Knitting

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Lace Scarves to Knit for Spring

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The other day I mentioned how much I don’t want to be knitting a sweater when the weather starts getting warm, but I also need a little help staying warm because I’m always cold. 

Lace scarves are another fun answer to that problem, and there are lots of relatively easy lace and eyelet scarf knitting patterns you can try even if you’ve never knit lace before. 

The Sailor Scarf by Knitleybay has a 20 row repeat, but there are big chunks of stockinette stitch in there are you’ll easily memorize the floral eyelet pattern. This project uses fingering weight yarn and it is stockinette based, so it will curl, but it’s cute that way (or you can add a border). Find the pattern on Ravelry. 

The spring lace scarf from Palmeri Arts and Crafts is the one to knit if its still cold where you are (or you’re fighting overly aggressive early season air conditioning). This one is worked in worsted weight yarn with an allover design that looks sort of like butterflies. You could of course make it smaller and lighter with a lighter weight yarn if you want. 

I also like the lace scarf from The Feminine Touch, because it shows you what happens to stockinette stitch when you knit it on needles bigger than expected. The pattern calls for DK weight yarn worked n size 9 US/5.5 mm knitting needles, which is great for opening up the lace pattern but it does fun things to the plain sections, too. 

If you’re looking for a scarf that’s a mere suggestion of weight, check out the Netta Scarf from Masha Patterns. This leaf lace scarf is worked in an ethereal mohair yarn, though you could use something with more substance to give it a little more weight and warmth if you need it. 

These days there are a lot of scarves that aren’t strictly scarf shaped, and there are lots of lacy triangles you can wear as scarves, too, like the Dew Scarf from Irene Lin. This little lacy mohair triangle is knit sideways, which makes it easy to adjust the size based on how much yarn you have. The pattern is available in English and Korean from Ravelry. 

And this one is not a scarf at all, but seeing the lace panel called Fox and Snow Hares from Vicki Monthei is what got me thinking about lace scarves, so I wanted to share it, too. This design is based off a mitten pattern from 1892, converted into a flat piece of knitting. You could just keep on repeating the design to make a scarf if you like. Hers is worked in thread but you can make yours heavier, too. Find the pattern as a free download on Ravelry. 

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Pretty Tank Top Knitting Patterns to Keep You Cool

I’ve been writing about knitting online for a long time, and a lot of things have changed. But one good thing I think has changed over the years is that fewer people see knitting as a seasonal activity. Most people don’t seem to think anymore that there’s a time when it’s too hot to knit or too hot to wear knits. 

I don’t know if the proliferation of knit tank top patterns caused that shift or is the result of it, but either way, summer knitters and knitwear-wearers are the beneficiaries, and every year there seem to be more great tank top knitting patterns to share. 

How about the super cute Fleur Cami from Woolbirdx on Etsy? This sweet V-neck with thin straps features vertical panels of eyelets and ribbing. It’s worked from the bottom up in the round and is available in nine sizes. It calls for super fine yarn. 

Or there’s the knitted lace V-neck top from Exotic Works Hub. This one has lace panels on the front at the center and is otherwise worked mostly in stockinette stitch. It’s worked from the bottom up in fingering weight yarn and comes in six sizes.

The Mixed Rib Cami from Florence Miller is another on that caught my eye. Worked in light fingering weight yarn, it is worked from the top down using twisted rib stitches and optional waist shaping. It’s finished with I-cord edges for a super clean look. The pattern has nine sizes available and you can find it on Ravelry. 

Stine HoelgaardJohansen’s Golden Girl top is a cute sport weight top with a round neckline that’s deeper in the back, and worked from the bottom up in broken rib. There are nine size options (and six languages) and you can grab it for free on Ravelry. 

Prefer a sporty look? Andrea Gaughan’s Sumac tank is worked in fingering weight yarn from the top down with contrasting edges. The pattern has 10 sizes and two fit profiles, graded to a traditionally masculine or feminine frame respectively. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.