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Easy Tops to Knit for Summer

April 27, 2016 by Sarah White

The weather is officially warm here in Arkansas, and all I want to do is knit summery tops. So I decided to hit up Ravelry for some easy, quick projects that those of us who are already feeling the warm can knit now and have off the needles pretty quickly, while those in cooler climates can start working on soon and have done in plenty of time to enjoy for as long as their warm season is.

One that has been on my to-knit list for so long I bought the pattern booklet and the yarn back when it was first released and now the pattern is free is Flow by Norah Gaughan. This simple tank top looks like something I would live in all summer, and this may just be the year I finally get it knit.

Stefanie Japel’s Bad Penny is another little top I’ve meant to make forever. (It’s from a 2004 Knitty.) It’s a top-down tee with contrasting edgings that’s super cute and casual.

I’ve also had Sarah Wilson’s Blue Hawaii tank on my mind for a few years. I like the lacy top and that it’s something that can carry you from beach to dinner, as if I ever do that, but stil.

Sunkist by Kristin Kapur is a super-cute, easy, top-down raglan V-neck originally worked with 3/4 sleeves, but you could make them shorter if you don’t need so much chill-chasing (I always need an extra layer to protect against air conditioning).

The original version of Rosa’s Sleeveless Cardi-Jumper by Emma Fassio was worked in a bulky alpaca blend, but choose cotton yarn linen or another lighter-weight blend for a great summer piece.

Another great Knitty project is Askew, a bias-knit tank worked in lovely Noro Silk Garden; it’s a great layering piece you can use in many seasons.tank top knitting patterns

More tanks: a simple tank top from Patons, the Sarah Tank Top (yes, please!) from Domestic Dutchess, the Top Knitted in Moss Stitch by DROPS Design, the Simple Knit Top from Crafty Queens, Summer in Luxembourg by Totally Stricken, Elaine Phillips’ Vine Lace Tank Top with I-cord, the seamless Summer Breeze by Dana Berry and Scarlet Taylor’s Lace Up Tank Top.

Looking for more patterns? Check out these Summer Knit books on Amazon
t-shirt knitting patterns

And short-sleeved tops: Paloma by Kyoko Nakayoshi (which is worked on the top in Garter Stitch and has buttons along one side), the Drop Stitch Top from Patons, the Summer Lace Panel T-Shirt from Cascade Yarns, Rebecca Airmet’s Top-Down Tee, the Easy Side-t0-Side Summer Top by Claudia Olson and the Summer Top with Lace Pattern from DROPS Design.

That ought to keep you going for a while. If you have a favorite summer top pattern you’ve knit before, I’d love to hear about it!

Next Pattern:

  • Book Review - Easy Knit Summer Tops: 15 Warm Weather Knits
  • Easy Tops to Knit for Spring and Summer
  • More Tops to Knit for Summer
«
»

Comments

  1. freetoairphoenix says

    May 2, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    This is a FANTASTIC post! knits for SUMMER!! I was just pining over how May is already here and now what do I do?? and found this post. Awesome. The tops are gorgeous too, by the way.

Have you read?

Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.

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