Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables | Knitting Patterns
There is something wonderfully adventurous about bringing the spirit of the wild into your craft room. The Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables is one of those designs that manages to do exactly that — capturing the warmth, texture, and earthy beauty of the African savanna and translating it into something you can hold in your hands, wear on your body, or gift to someone you love. Whether you are a seasoned knitter looking for your next showstopper project or an enthusiastic intermediate crafter ready to stretch your skills, this pattern has everything you need to create something truly special.
In this post, we are going to explore everything about the Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables — from what makes it stand out among other knitting patterns, to the materials you will need, tips for getting the best results, and why the Knitables brand has become such a trusted name in the knitting pattern community.
What Is the Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables?
Knitables is a well-loved independent pattern design house known for creating beautifully crafted, clearly written knitting patterns that appeal to a wide range of skill levels. Their Safari pattern is a standout in their collection — a design that draws on the rich, sun-baked colour palette of the savanna, incorporating earthy tones like terracotta, warm sand, burnt sienna, deep olive, and rich chocolate brown. The pattern typically features bold geometric or nature-inspired motifs that evoke the textures and patterns found in African wildlife and landscape — think giraffe-print-inspired colour work, zebra stripe details, or the sweeping golden grasses of the open plains.
The result is a knitting pattern that feels both timeless and current. It sits comfortably at the intersection of wearable art and accessible craftsmanship, which is exactly what makes it such a popular choice among knitters who want their finished objects to tell a story.
Depending on the specific version of the pattern, the Safari design can be applied to a range of garments and accessories — from oversized sweaters and cardigans to hats, cowls, blankets, or bags. Knitables designs their patterns with careful attention to fit, gauge, and construction, making the knitting process as enjoyable and frustration-free as possible.
Why Choose Knitables Patterns?
Before diving deeper into the Safari pattern itself, it is worth understanding why Knitables has earned such a strong reputation in the knitting world. Independent pattern designers have become increasingly prominent over the last decade, and platforms like Ravelry and Etsy have given talented designers the tools to share their work directly with knitters around the globe. Knitables sits among the best of these, and for good reason.
Their patterns are written with remarkable clarity. Each step is explained in plain language, with helpful notes included at points where knitters commonly make mistakes or have questions. Charts are clean and easy to read, and where written instructions are given alongside chart rows, knitters have the flexibility to work in whichever format suits them best. This dual-format approach is something experienced knitters particularly appreciate, as it means you are never stuck trying to decode a confusing abbreviation or wondering what the designer actually intended.
Knitables also tends to design with real bodies and real lives in mind. Sizing is generous and inclusive, and their garment patterns are typically offered in a wide range of sizes so that as many knitters as possible can make something that fits them beautifully. The finishing instructions are thorough, covering everything from blocking to seaming to weaving in ends in a way that helps knitters achieve a truly professional-looking result.
There is also a community aspect to working with Knitables patterns. Because their designs are popular and widely made, you will find plenty of project photos on Ravelry and Instagram where other knitters have shared their finished Safari pieces, along with notes on yarn substitutions, modifications, and general encouragement. There is something deeply motivating about being part of a community of makers all working from the same pattern, each putting their own twist on it through yarn choice and colour selection.
The Colour Palette: Bringing the Savanna to Your Needles
One of the most distinctive and exciting aspects of the Safari Knitting Pattern is the colour work. Even if the pattern calls for a simpler construction, the colour palette alone transforms a project into something with real visual impact.
The classic Safari colourway tends to lean into warm, sun-drenched tones. Think of the light that falls across the Serengeti at dusk — that deep golden amber, the purpling shadow of distant acacia trees, the pale bleached grass, the rich ochre of dry earth. When you translate these colours into yarn, you get a combination that is simultaneously bold and harmonious.
Some knitters choose to work the Safari pattern in the suggested colourway, trusting the designer’s original vision. Others use it as a starting point and adapt the palette to suit their own wardrobe or aesthetic. Because the earthy tones in the pattern work so naturally with each other, it is quite forgiving when you start swapping shades — a deeper rust in place of terracotta, a sage green instead of olive, a pale ivory instead of sand. The proportions matter more than the exact shades, so as long as you maintain good contrast between light and dark elements, your version will read just as clearly as the original.
If you are new to colour work knitting, the Safari pattern is also a wonderful introduction to the technique. Knitables is known for structuring their colour work patterns in a way that keeps the floats manageable and the colour changes intuitive, so you are not overwhelmed by carrying six yarns at once or working with complex three-colour repeats on every single row.
Materials You Will Need
Like all Knitables patterns, the Safari design comes with a detailed materials list that takes the guesswork out of getting started. Here is a general overview of what you can expect to need, though you should always refer to the specific pattern for exact quantities and specifications.
Yarn: The pattern will typically recommend a specific weight of yarn — often a DK or worsted weight for garments, or a chunky weight for accessories and homewares. Knitables tends to suggest yarns that are widely available and reasonably priced, and they often include notes on suitable alternatives if you cannot source the exact yarn specified. For a Safari-themed project, you will want to look for yarns that come in the warm earthy tones described above. Wool or wool-blend yarns work particularly well, as they have the warmth and stitch definition that allows the colourwork motifs to really shine.
Needles: The recommended needle size will be specified in the pattern, along with a suggested needle type. For colour work sections, many knitters prefer to use circular needles even when working flat, as it is easier to slide stitches back and manage multiple yarn ends. If you have never tried this technique, the Safari pattern is a great opportunity to give it a go.
Notions: You will likely need a tapestry needle for finishing, stitch markers, and possibly a cable needle if the pattern incorporates any textured cable elements alongside the colourwork. A row counter is always useful for keeping track of where you are in a repeat, and if you are making a garment, a tape measure will be essential for checking your gauge and finished measurements.
Gauge swatch: This is non-negotiable. Gauge matters enormously in knitting, and the Safari pattern will be designed around a specific number of stitches and rows per inch. Taking the time to knit a gauge swatch, wash it, and measure it carefully before starting your project will save you a great deal of frustration later. Many knitters find that their tension changes slightly once they start working in the round or incorporating colourwork floats, so it is worth swatching in the round and with multiple colours if that is how the pattern is constructed.
Tips for Knitting the Safari Pattern Successfully
Even with a beautifully written pattern, every project comes with its own small challenges. Here are some tips to help you get the best possible result from your Safari knitting pattern.
Start with a plan. Before you cast on, read through the entire pattern at least once. This gives you a sense of the overall structure and means you will not be surprised by a technique or construction method partway through. Pay particular attention to any notes the designer has included, as these often flag the trickiest moments in the pattern.
Manage your floats carefully. If the Safari pattern involves stranded colourwork, the floats — the strands of yarn carried across the back of the work — need to be kept at a consistent tension. Floats that are too tight will cause the fabric to pucker; floats that are too loose will create a baggy, uneven texture. The general rule is to spread your stitches out on the needle before drawing the new colour across, ensuring the float has enough length to span them comfortably. Many knitters find it helpful to use the “Norwegian purl” technique or to catch floats every few stitches if the repeat is long.
Block your finished piece. Blocking is the step that transforms a finished knit from something that looks handmade to something that looks truly professional. Wet blocking — soaking the piece in cool water with a little wool wash, then gently squeezing out the excess moisture and pinning it to the correct measurements to dry — evens out the stitches, opens up the colourwork motifs, and allows the yarn to bloom and settle into its final form. The difference before and after blocking can be remarkable, particularly with colourwork pieces.
Take breaks and enjoy the process. A pattern like Safari is not a one-weekend sprint — it is a project that deserves to be savoured. The repetitive nature of colourwork rows can be meditative and deeply satisfying, but it can also be tiring on your hands if you work for too long at a stretch. Take breaks, stretch your hands, and remember that the process is part of the pleasure.
Who Is This Pattern Suitable For?
The Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables is best suited to knitters who have already got the basics firmly under their belt and are ready to explore colourwork or more complex construction techniques. If you can cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, and join yarn comfortably, you have the foundation you need. Experience with reading charts and working with two or more colours at once will be helpful, though the Knitables pattern notes are supportive enough that a motivated beginner could absolutely work through it with a little patience and some reference resources on hand.
If you are brand new to knitting, Knitables has plenty of simpler patterns that would make a great starting point before you tackle Safari. But for anyone who has a few finished objects behind them and wants to take the leap into more involved pattern work, Safari is a wonderfully rewarding choice.
Yarn Substitution Ideas
While the recommended yarn in any Knitables pattern is always a safe and well-tested choice, part of the joy of knitting is the freedom to personalise. If you are thinking about substituting the suggested yarn for something you already have in your stash or something more locally available, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Match the weight carefully. Even within the same weight category, yarns can vary quite a bit in how they knit up, so always swatch with your chosen substitute before committing to the full project. Look for a yarn with similar fibre content and twist — a tightly spun wool will behave very differently to a loosely spun single, even if both are technically DK weight.
Consider how the yarn will handle colourwork. Smooth, tightly plied yarns show stranded colourwork motifs most clearly. Fuzzy yarns like mohair or alpaca can blur the edges of the design, which might be a deliberate stylistic choice but is worth thinking about in advance.
Think about care requirements. If you are making a gift, or something you will want to be able to machine wash, look for a superwash-treated yarn that will hold up to regular washing without felting or distorting.
How to Find and Purchase the Pattern
The Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables is available through the Knitables website as well as on Ravelry, where you can browse project photos from other knitters who have already made it, add it to your queue, and purchase a digital download directly. Once purchased, the pattern is yours to keep and print as many times as you like, so you can have a copy at your knitting chair, another at the kitchen table, and a backup on your device.
If you are new to Ravelry, it is worth setting up a free account even if you only plan to use it for browsing. The project database is one of the most valuable resources in the knitting world — seeing how other knitters have interpreted a pattern, what yarns they used, and what modifications they made can spark ideas and give you a much clearer picture of what to expect before you start.
The Finished Object: What to Expect
When you cast off the last stitch of your Safari project, weave in your ends, block your piece, and finally hold it in your hands, you will understand why this pattern has become such a favourite. There is a richness to the finished fabric — a depth of colour, a satisfying heft, a sense of craft and intention — that sets colourwork knitting apart from simpler techniques.
Whether you have made a sweater, a hat, a cowl, or a bag, the Safari pattern will have produced something that genuinely looks and feels considered. It is the kind of finished object that people notice. The kind of piece you wear on the days you want to feel like yourself. The kind of gift that someone will keep for years and always associate with you and your care.
Final Thoughts
The Safari Knitting Pattern by Knitables is more than just a set of instructions for creating a knitted item. It is an invitation to slow down, to engage with colour and texture and craft, and to make something that connects you — in a small but real way — to the vast, golden, endlessly inspiring beauty of the natural world. Knitables has done the hard work of translating that inspiration into a pattern that is accessible, well-written, and deeply enjoyable to make.
If you have been looking for your next knitting project and you want something that will challenge you in the best possible way and reward you with a finished object you will treasure, the Safari pattern belongs at the top of your list. Cast on, enjoy every row, and let the savanna come to life under your needles.
