A Lovely Cardigan to Knit for Summer

I love layers all the time, but for a lot of people I know adding layers in the summer isn’t a comfortable option, so you might not wear knit garments in the summer.

I try to share lots of knit summer tops, tank tops and other wearables to get you through the hot months and dispel the notion that you can only knit and enjoy wearing knit projects when it’s cold outside.

Crosscurrents, designed by Yumiko Alexander, is a project that can help you think about how wearing knits in the summer works.

It’s a boxy cardigan with no shaping, so it’s easy for any skill level to knit and for anyone to wear. It’s mostly stockinette highlighted with a fun lace pattern worked asymmetrically on different pieces of the garment to add interest. And it’s knit with a combination of cotton and silk that makes it cool and comfortable whatever the weather.

The pattern includes lots of design options for you as well. You can make it with a regular or a more boxy fit, and the length can be slightly cropped to long.

There are three size options for the chest measurement (40, 50 and 60 inches, or 101.6, 127 or 152.4 cm) and four for the length: 19.5, 22, 24.5 and 27 inches, or 49.5, 55.9, 62.2 or 68.6 cm. You can also make the sleeves different lengths depending on your preference and how much coverage you like.

It’s meant to be worn open or you can add a button at the very top, so you can decide if you want to have the front panels close enough to be able to close or a more open look depending on your chest measurement.

This cardigan has a really fun look and it also looks really comfortable to wear, even when it’s warm out.

You can grab the pattern in English or Japanese on Ravelry.

[Photo: Yumiko Alexander]

Easy Cardigan Knitting Patterns

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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