I feel like I share a lot of summer tops and tanks, even though surely I don’t share more of them than I do sweaters, for example. See: easy tops | lacy tops | more summer tops as a few examples.
I think I like to share these sorts of patterns because there are so many people who seem to think that knitting and wearing your knits needs to stop in the summer. But there are so many great patterns to knit and to wear when the weather heats up. Your summer knitting project can be as comfy and basic as your favorite T-shirt (though of course some of these are less basic, too!).
Fro example: the knit sweater tee from Ozetta on Etsy. This is a super simple drop shoulder top worked totally in stockinette stitch with curled edges. The body is worked from the bottom up and the sleeves are worked from the top down. It uses fingering weight yarn, which is perfect for hot weather (both knitting and wearing). It comes in nine sizes for a finished bust measurement ranging from 36 to 63 inches, or 91 to 160 cm.
Or how about the Feels Right Tee from Lily Kate Makes? This one is a little more fitted and is a top down raglan worked in fingering weight yarn. You can add a stripe or work it in a solid color. It’s meant to be worn with 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) of positive ease and comes in nine sizes ranging from a finished bust circumference of 31.5 to 63.5 inches, or 80 to 162 cm. The detailing on this one is really interesting, too.
Another great raglan is the DK weight Tolsta Tee from Rebecca Clow, which is meant to be a blank canvas you can add your own touch to. Make it in a solid color or stripes, add eyelets or colorwork. The pattern includes ideas on how to modify it. The design comes in 10 sizes with a finished bust circumference of 31.5 to66.75 inches/80-169.5 cm. You can download this one from Ravelry.
The Suri Shirt from Caidree is an oversized boat neck, drop shoulder tee worked from the top down with ribbing and stockinette stitch. It has a split hem and offers two length options, cropped and standard. It comes in nine sizes with a finished bust measurement ranging from 38.25 to 63 inches, or 98 to 160 cm. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.
If you want a plain top that’s a little less plain, check out Petite Knits’ Anker’s Summer Shirt. This DK weight circular yoke pattern is worked in the round from the top down, with a ribbed yoke for extra interest. It’s designed with 0-2 inches/0-5 cm of positive ease, and it comes in nine sizes, to fit a bust of 31.5 to 59 inches/80 to 150 cm. Buy this one on Ravelry, where it is available in 12 languages!
Or you can add a bit of lace with the Soft Tee from Petra Breakstone. This fingering weight top is worked in one piece from the bottom up and includes lace panels at the center front and back and the bottom of the sleeves. It’s meant to have a positive ease of about 2.5 inches/6cm, and sizes fit busts ranging from 36 to 56 inches (91.4 to 142.2 cm). You can find this one on Ravelry.
