Favourite Patterns Friday, June 21, 2019, Issue 106: Happy first day of summer!!

• Posted on 21 June 2019
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in Favourite Patterns, June 2019, summer knitting
• 0

It is officially summer! When the days are not wet, I like to to take advantage of those clear days, sit outside and knit whenever I can. I love the light summer tops and tanks that can be made using lighter weight yarns or cotton, linen or silk.

As you can see, I finished my Tulip sweater by Ririko! I love it in spite of the issues that I had with gauge where I frogged my yoke and started over again.

In retrospect, I think my original version would have been fine! I went from a 3.00 mm needle up to a 3.5 mm needle but because linen doesn't behave like wool and it tends to grow a little in length, I could have left it. That being said, I love how it turned out including the length!

I chose to knit mine using one strand of Shibui Reed but had a hard time deciding what colour to use. Brick is what I used after asking the opinion of my Tuesday afternnon Knit group. I used 1078 yards for the 41.25 size. It is a great summer sweater to wear!

Linen is breathable and cool, gets softer with each washing, and is an excellent fiber for summer garments. It is an inelastic fibre though and you may want to fight the yarn when you first work with it. Linen will not hug your needle like wool will aqnd give you a slightly larger stitch. Relax, and don't fight the yarn or try to tighten up. You can go down a needle size or use wood or bamboo needles - it could help even out your stitches.

Linen also changes dramatically when it is washed and blocked, changing from feeling and looking like string to being soft, supple and drapey.

Denis by Elizabeth Smith is my newest WIP. I am using LoftyFibre Euroflax Linen Sport in Eggplant, the same colour Trina used for her Hermosa Tee.

The gauge for Denis is 15 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, after blocking. My gauge using 5.0 mm ChiaoGoo needles was 15 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches. Using wooden or bamboo needles will usually give the same stitches but narrower rows so I am using my 5.0 mm Lykke needles.

I didn't do as big a swatch as I sometimes do or use garter stitch edges. I was (as usual) too impatient to start!

Pictured above is vhglass’s Ranunculus by Midori Hirose knit with Berroco Remix Light. This yarn from Berroco has turned out to be a hit for light summer tees and tops. This particular pattern has been knit in a wide array of yarns from summery to warm and cozy winter.

Another favourite summer knit is Caitlin Hunter's Tegna! This one is Connie's that she knit using this awesome shade of "Seaglass".

For all of you who have knit Julie Williams Little Cotton Rabbits patterns, there is a new supplement that is intended to be used with either of her fox patterns!

I already own several of Julie's patterns but not either of the fox patterns yet...Hmm...I don't think it will be long before I but one of them so that I can use this supplement to knit before Christmas!

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Knit Your Any Sweater KAL and the Knit Any Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit your own project (any project, and join in anytime!) from May to August 31, 2019!

There are a lot of KALs we can join in on (to double-dip)! If anyone wants to join in the Olive Knits 4 Day KAL for the Foxtrot Cardigan, let me know. Linda is also hoping a few of you will join her in knittinbg the Papillon. Casapinka also has her Perfect Blend MKAL which will begin July 8th.

Lise makes such beautiful baby knits! This one is Bluebell Cardigan by schneckenstrick using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.

Deborah has finished her Moth version of Papillon by Marin Melchior...she has also knit two Papillons! They are all breathtaking!

Christina knit herself this new summer top! The pattern is Cancun Boxy Lace Top by Erin Kate Archer.

Nik loves to knit socks! Here are her Fairy Lights socks!

NEW!

Twill & Print enamel pins, stitch markers or progress keepers! Glam up your knitting, jacket or project bag!

Twill and Print Knitter’s Helpers will stylishly help you with your knitting!

The new ChiaoGoo TWIST "SHORTIES" interchangeable system containing both 2" and 3" (5cm & 8cm) tips allowing knitters to make short circulars 9" through 14" (23cm - 36cm) long, including differential circulars.

10 different sets of stainless steel lace tips in sizes US 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (3.5, 3.75, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0mm) are included with the set. The 2" tips are solid and have a tightening hole near the threads. The 3" Tips are hollow. The set comes in a compact, blue nylon, zippered case as shown. It will also include a tip sleeve that securely holds all 10 sets of tips, end stoppers, stitch markers, a mini needle gauge (it's so cute!) and three different cable lengths.

The cables included in this set are 5", 6" and 8" (13cm, 15cm & 30cm) long and are the same diameter as the current red SMALL cables. Extra cables are also available.

The original ChiaoGoo Twist Red Shorties set is similar to this new set but included 12 different sets of solid surgical stainless steel lace tips in sizes 0(2mm), 1(2.25mm), 1.5(2.25mm), 2(2.27mm), 2.5(2.75mm) and 3(3.25mm). Three different MINI-diameter cable lengths - 5"(13cm), 6"(15cm) and 8"(30cm) are included in its own compact, red nylon, zippered case.

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!