Patterns of the Month, July 2010

It's July! If the weather wasn't any indication that summer is here, how about some summery knitting patterns?

Patterns of the Month July 2010

Choose your pattern and the yarn to go with it and get 15% off your purchase!

In our efforts to fill in the gap in patterns for "tweens" we found this beautiful pattern booklet by Louisa Harding. It also happens to feature a great yarn that we had purchased for cool summer knitwear!

Brighton is an oversized pullover that features a centered cable panel on a reverse stockinette body. It can be customized to your liking - plain collar and edgings or lacy edges with picot details. Albero is a cotton and viscose blend that has just a little bit of shine to it. It has a wonderful drape and isn't stiff at all. On the cotton-difficulty scale I would put this near the bottom - it won't hurt your hands to work with it and as long as you knit a gauge swatch there won't be any droopy surprises.

Recommended Ages: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 years
**Actual chest size: 28", 32", 36", 39.75", 43.75", 46"
Yarn amounts: 6, 7, 7, 8, 9 balls of Albero for plain sweater, add 1 more ball for lacy picot version
Other yarn suggestions: Bebe Cotsoy, Bamboucle, Classic Silk, Summer Set

**When you look at the sizing for this pullover take note that there is 4 inches of ease built into each size. This kind of sizing is great for throwing on over a tank top or t-shirt after the sun sets. I could have used one last night while watching the 4th of July fireworks :) If you don't want so much room, you can make a smaller size and cut down the amount of yarn you purchase. As a 36" chest myself, I'd probably make a size 9-10.

Our next pattern of the month comes from The Mirasol Project and is high on my to-do list this summer. We have often featured Mirasol not only for its very high quality yarns and stylish designs, but also for its humanitarian efforts.

Bobo, a lacy vest, features very simple shaping and a common stitch pattern that would be great for a beginning lace knitter. There is no shaping to complicate things - the back and two fronts are large rectangles without any decreasing or increasing.

(I know she doesn't look too happy about wearing it, but it's a nice vest!)

Bobo is worked in Mirasol's Samp'a, a dk weight organic and naturally dyed cotton. It comes in mostly soft colors so if you're looking for a splash of something bright, check out T'ika! On the cotton-difficulty scale these cottons are both in the middle, but using them for a lace project puts them back at the bottom - super easy.

To fit chest size: 32-34", 36-38", 40-42", 42-44", 44-46"
Actual measurement: 40.75", 43.25", 45.75", 48", 50.5"
Yarn amounts: 9, 10, 10, 11, 11 balls of Samp'a
Other yarn suggestions: T'ika, Pure Pima, Top Seed Cotton, Butterfly, Scartlett, Hempathy, Merletto, Cotton Bamboo

Well I'm sure that's all you ever wanted to know about these two patterns ;) Let me know if you have any questions and I'll see you soon!