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:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

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