changing yarns every few rows, or with every new chart.

Alternate dark and light in the MC and/or CC in consecutive charts for visual balance.

Always hold the CC dominant for each chart to make the motif pop.

Add or remove MC rounds between charts to vary the final look

Browse our libraries of tutorials for Colorwork Knitting and Essential Knitting Knowledge

Or read All About Doodles!

 

Want to learn even more about the Doodle Framework and get started on your first Doodle Project?

Grab your FREE Doodle Workbook today and start designing your own Doodle!

 

Happy Doodling!