Try Some Fun Colorwork with the Sonesta Sweater

There are so many different things you can do with stranded knitting, from delicate little repeating patterns of just a stitch or two to elaborate, intricate colorwork or even some big, bold designs like this sweater.

The Sonesta Sweater by Chinua “Chin” Matthews features a neutral background highlighted by fun wedges of colorwork that look sort of like feathers. Worked in a multicolored yarn, it gives a bold effect without any more work on your part.

The project is worked in sport weight yarn as a tube from the bottom up, with steeks for the armholes and neckline. There’s a video tutorial included in the pattern to help you set up and cut your steeks if that’s something you need help with.

I know steeks can be intimidating, but it’s actually great in this project because it keeps you from having to do colorwork in purl, which I know a lot of people don’t like.

There are 12 sizes to choose from, ranging from a finished garment chest measurement of 30.25 to 81.5 inches, or 77 to 207 cm. The pattern suggests choosing the size that works for you with the amount of ease that you like.

It doesn’t look like it’s worn with a huge amount of ease in the photos, but it’s up to you how you would like to wear it. (I like a few inches of positive ease since I generally wear a shirt under my sweaters.) The pattern also includes tips for size modifications if you need a different fit. Click through the projects to see how it looks on different people.

You can learn more about the pattern and buy it on Ravelry. If Ravelry isn’t your thing, you can also buy it on PayHip. Learn more about the designer at his Instagram page, chin2tog.

[Photo: Chinua “Chin” Matthews]

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The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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