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Hold onto Summer with the Hipster Top Knitting Pattern

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As I write this, summer is winding down and kids are going back to school, but I know that in a lot of the Northern Hemisphere it will still be warm for a long time, and it’s probably already getting warmer in the Southern Hemisphere.

So it’s basically the perfect time for anyone to knit a tee shirt.

Especially when it’s one that’s as full of cute details as the Hipster Top by Joji Locatelli.

Inspired by the stripes and design details of the Hip Stripes Shawl (Ravelry link), the top has the same narrow stripes in two colors, and the fun lace detail has been added to the shoulders of the cap sleeves.

The tee begins with that little bit of crossed stitch lace and then is worked down in pieces until it is joined for working in the round at the underarm. It makes for a totally seamless construction so all you have to do when you’re done is weave in your ends (if you want; I promise I won’t tell if you don’t).

The V-neck makes it easy and comfortable to wear, and the shirt is made with a light fingering weight yarn that’s a blend of yak and cotton, which sounds super interesting.

The pattern comes in 10 sizes, meant to fit a bust circumference ranging from 30 to 64 inches (76.2 to 162.5 cm), with positive ease of 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) built in.

This looks like a really easy pattern because once you get past that little bit of lace (there’s a video to help you along if you need it) it’s all stockinette down to the ribbing at the bottom of the top. And those little stripes are sure to make you knit this project at lightning speed because you’ll want to knit “just one more stripe!” all the time until it’s done. That’s just science.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Joji Locatelli]

More Summer Top Knitting Patterns to Finish Out the Season

Knit a Summer Top with a Textured Twist

Knit a Summer Top with a Little Frill

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Easy Knit Baskets to Use All Your Stash

For the past few years I’ve taken part in a Christmas in July blog hop that encourages people to get a jump on their making for holiday gifts. 

I love to use yarn I already have for these projects in the hope that people will consider what they already have that they can use to make projects for themselves or to give as gifts. 

This year it was a couple of knit baskets made using partial balls of yarn left in my stash from other projects. 

They use the same basic pattern but the first one is made with two colors of bulky yarn, and the second used two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, which made the gauge about the same, but I cast on fewer stitches to make a smaller version. 

The bottom of the basket is square, though you can make them rectangular if you’d rather. Then I just knit up the sides in rounds until I was about to run out of yarn. This gave both baskets rather short sides — maybe more like a tray than a basket — but you can keep knitting as long as you like to make the sides of your basket as tall as you want. 

They’re worked in seed stitch, which keeps the edges from curling and adds a nice texture to the baskets.

Of course this also allows you to use even more odd balls from your stash. I’d love to make a big one someday combining lots of different yarn. I mean, I’d probably use it to store more yarn, but that’s a fine thing to do. 

As it is, these little trays are great for sitting on your desk or bedside table to hold little things that always seem to appear there. I like to use one to hold the supplies for whatever project I’m working on, things like little scissors, my tape measure, a crochet hook, etc.

And they would make good gifts on their own or as a container to hold some other goodies if you like. 

You can find the free pattern for these stash busting baskets over at Our Daily Craft.