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Readalong and Knit this Amazing Mountain Throw

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intarsia mountain knitalong readalongIt must be the season for knitalongs, because here’s another great one coming up soon.

Heidi from Hands Occupied is hosting her fall Read Along Knit Along with the book The Snow Child by Eowin Ivey and Instarsia Mountain, a lovely, rainbow-colored mountain worked mostly in Garter Stitch using the intarsia method.

I want in just for the blanket, honestly, though the book sounds really good, too (it was a finalist for a Pulitzer in 2013).

The knitalong officially starts Sept. 1, and parts of the pattern will be released through the end of October. There are portions of the book to be read for each clue. In addition she’ll be hosting in-person knit night events for Chicago-area knitters, with broadcasts on social media from the events. There will also be discussions on Ravelry and prizes throughout the event and at the end, too, just for fun.

The model was knit with Paintbox Wool Mix Aran yarn, and Love Knitting is working on bundles in vibrant and neutral colors to go with the project. Check back with Heidi’s page for more details on those.

This looks like so much fun and combines my two favorite pastimes; what could be better?

[Photo: Hands Occupied.]

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Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

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