Your Cart ()
Loading cart contents...
Your cart is currently empty.
Pattern round-ups
Knit Your Own Summer Returns!
There’s a preciousness to the time we have for summer holidays which can make the task of deciding what knitting to take especially tricky. Do you choose effortless easy knits to zone-out with, or complex adventurous ones you’ve finally got the headspace to focus on? Should you make it lightweight because that’s lovely in the heat, or warmer and thicker because it will be more wearable for when you get home and the season turns? Does it make sense to use the long trip to knit something substantial like a sweater, or would it be more fun and holiday-ish to make something whimsical like a bandana?
What we really need here is a flow diagram so that you can make your way through the decisions methodically and get to the right place having thought it all through systematically. The trouble is that I’m not really sure what the method is, or that anything system-like would end up with the right answer anyway. It’s something that your hands and your heart and your backpack are going to have to work out together. But the good news is that Brontë and I have spent just about every summer we can remember, freewheeling our way around the mountains, valleys and coastal paths of Ravelry so we’re absolutely ready to listen to what you’re feeling knitting-wise and holiday-mood-wise, to see if we can help you find the right thing. And just to get things started, here’s our thruppence h’apenny’s worth of ideas to add to your holiday knitting consideration pot…
knitting-mood-wise, we’re headed in more of an adventurous knitting direction with the Bon Bon. It’s got lace and shape and edges, but all absolutely suitable for lace-shape-edge first-timers. And beyond that, it’s just so pretty! Those dinky tee-length sleeves mean you’ll reach land long before any detours to sleeve island. If you finish it while you’re away, you can wear it out for the farewell supper, and if you don’t it’ll still work for the beginning of autumn.
Think cotton mix for the yarn: Rosarios4 Principe Real or For Nature, or make it looser and lighter in Wool Dreamers Saona. Alternatively go gorgeous and silky with Wool Kitchen Merino Silk.
I know that summers and sweaters don’t make sense for everyone but there is a cooler version of a summer holiday (which I’m here to tell you is great!) that has a sweater-shaped space for your knitting. And if you’re headed off on one of those, you might want to consider Canisp. It presents as a regular stripey, but then there’s those intriguing bias-knit sleeves, which ingenously make their own diagonal raglans. It’s like a geometry paradox that marvellously turns into a sweater.
It wants a 4ply and for my taste would be perfect in JA Harvest Hues, but I can see Mondim, Riverknits, Kinross or the Darnie all working perfectly for the gauge and the finish.
Easy knitting, big gauge needles and summery – the One Day top is a proper crowd pleaser for summer knitters, and you can absolutely finish it before you come home.
On the yarn front, Cotton Waves is an obvious choice if you want to keep it single stranded and planty. Yes, we’re very low on stock right now, but we’re due a new delivery any day. I will let you all know as soon as it arrives, I promise! Alternatively, 2 strands of R4 Damasco would open up the colour possibilities and work just as beautifully.
Why yes, of course you can knit a skirt! And guess what – it’s way easier than a sweater. No sleeves and no neckline shenanigans – just a bit of gentle a-line increasing, and if you’re down for them (which I really think you should be), there’s those super-cute patch pockets too. It wants a DK, so the choice is wide open. For a machine washable bargain option, choose Colourlab, or go woollier with WYS BFL DK or the Laxtons Sheepsoft. RP Brusca would give it more of a rustic finish, and the Rauwerk Sport (which knits like a DK) would also be great.
For knitters who fancy more of a snack-sized project to just dip into now and again, this little bandana works on so many levels.. It’s small and light and designed to be made in silk, although I can see it being just as, or even more delightful in linen. And then it’s got that great pattern section at the end to look forward to, where you get to work each of the little quilt-style motifs as a separate area of colourwork – so it kind of mixes fairisle and intarsia together, and stops the bandana getting heavy with stranding. Genius!
Now i know there’s no shortage of sleeveless button-ups around at the moment, but there’s just something about the button placket on this one – it’s small and delicate and simple, and somehow very enchanting. It will be a straight-forward knit, but not I suspect boring. No sleeve issues obvs. And when you’re done you’ll want to wear it with everything.
Pick any of our DKs, or choose a lovely 4ply like Harvest Hues, Birlinn 4ply or Riverknits Nene and add a strand of Kid seta to get the gauge.
When is a vest not just a vest? Perhaps when it’s got a simple lace border that manages to be utilitarian and quietly pretty all at the same time. The top-down construction means those holes and the hemline are the treat you can look forward to as you head towards the end. And once it’s done, you’ll probably want to add it onto your next top.
It’s another DK. I think it would be perfect in either the Rosarios4 Principe Real or For Nature. Equally if you feel like knitting it a bit looser and lighter, there’s no reason not to use Madragoa or the Kalinka Kalinka linen.
I realise a woolly hat may not be your first choice idea for summer knitting, but hear me out here. It’s small and ever so packable. You’ve got a festival of stitches and techniques going on here. The result is a piece of origami-like knitting which is nothing short of spectacular. Plus (in case you needed a plus), you know we will have woolly-hat wearing weather again, and I’m sorry to say, it will be in just a few short month’s time.
It wants a worsted so there are plenty to choose from here, but I can’t see past the WYS Fable and it’s lovely halo-ey finish.
Socks are of course the classic holiday project – pack up small, and never ever boring to knit. Narrowing down which ones to take though – that’s the challenge. I’ve picked out these Cream Tea beauties on account of their delicious name and the ridiculously adorable folded hem cuff.
Sock yarns – we have a few, but there’s something in that textured stitch work which has the JA Exmoor glowing brightest.
Still not feeling it? The back catalogue of the Knit Your Own Summer Series is all online here..