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

If your family is the sort to do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving, or even just to take family pictures, you’ll want to get started knitting up some Turkey Sack Hats with this pattern from Underground Crafter.

The pattern uses super bulky yarn and is rated easy. It’s knit flat but there are a few skills in here around the shaping of the eyes, which includes changing colors, working bobbles and doing a wicked purl 3 together decrease. Twice.

But that’s all in one row, and the rest of it is pretty simple. The beak is worked separately and sewn on, and the side of the hat is stitched up to make it into a hat.

What’s great about this one is that it comes in 10 sizes, ranging from newborn to adult large, so you really can make one for everyone in the family. And because it uses super bulky yarn you can knit a bunch pretty quickly if that’s a thing you’d like to do.

It’s also fun because you could use this base pattern to make different animals or for different holidays. Make it all in orange and stitch on a jack o’lantern face for Halloween, or make a white one that’s a snowman, for example.

In any style this would also be a fun gag gift for that person in your life who has everything or doesn’t want gifts, or if you do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange at work or elsewhere.

And make sure whether you’re making it a turkey or some other character that you include the pom poms at the top! They’re just so cure and a great way to add a bit more color to the project, and they’re easy to make. (See also: ways to make a pompom with yarn.)

You can grab the free pattern at the Underground Crafter website.

[Photo: Underground Crafter]

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