Handy Summer Knits, Part 1

Hi there everyone! Wow, it’s been a while since I posted anything up here, but we’ve been having the odd day or two of surprisingly summery weather here in Dublin these past few weeks, and that was enough to put me in the mood for sharing some of my favourite summertime knits.

Knitting classes tend to be quieter in the summer. People can’t help but associate knitting with staying at home on dark winter evenings, with a cup of tea on hand while the wind whistles outside and rain rattles against the windows. But by mixing up your materials and pattern choices, you can continue to knit through the hotter months as well, and create seasonal pieces to keep your needles clicking away until sweater weather rolls around again.

So, what better opportunity to share some of the projects that I’ve made and enjoyed over the past couple of summers? And the best bit is that all these patterns are available for FREE! Are you ready for the first one? Let’s go!

Your summer wardrobe staple – Tip Top Tank by Maker Maker

When the temperatures started to rise in Ireland a month or so ago, this was the first summer knit I took out of storage… And I loved it even more than I remembered! This pattern was simple and fun to knit – it’s perfect for post-beginner knitters and beyond. Find it here:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tip-top-tank-3

That said, I made a couple of mods to my version!

As a slightly top-heavy girl, I found the original left me feeling a little… erm… exposed. So in addition to adding the vent detail and ribbing at either side, I also modified this tank by:

• Binding off the 5 rib stitches under each arm, then evening up the stitch count with a decrease immediately afterwards to make sure the front and back matched up better. That made my split round: BO5-SSK-K to next underarm-BO5-K2tog-K to end.
• This brought my stitch count down to the size below the one I started making – so I followed the pattern instructions for Size 3 up to the split round, and then switched to Size 2 to complete the neckline and back shaping. I love a mod where all the hard sums are already done for you!
• Finally, I worked the strap to a shorter length – 17cm, instead of the 20cm recommended for Size 2. I then connected the straps using the 3-needle bind off, on a smaller size needle than I used to complete the piece (3.75mm, rather than 4mm) for a nice neat finish.
  

Materials

For my sample, I strayed away from my favourite 100% wool and used a cotton and viscose blend – Adriafil’s Tenerife, which you can find in my online store, here. Now I know cotton yarns are sometimes a hard sell… They can split easily, leaving forgotten strands poking out of your work, they may feel heavy, their lack of spring makes them less fun to knit with, and they often stretch out the first time they’re washed. But I really enjoyed working with this one! It’s soft, lightweight and the little bit of viscose in the mix gives it a lovely sheen when it catches the summer sunlight.

So how about you? Have you had a go at the Tip Top Tank pattern? I’d love to see if there are other versions lurking in wardrobes around the world… Especially if they include modifications! Or do you have a favourite go-to summer top pattern that I need to know about? Don’t be shy – share it all in the comments below 🙂 And I’ll be back soon with another of my top summer knits… See you then!