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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The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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