Free knitting patterns for shawls, sweaters, hats, blankets, and more knit with southwestern style motifs and designs. Most patterns are free. Updated 5/18/24
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
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Free Patterns
Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Scarf
Inspired by the scenic byway in New Mexico, this lace scarf or stole uses design elements from the American Southwest. Lace weight yarn. Designed by Mara Bishop Statnekov.
Arizona Afghan
Blanket inspired by the American Southwest, this throw combines linen stitch, stranded colorwork, slipped stitches, and a little bit of intarsia to create a colorful, geometric design. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Heidi Gustad. Pattern is web version with downloadable charts.
Southwest Poncho, Hat, and Bag
Matching set featuring geometric patterns inspired by the American southwest. Poncho sizes: S/M - L/XL - XXL/ XXXL. Drawstring Bag: Height: 46 cm / 18'' Circumference: 56 cm / 22''. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by DROPS Design.
- Get the free PONCHO knitting pattern
- Get the free HAT AND BAG knitting pattern (note that page says just Bag at top but both patterns are on the page)
- Get the recommended DROPS Nepal yarn at Amazon
- See more Poncho Set Knitting Patterns
Sonora Shawl
Inspired by the Southwestern US desert, this one skein triangular shawl features sections depicting mesquite tree pods and Cholla cactus and the edging inspired by the Santa Catalina mountains. Uses one skein of Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Jennifer Callahan. A larger version is also available further down this page.
High Desert Ruana
Poncho wrap with geometric designs inspired by the Southwest. Knit with divided front and separate back, it's essentially a cardigan without side seams. 3 Sizes. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Therese Chynoweth
Felted Shopping Bag
Tote with handles with a stripe and diamond pattern and colors that echo the beauty of the Southwestern desert. Approx 16 ins [40.5 cm] wide by 12 ins [30.5 cm] tall. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Patons
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Patons Classic Wool Worsted yarn
- See more Market Bag Knitting Patterns
Pretty Puzzle Points Blanket
Modern geometric thrown knit in garter stitch with diamonds and chevrons in a design and color palette reminiscent of the American Southwest. Approx 50½" x 60" [128 x 152.5 cm]. Designed for 6 colors, it's great for stash busting Super Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Bernat
Sunset Sweater
Pullover sweater with graphic geometric design reminiscent of an abstract depiction of a sunset over desert mountains. Sizes 36/38 (40/42). Fingering weight yarn. 21 Pullover in Lana Grossa Ecopuno .
Sonora Lace Shawl
Two color triangular shawl inspired by the Sonaran desert of Arizona with lace sections depicting Arizona’s starry skies, mesquite tree pods, Cholla cactus, and the beautiful Santa Catalina mountains. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Jennifer Callahan.
Boho Desert Cowl
This cowl features a fair isle colorwork pattern uses only two colorways of yarn, one solid and one gradient to do the color change for you. Web version is free. PDF is for purchase. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Briana K Designs.
More Free Patterns
Southwest Comfort Pillow
Cushion cover inspired by southwestern motifs. Approx 22" [56 cm] square. Designed by Vickie Howell.Bulky weight yarn.
Albuquerque Mitts
Fair Isle fingerless gloves with southwestern flair! The main motif is a Zia symbol with “arrows” on the diagonals. The stripe motifs and palm pattern are taken from Pueblo pottery. Designed by Cailyn Meyer. Pictured projects by the designer and anjari. Fingering weight yarn.
Taos Lap Blanket
Afghan knit with a southwestern graphic design in intarsia and stranded colorwork. Designed by Alexandra Tavel. Width: 37”/94cm Length: 42”/107cm. Super Bulky weight yarn. A kit is also available at Lion Brand.
Santa Fe Shawls
Lace shawls based on the Orenburg square shawl construction symbols and graphic elements from the American Southwest. Top Row: Santa Fe Mountain Trails Shawl, Santa Fe Plaza Shawl. Bottom row: Santa Fe Lightning Shawl, Santa Fe Summer Skies Shawl. Designed by Mara Bishop Statnekov.
White Sands Blanket
One of my favorite places in New Mexico is White Sands National Park with its shifting dunes of white as far as you can see (and climb and roll down). The gorgeous blanket portrays the beauty and variety of those windswept desert dunes with 6 different types of cabled squares. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by DROPS Design 183-15.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended DROPS Nepal yarn at Amazon
- See more Cable Throws Knitting Patterns
Sky Isle Cardigan
This cardigan sweater features a stranded yoke inspired by a pottery style from Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico. Many Acoma pots are painted in black-and-white patterns that expand and contract to follow the shape of the vessel. Sizes 29.5 [33.5, 37.5, 41.5, 45.5, 49.5, 53.5] inches. Designed by Candace Joggerst for Knitty. Aran weight yarn.
1986 Cowl
This cowl was inspired by southwest color schemes and indigenous textile designs. The cowl can be made to be any length or width, by repeating the chart. Designed by Kimi Anderson. Fingering weight yarn.
Southwest Desert Cardigan
Warm, beautiful shawl collared cardigan sweater incorporates simple, desert-inspired colors and patterns. Sizes XS-3XL (30-56 in/81 to 147.5 cm bust). Designed by Patons. Worsted weight yarn.
High Neck Cardigan
May only be free a limited time. This cardigan sweater features geometric stitch patterns inspired by the American West, and deep ribbing on the high neck, cuffs and hem. Sizes Size: S to XXXL. Designed by Sirdar. DK weight yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Taos Chunky Cowl
Mosaic knit cowl with design and colors inspired by the American Southwest. Worsted weight yarn. Design by touchofnatureknits.
Mojave Desert Cardigan
Stripes of color and texture with circular appliques wearable art in this sideways knit cardigan inspired by the landscape and motifs of the American Southwest. Sizes S to 2XL. Worsted weight yarn. Design by Irina Poludnenko; adapted by Britt Schmiesing.
Canyon Road Sweater
Named after the road in Santa Fe full of sculpture gardens and galleries with New Mexican art, this pullover features a yoke of lace and stranded colorwork that evokes the landscape and motifs of the American Southwest. Sizes 30 to 58 inches/76 to 148 cm. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Casapinka.
Desert Sunrise Sweater
Colorful pullover sweater with southwest inspired designs knit seamelessly from the top down. Sizes 30 to 58.3 inches/76.2 to 148 cm. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Ann Iverson.
Taos Cape and Shawlette
This shawl in multiple sizes combines eyelet patterns with an open cross stitch pattern to arrive at a contemporary interpretation of traditional motifs. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Jill Wolcott.
- See more pics and get the CAPE knitting pattern
- See more pics and get the SHAWLETTES knitting pattern
Santa Fe Cardigan
Inspired by nights in the high desert and mountains of New Mexico, this top down raglan cardigan features a classic silhouette, inset pockets, optional button band, and a sunset intarsia mural on the back. Sizes 38.75 to 66.75”/98.5 to 169.5 cm. Bulky weight yarn. Designed by Alexandra Tavel. A kit is also available.
Desert Valley Nights Hat
Inspired by the mountains of the Southwestern US, these beanies come with 4 brim options and 4 sizes. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Maradale Designs.
Evening Mesa Blanket
A modular throw or baby blanket with a southwestern design. Sizes Baby (Child, Lap, Throw, Twin, Double/Queen) The unique shape of this blanket is created by working narrow strips in garter stitch with increases along one edge and decreases along the other to create parallelograms. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Holli Yeoh.
Truth or Consequences Ruana
Poncho inspired by the fabulous colors and scenery of the American Southwest incorporates dual front pockets hidden in the sideways knitted stripes, while garter rows offset the solid stockinette body from the striped sections. Sizes S/M/L (XL, 2XL, 3XL) DK weight yarn. Designed by Renate Kamm.
Painted Desert Poncho
Southwest inspired poncho featuring ombre stripes with stranded stars, flowers and arrows in a purl-free stockinette stitch poncho, finished with a ribbed cowl neck. Designer says that every row is a RS row, and the only purl stitches you’ll work are in the ribbing! The fringe is created with the colorwork and reduces the number of ends to weave in. Painted Desert is worked flat in one piece forming a rectangle that is folded with a single seam. Designed by Carol Sunday. Sport weight yarn.
