One of my dear friends has asked me to knit him something. He doesn't want socks (:o) and doesn't want something as big as a jumper (I told him good, because I wouldn't spend that much on him anyway :hihi:).

He'd be happy with a hat, a scarf or gloves, but he wants something stylish, quite simple (but luxurious) and 'manly'. He does a lot of walking/hiking and standing around watching rugby matches in the rain, so I'm thinking perhaps something along the lines of the Irish Hiking Scarf (but I've already knit that, and I don't fancy it again just yet).

Any suggestions for patterns and a suitably luxurious (but manly) yarn?

Irish Hiking Scarf woulf be the first choice for me. I knit it in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran which does give it such a luxurious feel. I don't really knit for men though. Maybe a very simple k2, p2 rib pattern in a chunky tweed kinda yarn for a scarf would be good? Maybe a kinda mossy/grey colour? Sorry I don't really know any 'manly' yarns! :)

How about this, ideal for walking or watching rugby. It wouldn't take much wool and I suppose it's very manly.

http://www.y2knit.net/Willy%20Warmer.pdf

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I nearly spluttered all over my screen. I've bookmarked that one...I was looking for one of those a few months ago and could only find crochet ones :)

I really like the Irish Hiking Scarf, but I'm really after something I haven't knit before. If I don't come up with anything more suitable, it'll certainly be top of the list. The Cashmerino is a lovely yarn too. I'll check out the shade card and see what the fussy bloke thinks too. Ta very much :) . I think by 'manly', he meant a yarn that isn't too fluffy or likely to shed angora fur all over him :hihi: . As I recall, the cashmerino is quite smooth and doesn't shed much if at all.

Willy warmer? Not really his style, though by definition I'd agree that it's certainly manly.

How about Elbac (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTelbac.html) from Knitty? It's cabled in 1-1 rib, so it's a bit different and reversible, which made it a very entertaining knit for me. If you made it up in something smooth and maybe a bit tweedy, and possibly did away with the points, I think you'd have a great manly scarf. I made one in DB Cashmerino Aran (4 balls for a good long scarf) - it's a bit pilly but that's not a massive problem for a scarf, and there are plenty of blues and greys to choose from.

If you want a matching hat, I think Coronet (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/PATTcoronet.html) from Knitty would work well. I know the designer says it's a "pretty" cable band, but I think cables can look quite rugged too!

I really like Elbac! I definitely think it'd look great in a subdued Casmerino Aran colour, and without the points it'd certainly fit the requirements. Pattern printed out - thanks very much, Madam Bo :) .

I don't think he'd be too keen on the hat though. I agree about the rugged cables, but he tends to wear quite basic hats - you know those clingy things knit in quite fine yarn? Can't remember what they're called now.

I think he'd like a hat where the main features were the colour (perhaps - gasp! - a couple of fine stripes against a dark background) and the feel of the yarn. If anyone knows of a pattern for such a hat, let me know, because if fussy bloke ends up with a Elbac scarf (if I don't take a fancy to it and steal it first), it'll certainly be one for the pattern stash.

Another pattern I think is quite manly is Grumperina's Shifting Sands (http://grumperina.com/knitblog/shiftingsands.htm)Scarf. If I remember correctly she made it to replace the one for her Dad that her Mom felted :oops:

Another pattern I think is quite manly is Grumperina's Shifting Sands (http://grumperina.com/knitblog/shiftingsands.htm)Scarf. If I remember correctly she made it to replace the one for her Dad that her Mom felted :oops:
I like that one too! I'd have to knit it a wee bit narrower though, I think.

I think I'm sold on the cables theme now, so I reckon that for a scarf, it'll have to be the Elbac.

Rowan's scottish tweed is a nice manly yarn, if you don't want the pilling.