I’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!
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!