Getting Sunstruck

Sometimes my job is really awesome. OK, a lot of times my job is awesome, but some days I get really great mail without even asking. Thanks to the wonderful folks at Knit Picks (thanks, Jenny!) I received a sample set of their new Sunstruck interchangeable knitting needles over the weekend.

Almost immediately I cast on an knit a little swatch (that’s in the luscious Berroco Vintage, if you want to know) and I have to say I really enjoyed working with them. That’s no surprise, because the Knit Picks Harmony needles, which have the same birchwood base, have been some of my favorites for a long time. The Sunstruck needles are blond instead of multicolored, which makes them even nicer for knitting with dark yarn because it’s easier to see the stitches than it might be on the darker Harmony base.

These needles are lightweight, nice and smooth, easy to work with and pretty, too. I zipped through my swatch on these size 7 US needles (4.5 mm) and am eager to take them for another spin soon.

I think I’m going to be wanting this whole set really soon! If you’re not an interchangeable fan, these needles are also available as straights and fixed circulars. Tips start at $6.99, straights at $5.99 and fixed circs at $7.49. Go getcha some!

Next Pattern:

I know knitting a dress sounds like a major time commitment. And that’s before I even tell you that this particular dress, the Sixth Ave Skater Dress by Briana Luppino, is worked in light fingering weight yarn.

But would you just take a moment to look at it and tell me if it doesn’t look like it would be worth all the time you would spend knitting it? And it’s miles of stockinette stitch so it’s actually beginner friendly and a great semi-mindless knit you can take with you on your travels this summer and wear when it is done.

The dress is worked from the top down with tank straps, a scoop neck, waist shaping and a flowy skirt for a fun and comfortable fit.

The pattern has 10 sizes, with finished bust measurements ranging from 28 to 64 inches, or 71.5 to 163 cm. The sample shown was worked with 4 inches/10 cm of negative ease at the bust, and the designer says most people like between 2 and 6 inches/5 to 15 cm of negative ease in the bust and around 10 inches/25.4 cm positive ease in the hips.

(To refresh your memory, negative ease means the measurement of the garment is smaller than your actual body measurement, while positive ease is bigger than your body.)

To pick a size you’d work from the bust measurement because you can always add more or fewer decreases as you need to get your desired fit at the waist and hips. And because it’s worked from the top down you can try it on as often as you like to make sure it’s the perfect fit.

The I-cord edgings give the dress a super casual feel, and I think this would be a great one to add to your summer rotation. (Yes, even with a wool blend yarn.)

You can see lots of cute finished versions and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself on Ravelry.

[Photo: Briana Luppino]

Book Review – Knitted Tanks and Tunics

How to Knit a Simple Sweater Dress

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Have you read?