Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Simple Tops for Summer

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summer top knitting patternsI think I mentioned the other day that I’ve been knitting a top, and I’m going to share it with you (along with a giveaway so you can get a kit of your own) on Monday, but I’m really inspired to knit more tops that I can use during the summer.

Here are a few cute ones that I have seen lately:

The Seedling Simple Tee from Classic Elite Yarns is a classic T-shirt that’s mostly Stockinette with a section of ribbing that runs up the center of the body. Super easy and a nice little detail.

Yarnspirations’ Knit Tank Tunic is another simple one that you’ll want to wear all summer, though I might make it in a different yarn. Simply Soft is acrylic, which is not always the best choice for summer because it can feel super hot.

If you’re the sort who needs a light sweater even in the summer (that’s me for sure!) check out Alyssum and Passiflora, both form Berroco. The first is a simple Stockinette cardigan with rolled hems, three quarter sleeves and eyelet details, while the second is a light pullover with an eyelet panel at the front and back center and along the sleeves for lots of climate control.

Have you been knitting any summery tops? I’d love to hear about it.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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Make Your Knitting Machine Scarves Better

I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve shared any patterns for our circular knitting machine users. I know these devices aren’t for everyone but even though I much prefer knitting by hand, it is kind of fun to crank things out on these machines.

One of the most common early projects for a circular knitting machine is a scarf. Which makes sense, because it’s just one long tube and you can make it as long as you like.

One problem that comes from knitting scarves on the circular knitting machine, though, is that it can be hard to know how to finish the ends of the tube so that it looks like a finished scarf and not a tube of knitting.

If you’re not a knitter or crocheter, the most basic way to finish a circular knitting machine scarf is just by cinching up the ends and maybe adding a pompom to each end to cover up any hole that might still be visible at the end.

But if you have a little knitting or crochet skill or are willing to learn, there are a lot of different options for closing up the ends of a scarf. And this would also be true if you hand knit a tube scarf!

I recently wrote a post over at Our Daily Craft that includes five different ways to close up the ends of a tube scarf:

  • the simple cinching method mentioned above
  • sewing the stitches together
  • three needle bind off
  • grafting
  • crochet bind off

Grafting is my favorite because I feel like it gives the cleanest, closest to a seamless look. If you’re a knitter you may already know how to do it but even if you don’t it’s not that hard to learn.

Do you knit tube scarves by hand or machine? I’d love to know how you like to finish them!