Add Some Texture to Your Summer Knitting

Andalusian stitch is a basic knit purl knitting stitch pattern that I love but I never think to use on projects. It’s a pretty easy four-row repeat where three of the rows are just stockinette stitch.

You need a multiple of two plus one stitches for it to work, and you knit the first row, purl the second, then work knit 1, purl 1 across the next row (ending with a knit 1) and purl the fourth row.

This also gives you some practice in reading your knitting because you can count rows on the fabric instead of marking them down on paper or with a row counter if you want.

Andalusian stitch is so easy you don’t really need to practice it before you dive into a pattern using it.

This time of year I’d love to recommend the Aosta Summer Top 2.0 from The Knit Purl Girl. (It’s 2.0 because it was a relaunch of an older pattern.)

This top down raglan is worked in the round with allover Andalusian stitch (other than ribbed edges; because it’s mostly stockinette it does tend to curl without them). The pattern calls for two strands of fingering weight yarn to be held together but you can also use a single strand of DK weight yarn, so long as you can get gauge.

The pattern comes in 12 sizes, with an actual finished chest measurement of 30.75 to 58.75 inches, or 78 to 149 cm. It’s meant to be worn with what the designer calls neutral ease, ranging from 1.5 inch/3.5 cm positive ease to 1.5 inches/3.5 cm negative ease for smaller sizes, or 2 inches/5 cm positive to negative ease range for the larger sizes.

That way it’s up to you if you want a super snug fit or a little more room. It’s meant to fit like a cozy t-shirt.

I love the refined look the Andalusian stitch gives this one and I just might need to make it for myself soon! You can grab the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: The Knit Purl Girl]

Knitting Patterns for Your Summer Picnic

Add a Gorgeous Little Knit Cover to Your Summer Outfits

Summer Gansey Knitting Pattern

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork.

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn.

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look.

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me.

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round.

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.

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