Knitting

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Giveaway: Warm Days, Cool Knits

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warm days cool knits

Stefanie is the winner!

After a really wet beginning to the summer where I live, it finally really feels like summer, with baking hot days and not-very-cool nights. This is the south, after all, and like other southerners I sometimes find it hard to find the will to knit — or to wear something knit — in the heat of summer.

Corrina Ferguson is a knitter in Florida who actually didn’t start knitting until she moved south. She’s had to come up with ways to still knit and wear knits in a climate that is not in need of bulky wool, and some of the results can be found in her fun book Warm Days, Cool Knits.

The book is broken down by season, starting with winter, which offers a couple of long-sleeved sweaters, a hat and a pair of lacy socks. Moving through the seasons, sleeves disappear and more lace is added, but there are also shawls to warm those shoulders in the evenings (or in too-cool rooms).

These projects are pretty and sure to delight knitters in all sorts of climates. You should know that they all use pretty lightweight yarns, but the designs mostly aren’t too challenging and you certainly shouldn’t let skinny yarn stop you.

If you’d like to win a copy of this book (it will be a print edition if you live in the United States, or a PDF if you live elsewhere), leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, July 27. I’d love to know where you live and what the temperature is today.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  2. I live in the mid west and it seems to finally be summer sometimes a bit too hot but today it is supposed to be 88 and humid and some rain possible in the evening.

  3. This looks like a great book for Summer projects! I live in Western New York and the temp today is expected to be in the high 80’s. Combined with the high humidity we’ve been having, it’s hot!!!

  6. I live just outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and its a beautiful sumny day (not too hot, not too cold). It’s currently 21 degrees C (about 70 F) with a high of 25 predicted.

  9. i would use a book for cool knits. It has been in the upper 90’s here in Alabama for the last 3 weeks. It is suppose to be over 100 the next couple of days. Thank you.

  10. It’s a lovely 77 in Wahoo, Nebraska right now. It’s supposed to get close to 90 later, so I better get out and mow the grass!

  12. I live in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley…and I’m very pleased to tell you that it’s only about 24 C (75 F) today, which is MUCH nicer than the 38 C (100 F) it was over the weekend! 🙂

  13. I live in NW Indiana and the temperature is 83 today. It is very humid. Definitely, summertime weather here.

  14. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and the current temperature is 18 C (65F). Its been around 25 C (77 F) all week so I’m ok with the cooler temp 🙂

  17. I live in Atlanta, Georgia. Recently I checked the temperature and it said it was 89° but with himidity its 105! Even with air-conditoning larger projects like afghans can make your lap a puddle.

  18. I also live in a warm climate. In SC it is VERY warm right now and our winters are short and mild.

  20. I’ve seen previews and reviews for this book and I would be ecstatic to win a copy!!

  21. Minneapolis Mb 76° today. I would love to win a copy of this book, it’s definitely already on my wishlist.

  24. I am laid up with a broken leg in Connecticut and would love to be knitting something cool and airy. The book looks absolutely wonderful!

  26. I live in Oregon, about 40 miles inland from the coast. Today it will be 85, much nicer than the nearly 100’s we have been having. Summer knitting is definitely in the works!

  27. I love the two tank top patterns as these are hard to find. This is a book I would love to have.

  29. I live in the Great State of Michigan, and it’s been a balmy 84 degrees today!! We’re supposed to drop in the 70’s tomorrow, which makes me a little sad, but this book is perfect, since I did read my favorite word — shawl!!! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!! Always love to make new items for myself and others!!

  30. I’m in NYC and the temperature is 91! But I loveeeee knitting! This book seems like the perfect solution to this conundrum 😉

  31. I live in the South, but I am vacation in Maine today! Sadly, it’s 90 degrees and humid here today. This book is full of great patterns. Thanks for another fabulous giveaway! !

  33. I live in Upstate NY.
    It is now 76 degrees.
    Refreshing after 100% humidity
    and in the 90″s last weekend.

  37. The temperature hit 91 today in Ohio. Pretty hot and muggy. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

  38. I live in Phoenix, Arizona now but my knitting started when I lived in michigan. I am excited by this book and can’t wait to take a closer look!

  39. I live in Phoenix Arizona. 9:30 at night and it’s 95 degrees. Don’t know what the high was today, but tomorrow is forecast as 105 degrees.

  44. Georgia, where it is over 100 degrees today. Construction workers had some kind of accident and our power was out for 6 hours. You wanna talk about hot? Try 100 degrees with no fan or air conditioning. And then have a hot flash. It is a wonder I have not incinerated!

  46. I live in Italy and is very very hot at the moment! 40 degrees Celsius, it looks like is 104 Fahrenheit .

  49. Louisville, KY and in the 80s here today. Pleasant after heat of last few weeks.

  50. I live in Oregon. We’ve had a lot of really hot days this summer, but today is lovely, with a high of 79.

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

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.