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.]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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