Get Ready for Summer Stitching with the Summer Love Collection

Annie’s has just launched a new collection of summer-inspired knit and crochet projects called Summer Love. The collection was envisioned by lead designer Lena Skvagerson, who draws from more than 25 years in the European knit and crochet design markets.

Collection contributors include Lisa Gentry, Jill Hanratty, Meghan Jones, Charles Voth and Kara Gott Warner. This group of collaborators share one unified vision—to create a feel-good volume of knit and crochet patterns with the intention to infuse loving energy upon those who create them.

“This collection is so timely for Annie’s because we are deeply listening to the needs of knitters and crocheters,” Skvagerson said. “They demand more than just another pattern, and our answer is a lifestyle approach that invokes emotion, excitement and passion. We want to design garments and wearables that people will actually wear every day and that look flattering on a broad range of body types. They should be clothes that make you feel good and that make people say “Wow, did you make that!?”

This is the first seasonal collection from Annie’s, and it includes knit sweaters, vests and tunics, a crocheted swimsuit and hat, shawls and other accessories perfect for warmer weather. The projects suit a range of skill levels and suit a variety of tastes, with an emphasis on romantic, beachy styles perfect for summer, even in landlocked states. Each pattern costs $7.

Some of my favorites include the Montecito Tunic and the simple Painted Sky Shawl, both pictured above.

Check out the lookbook for the projects, and learn more at Annie’s Signature Collection.

[Photos via Annie’s.]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply