Triangular shawls: patterns wearable on both sides?

Dear users, dear authors,
how does it work with patterns for triangular shawls that are not identical or are identical on the front and back? I don’t quite understand what the difference is?

Hi Josefa,

with knitting patterns, the pattern often looks “nice” on one side and not so nice on the other (the back).

This is also the case with some crochet patterns.

However, there are patterns that look the same on both sides. And that’s definitely an advantage for triangular scarves and loop scarves.
That way, you can drape them around your neck differently and more quickly, because you don’t have to worry about the less attractive back side showing.

Thanks for posting this, Michie. 

I once knitted a shawl with a pattern that I liked on both sides.

So I worked the front side of the pattern on the left side of the shawl and, essentially, the back side of the pattern on the right side. I had to concentrate very hard while knitting and pay close attention, but it was exciting, and the shawl turned out really pretty. 

Nice pattern, Petra. The ruffles are great, too. 

Hi Josefa :)

A crochet pattern can be worn on both sides if the pattern has an odd number of rows—for example,
if it consists of 3, 5, 7 rows, or something like that.

What does that have to do with the number of rows?
Please provide more information—thank you.

Let’s say the pattern consists of rows A, B, and C, and the next repeat begins on the reverse side.
It then continues alternating like that.

Um, I still don’t quite get it. More info, please.

Josefa, when knitting or crocheting in rows, the stitches do look different on the front and back. But if the pattern repeats every 3 rows, the stitches are worked once in the right side row and again 3 rows later in the wrong side row. This makes the pattern the same on both the front and back.
I tried to sketch it out:
I’m not sure if this makes it any clearer, but do you see it now?

That’s a great explanation—now I get it too!

Thanks, Ruth. That’s understandable.

I only knit my baby blankets using patterns made up of knit and purl stitches, so the blanket looks almost identical from both sides and moms don’t have to worry about which side is the front or back.
This is also very practical for loop scarves.
Here’s my Mara baby blanket 

I think it’s a good idea to pay attention to these kinds of details when it comes to blankets and loop scarves.