Knitting and Crochet Blog Week continues on… and today’s topic is summer knitting/crocheting!
I knit and crochet pretty continuously all year long, but you’ll find more cotton hoping into my yarn selection during the warmer months. I though I’d show you a few summer pieces that I really love (click on a photo to zip to its Ravelry page!):
Clothing
I love making clothing for summer… if you knit a top from a soft cotton, it’ll keep you nice and cool all summer long! Here are a few of my favorite summer pieces of clothing:
I wear this skirt all the time! It’s a pattern from More Knitting in the Sun (a great summer knitting book!) that I modified to fit me, and it’s knit from Sublime Organic Cotton.
Remember I told you yesterday about one of my fave designers, Veera? Well, this is her Still Light tunic that I knit in a fingering weight cotton. I made the tunic with short sleeves (instead of 3/4 length), and it’s ready for summer!
This tank top is knit from a wonderful free pattern on Ravelry… and I used cotton yarn that I frogged from a sweater I found in a thrift store!
Hats
Summer can be sunny… so don’t you need a good hat?
This fab hat is knit from Cotton Classic and the pattern is from Modern Top-Down Knitting (another great book for summer style!).
I crocheted this hat from Cotton Classic and Frog Tree PicoBoo (bamboo and cotton blend), and I love how it’s functional, but can still be squished in a bag!
Stuffed animals
You know I love stuffed animals… and they make a great summer project. The pieces are small and lightweight, so they won’t get warm in your lap.
Accessories
I also love making some accessories for the house: bath mats, hangers, washcloths… quick, fun projects!
What about you? What are your favorite summer projects?
I had never thought of doing still light tunic in cotton. That is so clever. I love that design, but I think I’ll do it in the chocolate cashmere I bought for a bargain price especially for it. Maybe I’ll do it in cotton if I love the cashmere version enough.
@StitchedTogether- ooh, cashmere sounds lovely! One word of warning, tho. I made a Still Light from a silk/wool blend… and since it fits so close to the body, it’s completely felted under the arms and some on the sides after only a dozen of wearings. It doesn’t happen as much with pullovers (which usually have a layer underneath)… but it’s another plus for cotton!
Oh my, I LOVE that skirt! Really I love all of your summery, light projects, I’m too slow of a knitter to finish them to actually wear in the correct season :-P
yay for toys and amigurumi! one of my personal favorite crafting pursuits any time of year.
I particularly like the white top, thanks for sharing the pattern link
Oh my goodness, I just love that hat with the flower! Did you make up the pattern yourself? It is so flattering on you!
@Pirate- I made the pattern for the hat, but found the flower pattern on Rav.
Love your projects Stacey! Those hats….! And the top you thriftily made from frogged cotton yarn. Fabulous! What fun this week is!
Where did you find fingering weight cotton? Now I’m going to have to go out and find some (darn). I think it’s time to make myself a nice summer hat… able to squish into a bag is a plus.
@Jess- I frogged it from a thrift store sweater… it’s my best source, so far! Fingering weight cotton is really hard to find in a yarn store!
Wow, beautiful knitting and crocheting! And that tank top is so cute, and it’s so awesome that you knit it out of reclaimed yarn! That makes it even more satisfying
Tank tops! I love making them and really want to make more.
I have been posting random blogs all week found through google and your’s is on today’s list :)
I love your hats, especially the second one (crochet) where can I find the pattern, i’m very interested! (i’ve already added you to my reader!!!)
@Sparkle- I didn’t write up the pattern, but it’s super-easy. Make a circle (6 sc) and increase (6 sc per round) for 13 rounds. Work plain until the length you want, then work a few more increase rounds!
Too many beautiful projects in one post!!! Good work on that! I was most impressed you made the tunic from recycled yarn and a free pattern, but I’m so in love with that rainbow bathmat, I think I’ll have dreams about it tonight!
Stacey, I LOVE that hat with the blue flower. Where can I get the pattern? I’ve been attempting another hat that I’m crocheting. So I am in the ‘hat mood’ to make another one. Thanks!
The pattern for the flower is here!
i am trying to find a Summer cotton tank top Knitting pattern. (like one i made in the 80′s with Patons ‘cotton top’ yarn)