Knit Summer Tops with a Bit of Lace

This time of year I annually try to convince everyone that you can still knit and wear knit garments in the summer. One way to do that is knitting short sleeved or sleeveless shirts. But you can make it even cooler (and a little less plain) by adding a bit of lace.

Lace literally makes your projects lighter, but it also provides a bit of ventilation that makes your clothes more comfortable to wear. So let’s check out some knit tops with lace for summer knitting.

Live your cottagecore dreams with the Nostalgia Tee from Auguste Knit. This DK weight top is vintage inspired and includes an allover lace pattern on the front and sleeves and most of the back. It’s worked in one piece from the bottom up and is available in five sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

A more subtle design but with a fun wavy lace pattern is the Cloudbreak Tee from Wool & Pine. This pretty top uses DK weight yarn and has classic t-shirt styling with a lacy twist. It comes in 11 sizes up to a 72 inch/183 cm bust. It has a seamless set in sleeve design that’s a lot of fun and produces a great fit. It can be worked with long or short sleeves and the lace pattern is both written and charted. Learn more on Ravelry.

If you want the lace to be more of an accent than a major design element, check out Ophelia by Star Crossed Knits. This pretty design can be a tank top, short sleeved or long sleeved project, and it features a bit of lace around the neckline, sleeves/armholes and hem. It’s worked from the top down in fingering weight yarn and comes in nine sizes.

Add a little simple lace to the top of your knit shirt to make it lighter with this pattern from Little Theorem. This project is worked seamlessly from the top down and has a slightly drapey neckline and little cap sleeves. It’s available in nine sizes and uses lace weight yarn.

Another option with a bit of lace on the top is Lokta by Joan Forgione, available on Ravelry. The yoke portions are worked back and forth in rows, then joined to work the stockinette stitch section in the round. The pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn plus mohair (or use a light DK), and the lace is both written and charted. The design has eight sizes available.

While no one would likely use a knit backpack for school, knitting a backpack is a fun way to show off your knitting skills and carry around your project or everyday essentials instead of using a purse. Check out these cute backpack knitting patterns and stitch one up for your next project.

I couldn’t resist sharing this adorable bunny backpack (you can also make it without the ears) that is made on a circular knitting machine. This pattern is from Orange Olive Road and you can use a 46 or 48 needle machine for the bag but will also need a 22 needle machine if you opt for the bunny version.

If you prefer knitting by hand, check out the bucket bag pattern from WoolFans Knitting. This one calls for super bulky yarn in two or three colors (you could make it all in one color, too, if you’d rather) and it looks like the base is knit flat and then the sides are worked in the round.

You know I love a stashbuster, and that’s what you get with the Whidbey Bag from Wool and Pine Designs. This one calls for DK weight yarn for the body of the bag, which is actually worked in a single color from the top down. The colorful bits are woven in after the knitting is done, allowing you to use up all sorts of odd balls quickly.

Adding hardware to a knit bag makes it look that much more interesting, and the combination of leather accents and a sari silk yarn makes Le Backpack from Vanrey Knits a lot of fun. This pattern is on Ravelry and uses a super bulky yarn and seed stitch for a ton of texture.

Mama in a Stitch has a great free pattern for a little backpack with a flap closure. This one is worked in worsted weight cotton yarn with two strands held together for extra stability. It starts with a flat base with the body worked in the round and a knit flap and I-cord straps.

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