Cowls are for Summer, Too

On my recent vacation I (finally) knit a Wingspan shawl, and while I haven’t worn it yet, it’s small enough and lightweight enough that I could wear it while it’s warm outside (particularly in southern air conditioning).

I’m not the only one who feels like cowls and shawls can and should be an all-year thing. The Into the Wind Cowlette from Safiyyah Talley is a great example of a cowl that is very much meant for summer knitting and wearing.

There’s the color, for starters. It’s worked in lace-weight yarn and is just a little triangular bit of knitting with some eyelets for extra breatheability. It’s joined into a cowl so it won’t slide off your shoulders, and the fringe adds a bit of fun, too.

Grab the pattern for $7 on Ravelry.

[Photo: Safiyyah Talley.]

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

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I know that my posts can be read at different times of year and in different years by different people, but as I write this we’re on teh cusp of summer. And I know a lot of people don’t knit as much, and certainly don’t wear a lot of knits in the summer, but I want to encourage you to make and to wear your makes no matter the temperature.

To introduce you to the joys of summer garment knitting, I offer the Tied Vest from Lion Brand Yarn.

This easy project is great to make and wear throughout the year but it’s especially good for summer. It’s worked flat in one piece from the bottom up, mostly in stockinette stitch with a seed stitch edging. The I-cord ties are worked directly onto the garment so you don’t have to sew them on.

The project uses worsted weight yarn, and calls for a blend of cotton and hemp that’s great for warm weather.

There are eight size options, ranging from a finished chest measurement of 35 to 62.5 inches, or 89 to 159 cm. That makes it sound like it should be worn with at least a few inches of positive ease, but the pattern doesn’t specify.

The ties at the front give it a casual look and make it great to wear over a tank top or T-shirt when the weather is warm.

I also think this one would be good to knit in wool or a warmer fiber, too, to make a version you could wear more comfortably in the winter months, too. Though of course you could layer the summer version over a long-sleeved shirt and wear it throughout the year, too.

The tied vest is a free pattern available from Lion Brand. You can also purchase a kit that includes the yarn and optional needles and stitch markers if you need them.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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