Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Issue 399: Happy Wednesday! What is on your needles?

• Posted on 18 June 2025
• By Sue
• Posted in June 2025, knitting inspiration, summer knits, summer tee
• 0

It certainly felt like summer outside today! It was hot and humid and while I wanted it warmer, perhaps not quite so humid that we don't want to be outside.

The Celestia Top by Zanete Knits is a seamless, top-down yoke design is all about making a statement while staying totally wearable. With short sleeves, double-layered hems, and a never-ending colourwork motif, Celestia is the perfect summer knit for anyone who loves colour and doesn’t want the fun to stop.

Use code RAV_CELESTIA to get a 15% discount. Code is valid until 22nd June 23:59 BST on Ravelry.

The motif itself is inspired by her Latvian roots—a sun symbol connected by a web of intricate branches. It’s got a meditative rhythm to knit, and the larger blocks of solid colour provide that unique visual impact.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try using colour-changing yarn for that magical effect. And if you’re into clever techniques, this is the perfect project for practicing the ladderback jacquard to handle those long floats.

For the best results, go with a high-contrast colour combo to get the motif to show fully. Whether you’re drawn to the symmetry, the colours, or the techniques, this project is a joy to knit. And the compliments you’ll get on the finished piece are a sweet cherry on top.

Level of difficulty: Intermediate

Sizes 
1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Finished Bust circumference:
36½ (40, 44½, 48½, 52, 56½, 60, 64½, 68½)” Designed to be worn with 10-15 cm / 4-6” positive ease around the chest.

Gauge 
26 sts & 32 rows = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork in the round, on larger needles, blocked.

Suggested needles 
3.25 mm (US 3) or needle size required to obtain gauge. These should be circulars 60-100 cm / 24-40” long.
2.75 mm (US 2) or size smaller than gauge needles for the neckband. These should be circulars 40-60 cm / 16-24” long.

Yarn
Sport weight. depending on the length of the top and shaping option, allow approximately:

Main colour (MC): 620 (675, 770, 865, 920, 1010, 1090, 1150, 1230) m / 680 (740, 840, 945, 1005, 1105, 1190, 1260, 1345) yds

Contrast colour (CC): 445 (495, 545, 595, 655, 705, 755, 830, 880) m / 485 (540, 595, 650, 715, 770, 825, 910, 960) yds

Suggested yarn 
For MC:Kelbourne Woolens Andorra, Garnstudio Drops Flora, Quince & Co Chickadee, SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock

For CC: Schoppel Wolle Edition 3, Zauberball Crazy, Queensland Collection Perth

Kits can be found HERE. More soon in other yarn combinations.

The Halo Loop Tee by Other Loops_ has a classic yoke fit. It is detailed with sporty stripes and feminine eyelets.

Halo_loop_tee is worked from top to bottom. The neckband is worked first, then short rows are worked to shape the neck. Then the yoke is worked in the round with increases, the eyelet pattern and stripes. When the yoke is finished, the piece is divided into body and sleeves, which are worked in the round individually and finished with ribbed hems and Italian bind off. Stripes and eyelets are worked according to a basic chart which is repeated throughout the entire t-shirt.

Sizes 
XS (S) M (L) XL (XXL)

Measurements 
Circumference_ 90 (96) 102 (109) 117 (126) cm.
Length_ 54 (54) 56 (57) 59 (59) cm, measure from under the neckband on the back.

The t-shirt has a positive ease of approx. 8 cm, and you should make a size where the circumference is approx. 8 cm bigger than your own chest circumference.
The t-shirt shown is a size S with a positive ease of approx. 10 cm.

Yarn
Col. A: 630 (630) 735 (840) 840 (945) m / 690 (690) 805 (920) 920 (1035) yds
Col. B: 210 (210) 210 (210) 315 (315) m / 115 (115) 115 (115) 230 (230) yds

Needles 
3.50 mm  (US 4) circular needles (40 and 60 and/or 80/100 cm).
3.00 mm (US 2.5) circular needles (40 and/or 80/100 cm)

DPNs in the same size, unless working with Magic Loop method.

Gauge_
23 stitches x 32 rows in stockinette on 3.5 mm needles = 10 x 10 cm after washing and blocking.

Suggested yarn 
Estelle Linocott, BC Garn Allino, Noro Sonata

FOs and WIPs

Last Friday, I was still working on the yoke before separating the sleeves from the body on my Astro Pop by Marie Greene sample knit for the Olive Knits 4 Day KAL.

By Sunday, I had a few inches of the body knit. I am using Julie Asselin Leizu DK. I am using Keep Me as my main colour, Romance as CC1 and Quince & Co Chickadee in Slate as my CC2.

I tried it on yesterday afternoon...

Unrolling the bottom gave a better idea of the length so far. Sometimes I will steam block before taking my photos but so far, I haven't with this one.

Our Olive Knits Astro Pop Kits can be ordered HERE. Please order as soon as possible so that you get it before the July 4th cast on! Use the code ASTROPOP to get 10% off your kit until June 30th. Kits include yarn only in a vinyl bag. If you want the same colourways that I used, there are still three hanks of Keep Me in stock!

I set my Lacey Loop Tee by Other Loops_aside for about a week while I worked on my Astro Pop but I picked it up yeaterday and managed a few more inches.

I decided to try on my Lacey Loop Tee today...

I still have quite a lot of knitting to still do but I like it so far! Do I follow the pattern and knit sleeves or do I leave the sleeves off? 

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

While we had a chilly morning, the afternoon was great, not too hot and no rain on Saturday for Worldwide Knit in Public Day 2025! Thank you everyone who came out!

Karen (@karendemarce) won Draw 1 and Paulette (@psknitting50) won Draw 2!

Paulette came wearing a beautiful mesh top which she took off as the day got warmer but I didn't get a photo of it. She cast on what will be her 4th Swirl Skirt by AnneLena Mattison. 

Shelley is working on her Emotional Support Chicken by Annette Corsino.

Emma came to Knit in Public Day to work on the over skirt for the dress she made to wear to grad.

Karen (kmae64) was working on the fun socks that she is knitting her grandkids.

Angie (KnittinGrapeVines) was working on her Lanikai summer tee by Sallyknit that she is knitting with Leo & Roxy MCS Sock.

Bev (Bevyknits46) bound off the second sleeve of her Jane by Jessica McDonald that she knit using The Fibre Co. Arranmore Light. Connie (knitnut246) worked on vanilla socks.

Connie (knitnut246) wore her Peacock tee by LE KNIT by Lene Holme Samsøe that she knit using Sandnes Garn Line to our Knit in Public Day.

Bev (Bevyknits46) came wearing her Temperature Tee by Heather Walpole knit in Noro Akari.

Carla (carlaeleanor) finished the Persian Tiles Blanket by Jane Crowfoot for the crochet along she was participating in with Linda who hasn't finisheed gers yet.

Sandi (sandima) sent me this pic of the goose wearing the polka dot bikini she knit for it!

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!