Spring + Summer Knitty is Here

See, I wasn’t at all kidding about it being almost spring, because the Spring + Summer Knitty has just been released.

This issue includes 13 patterns for shawls, tops, socks, a sweater, a sleep mask and a baby hat.

In addition you’ll find Donna Druchunas‘ last regular column for Knitty (wah!) all about linen and Lithuania, learn about making a top that’s knit and crocheted and make a fun and funky baby hat inspired by Victorian patterns with Franklin Habit, as well as learning tips on how to use a rigid heddle loom, because we all need more things to do with fiber, right?

I love the Geek sock pattern by Wei S. Leong, which combines a self-striping yarn and a slip-stitch pattern to make a sock that’s a little more interesting than the plain striped socks you usually see in self-striping yarn without adding much difficulty. Jennifer Wood’s Mia is a pretty straightforward shell with details along the bottom and at the top front, worked in a gorgeous linen and silk yarn.

Mitenae has a pretty square shawl called Peppermint Bay, inspired by the Pi Shawl worked in a pretty, and actually pretty easy, repeating eyelet pattern with a lace edging that’s applied as it is knit. And that one shown above is called Hybrid Vigour by Mary-Anne Mace, which is sort of a shawl/poncho made with handspun.

Remember the site can be slow loading these first couple of days, but if you get a look around I’d love to know what catches your eye. I’m thinking hard about knitting those Geek socks…

[Photo via Knitty.]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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