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Sweet Cardigans to Knit for Summer

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cardigan knitting patternsI’m on a bit of a cardigan kick right now. I stitched up but haven’t yet sewn together the Quickie Cardigan by Amy Gunderson, which I think will be perfect for summer thanks to the shorter sleeves and allover eyelet patterning. I also pulled out my Spoked Cardigan (designed by Carol Feller) recently, which I’ve been working on intermittently for about three years, and which is about 30 rows away from being done if I would just do it.

Cardigans are great for spring and summer because they’re easy to throw on over whatever you’re wearing when you get chilled, and just as easy to toss aside or into your bag when you get warm. They can also be a little more forgiving than pullovers if you choose one without closures that doesn’t have to fit your chest perfectly.

If you’re a summer cardigan fan, here are a few options that have crossed my computer screen lately.

Berroco’s textured Ametrine, designed by Emily Nora O’Neil, is one of those cardigans that hangs open, making it easy to knit and to wear. It’s pieced and uses an allover textured rib pattern that’s easy to memorize and calls for a yarn that’s a shiny blend of alpaca and rayon for warmth and drape.

I also like Watson from Berroco, designed by Amy Christoffers. This one is a cotton yarn cardi covered with cables and a textured rib. They call it a classic New England summer sweater, but it’s great everywhere.

Yarnspirations has lots of great cardigan patterns, but some of my favorites are the three-quarter sleeved Walk in the Park Cardi, which has just enough colorwork to make it fun; the simple Bright and Breezy Kimono, with its blocky shape and easy eyelet pattern; and Cardi Gras, a pretty little A-line cardigan with three-quarter sleeves that only buttons at the top.

Another really cool collection of sweaters comes from DROPS, which has a whole set of patterns you can knit either as a cardigan or a pullover. It’s so interesting to see how the projects look different when worked as a cardigan or a pullover. One of my favorites in this collection is the Fox Jacket, a round yoked lace cardigan worked with fuzzy and sparkly yarns to make a really fun and fabulous project.

Do you have a favorite cardigan you’ve knit for the summer months? I’d love to hear about it!

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

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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Comments

  1. LOVE these cardigans. Walk in the Park is already on my knitting list and I’m thinking about my color choices. Thanks, as always, for sharing these great patterns!

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]