Patent Loop Neckwarmer by Other Loops — The Yarn Kit in Önling No 1 You Didn’t Know You Needed
There is something quietly revolutionary about a neckwarmer that manages to feel both deeply traditional and strikingly modern at the same time. The Patent Loop Neckwarmer by Other Loops does exactly that, and when you pair it with the luxurious Önling No 1 yarn, you end up with a knitting project that is as pleasurable to make as it is to wear. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for your next satisfying project or someone who has recently caught the knitting bug and wants to invest in something beautiful, this yarn kit deserves your full attention.
This post will walk you through everything you need to know about the Patent Loop Neckwarmer — the design itself, the yarn, the construction, what makes this particular kit stand out, and why so many knitters keep coming back to it. By the end, you will have a clear picture of whether this is the project for you, and my hunch is that it will be.
What Is the Patent Loop Neckwarmer?
The Patent Loop Neckwarmer is a design by Other Loops, a knitting brand known for thoughtful, wearable patterns that combine clever construction with an understated Scandinavian aesthetic. The neckwarmer is worked in a patent stitch — sometimes also called fisherman’s rib or brioche — which creates a beautifully elastic, deeply textured fabric that is thick, warm, and incredibly squishy to the touch.
What makes this neckwarmer a “loop” rather than a traditional cowl or scarf is its seamless tubular construction. You knit it in the round, shaping it so that it sits perfectly around the neck and collarbone, tucking neatly into a coat or layering effortlessly over a sweater. The result is a piece that looks deliberate and refined rather than simply utilitarian, even though it delivers on warmth in every way a neckwarmer should.
The patent stitch at the heart of the design is one of those techniques that sounds more intimidating than it actually is. Once your hands understand the rhythm — knit one below, purl — you fall into a meditative loop that makes this an ideal project for evenings on the sofa, long train journeys, or any moment when you want to knit but do not want to follow a complicated chart. The pattern rewards attention to tension and yarn quality, which is precisely where Önling No 1 enters the picture.
This kit is sold as an ex pattern kit, meaning it includes the yarn but not the printed pattern. The pattern is available separately from Other Loops, which allows you to purchase it digitally and have it instantly. This setup makes the kit clean, flexible, and easy to gift — you get the materials in a beautiful package, and the pattern lives on your phone or tablet whenever you need it.
Önling No 1 — A Yarn Worth Knowing
If you are not yet familiar with Önling, allow me to introduce you to one of the most thoughtfully produced yarn lines in the Nordic knitting world. Önling is a Danish brand founded by Sidsel Sangild, whose work sits at the intersection of slow fashion, natural fibers, and rigorous quality. Önling No 1 is their flagship yarn, and it has earned its devoted following for very good reason.
Önling No 1 is a two-ply fingering weight yarn made from 100% fine Merino wool. It is spun with a loose, airy twist that makes it exceptionally soft against the skin — genuinely soft, not just soft by wool standards. Many people who normally find wool scratchy discover that Önling No 1 sits comfortably against their neck without irritation, which matters enormously for a neckwarmer that will spend a lot of time pressed against bare skin.
The yarn is produced with a commitment to traceability and natural dyeing. The color palette Önling works with is subdued, earthy, and deeply considered — dusty roses, warm greys, mossy greens, chalky blues, and rich undyed naturals. These are not colors that shout. They are colors that last, that work with everything in your wardrobe, and that feel as though they belong to the landscape rather than a trend cycle. When you knit with Önling No 1, you are working with something that has been made carefully from start to finish, and that quality shows in the finished fabric.
For a patent stitch project like the Patent Loop Neckwarmer, the properties of Önling No 1 are particularly well-suited. The slight loft of the yarn fills in the stitch definition beautifully, and because patent stitch creates a double-thick fabric, the softness of the fiber becomes even more important — every loop of yarn sits close to the body, and you want it to feel wonderful. The natural elasticity of the Merino helps the patent stitch spring back into shape wash after wash, keeping the neckwarmer looking fresh even after heavy use.
The yarn comes in a range of colors specifically curated for this kit by Other Loops, so rather than navigating the entire Önling palette on your own, you are presented with a thoughtful selection that works beautifully with the stitch pattern and the garment’s proportions.
Why an Ex Pattern Kit?
The choice to offer this as an ex pattern kit — that is, yarn without an included printed pattern — reflects a practical and increasingly popular approach in the independent knitting world. Here is why it makes sense for this particular product.
Patterns in the independent knitting space are almost universally sold as digital PDFs. When you buy a pattern from Other Loops, you download it, it lives in your Ravelry library or on your device, and you can print it as many times as you like. There is no real benefit to having a printed pattern tucked into a yarn kit — it adds to shipping costs, produces waste, and can become damaged in transit. By separating the yarn kit from the pattern, Other Loops keeps the kit itself clean and giftable while giving you the freedom to purchase and download the pattern immediately.
It also means that if you are buying this kit as a gift for someone who already owns the pattern — perhaps they have knitted a previous version, or they bought the pattern during a sale — they are not paying for something they already have. The ex pattern model respects the knitter’s autonomy and the reality of how patterns actually circulate in the community.
For anyone purchasing the kit for the first time, the process is simple: add the yarn kit to your basket, then separately add the pattern. Download the pattern immediately after purchase, and your yarn will arrive a few days later ready to go.
The Knitting Experience — What to Expect
One of the great pleasures of the Patent Loop Neckwarmer is how satisfying it is to knit. The patent stitch, as mentioned, has a lovely rhythm to it once you are past the first few rounds. Many knitters describe it as having a similar meditative quality to brioche — you are always engaged enough to stay present, but not so engaged that you cannot hold a conversation or watch something on television.
Because the neckwarmer is knitted in the round with a relatively short circumference, you will likely want to use a short circular needle or magic loop technique. The pattern will specify the recommended needle size, but Önling No 1 at fingering weight typically works beautifully on needles in the 2.5mm to 3.5mm range depending on your tension. If you tend to knit tightly, go up a size; if you are loose, go down. A gauge swatch is worth your time here, not only because it will help you get the right size but because swatching in patent stitch is genuinely satisfying — you will want to keep touching it.
The neckwarmer works up relatively quickly for a patent stitch project. Because the stitch creates such a dense, warm fabric, you do not need enormous proportions to end up with something genuinely useful. This makes it a good intermediate-term project — not a quick one-evening hat, but not a months-long commitment either. Most knitters working at a comfortable pace would expect to complete it in a couple of weeks of regular evening knitting.
Finishing is minimal, which is a genuine pleasure. Because the piece is knitted in the round with no seams, you are mainly looking at a cast-on, a cast-off, and weaving in a small number of ends. If you use a stretchy cast-on and cast-off — which the patent stitch strongly encourages — your neckwarmer will slide on and off easily and maintain its shape beautifully over time.
Styling the Patent Loop Neckwarmer
Part of what makes this piece so appealing is its versatility. The clean, structured look of the patent stitch gives the neckwarmer a certain elegance that works across a wide range of personal styles and contexts.
Layered over a chunky knit sweater, it adds texture on texture in a way that feels deliberately put-together. Worn over a simple wool coat with nothing else visible at the neckline, it looks almost sculptural — like a considered accessory rather than something you grabbed because you were cold. Tucked under the collar of a heavy parka, it does its practical job of keeping the neck warm without adding bulk.
The color options available through the Önling No 1 palette make it easy to choose something that slots into an existing wardrobe. A warm undyed natural works beautifully with earth tones and denim. A deep charcoal or slate grey is endlessly versatile. A dusty rose or old-rose tone adds just enough warmth to lift a neutral outfit without feeling overtly colorful. If you are knitting as a gift, the neutral and near-neutral tones are almost always a safe and sophisticated choice.
One of the pleasures of a neckwarmer over a traditional scarf is that it stays put. You do not spend the day adjusting it, rewrapping it, or picking it up off the floor. The tubular shape keeps it in place, sitting warmly at exactly the right height without fuss. This is a small thing that becomes a large thing in practice.
Caring for Your Finished Neckwarmer
Önling No 1 is a Merino wool, which means it benefits from gentle care. Hand washing in cool water with a wool-safe detergent is the gold standard, though many Merino yarns at this quality level are also surprisingly resilient with a machine wool cycle run cold.
The key rule is never to wring or twist the wet fabric. After washing, press the water out gently and roll the neckwarmer in a clean towel to remove excess moisture, then lay it flat to dry away from direct heat or sunlight. This will keep the patent stitch looking full and even and prevent any shrinkage or felting.
With this care, a neckwarmer knitted in Önling No 1 will last for years — possibly decades. This is part of the argument for investing in quality yarn from the start. A synthetic or low-grade acrylic neckwarmer might cost less upfront but will pill, flatten, and lose its appeal within a season or two. A well-made Merino piece improves with age, softening slightly with every wash and developing a beautiful patina that speaks to real use rather than decoration.
Who Is This Kit For?
The Patent Loop Neckwarmer kit is well-suited to a range of knitters, though a little context helps.
If you are a beginner who is comfortable with knitting and purling in the round and ready to try a new stitch pattern, this is an excellent next step. The patent stitch is not complicated — it just requires a small adjustment to your usual approach — and the finished result will feel disproportionately impressive for the skill level required. The short project length means you are not committed to months of practice before seeing a result.
If you are an intermediate or experienced knitter, this kit offers the pleasure of a relatively quick, meditative project worked in a genuinely beautiful yarn. It is the kind of project many experienced knitters return to repeatedly, making multiple versions in different colors as gifts or seasonal wardrobe additions.
If you are a knitter who cares about materials — about where yarn comes from, how it is dyed, what it is made of — Önling No 1 is exactly the kind of yarn that will satisfy those values. It is not a cheap yarn, but it is a fair yarn: fair to the sheep, fair to the people who produce it, and fair to you in terms of what you get out of it.
If you are looking for a gift for a knitter, this kit is a thoughtful option. The combination of a beautiful yarn in a carefully chosen colorway with a clever, wearable pattern makes it feel considered rather than generic. Present it with the digital pattern already downloaded and printed, or simply let the knitter know the pattern details so they can purchase it themselves.
A Few Practical Notes Before You Buy
Since this is an ex pattern kit, do make sure you purchase the Other Loops Patent Loop Neckwarmer pattern separately before you cast on. The pattern contains all the specific instructions, needle size recommendations, stitch counts, and sizing information you need. The yarn kit provides everything else.
Check the colorway options available at the time of purchase — Önling occasionally updates their palette and not every color is available in every kit at all times. If you have a specific color in mind, it is worth checking current stock and reaching out to the retailer if you have questions.
The yarn quantities in the kit are calculated for the neckwarmer as written. If you have any intention of making modifications — a longer tube, a wider circumference — it is worth contacting the retailer to ask about purchasing additional yarn, ideally from the same dye lot.
Finally, give yourself time to enjoy the process. The Patent Loop Neckwarmer is not a race. The whole point of knitting a patent stitch neckwarmer in a beautiful Merino yarn is to slow down, feel the fiber between your fingers, and make something with your own hands that will keep someone warm for years. That is worth taking your time over.
Final Thoughts
The Patent Loop Neckwarmer yarn kit by Other Loops in Önling No 1 is one of those projects that earns its place in a knitter’s memory — not because it was difficult or ambitious, but because everything about it was right. The stitch pattern is satisfying. The yarn is genuinely exceptional. The finished object is beautiful, practical, and made to last. And the ex pattern format keeps the whole thing clean, accessible, and easy to work with from the moment your yarn arrives.
If you have been looking for a neckwarmer project that feels worth the investment of time and materials, this is it. Add the yarn kit to your basket, download the pattern, and cast on when your needles are ready. You will not regret it.
