What to Knit or Crochet in Summer?!?

So I started thinking, as it gets warmer, what kinds of things do I like to work on in the summertime? I bet there are a great many of us that put our yarn away when it gets hot, but there are so many beautiful things that can be made and worn or used in the summer, you just may choose a different yarn or stitch pattern for light weight fabrics.

Today, I'm going to go through some fun and pretty, or useful items that would be handy to make in the summer.

I'm including some items from my Etsy favourites on the list, because I've not written patterns for all of these items but I think they're important to include.

#1: Baby Blankets

The left one is a simple beginner knit blanket, done in pink, blue, or even white would be beautiful. On the right, a simple chevron, which I have also covered here on the blog.

I'm also working on a beginner knit blanket for the channel, coming soon.

#2 Lovies

Lovies are fun little hybrid of a stuffed animals, and little blankets. Aren't they cute? I love so many of the stuffed animals by One and Two company and they are a favourite shop of mine on Etsy. I love how fun that granny square blanket is on the bottom of the elephant. Also, I have daughters, so the ballerinas would be a huge hit around our house.

#3 Stuffed Animals or Amigurumi

Stuffed bears are a classic, and over time have changed into basically any animal you can think of. I just love this dog pattern. Below, I've included a pattern for 6 bears, and in the pattern they link to other clothes that you can make for them. Aren't they cute!

Clicking any of the photos will bring you to my Etsy favourites.

#4 Summer Bags

I am working on one, but here I have included a couple of options that are fun, and summer friendly, like the crochet beach bag, at right, or the knit market bag below. There are several more on the favourites list.

I really like both of these and can see myself making and using both of them.

#5 Summer Sweaters, Shawls, & Tops

Fun for summer could be a beach dress or bathing suit cover-up, summer BBQ top, or campfire shawl, like these. They are easy or beginner level patterns, and are combination of knit or crochet. I am loving both of those tops, and a new favourite of mine is that dark grey shawl. It looks so cozy!

#6 Crop Tops, Bralettes, and Bathing Suits

These cute little crop tops would look so pretty, and there are some examples of what others have created in the reviews. So lovely.

#7 Dishcloths

I, personally, like quick projects that don't take up a lot of time or space. I have worked dishcloths in the car, on road trips, camping, cottage or even at the beach! We have done several here on the blog, and I love giving them as gifts. Click the photo to check out the full playlist on YouTube!

In the video below, I discuss even more items. Which is your favourite? What did I forget to include on the list? I'm sure there's 1 or 2 at least, like home decor!

I hope this inspires you and gives you some ideas of what you can make for summer.

Thanks for reading!

-Much Love,

Modern Granny Square Love: Hexagons!!!!

I love Granny Squares! I love squares and even more, I love these hexagons. I love the modern designs and how much fun these are. I also love how versatile these can be, and that I am only limited by my imagination and the colours in my yarn stash, but let's be honest, how many am I really missing? maybe some greens and yellows, honestly, mostly because they're not really my faves, like blues, greys, teals, purples and pinks are. I also love how I can stash bust like crazy with these little guys.

What can we use these for?

Well, I may just use mine for some coasters.

I have also seen some Pinterest Inspiration joining a bunch in a long section to make a scarf, or just into a fun blanket. I've even seen a few animals made from several.

We may need to do a half hexagon for squaring things up, for some of us that don't like the wavy edges of a hexagon blanket, without the halfs added. (Is my OCD showing?) It's ok to just like the finished nature of a nice square blanket. Anyway, I can totally see doing, maybe, 2 wide with a border, to make a fun scarf. There's a free pattern on my Pinterest board, if you want to check it out, under granny squares!

Let's get to the tutorial!

To begin, we use our magic loop, which I talked about in this post, but also in the video below.

We're using our 4.5mm crochet hook and some Red Heart Super Saver in the Charcoal and White, and the light grey is called Bernat Cozy style, but I can't find it anymore, so try this one instead.

Row 1: Chain 2, loop tail around and dc 11 into the circle. Pull tail to tighten the circle and slip st to the top of the chains.

Row 2: chain 2, dc into the base, ch 1, 2 more dc into the same st. skip 2 stitches, and make another corner: 2dc ch, 2dc, all into the same st. *Skip 2 stitches, make another corner, repeat all the way around, 6 corners, then slip to the top of the chains at the beginning of the row.

For row 3, I changed colours, tying on my light grey.

Begin with our Chain 2, dc into the base, skip 2 stitches, to the corner, and make another corner into the chain st, as in row 2.

By now, you may be wondering, why are we only using 2dc clusters instead of 3, like in a normal granny. Well, that's because, if we make our initial row have 3dc into each cluster we would need to use 18 stitches. When pulling the center loop tight, it tends not to sit flat and the more rows we add the more wavy it'll be. I've made tons of magic loop circles and to keep it flat, about 12 stitches total is the way to go.

For row 4 and beyond, continue working it the same as row 3, crocheting 2dc into the spaces between the cluster on the previous row, and our corners are 2dc ch, 2dc.

So in the video, I asked you guys to tell me about this square:

Do you like the white around the outside, or should I keep it with the charcoal around the outside? Comment below!

As always, I want to see what you make from this tutorial, so tag us on Instagram, and we'll share your post to our stories!!!

Check out our video tutorial for this post below.

Finally, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, for following along on our knitting and crochet journey! If you want updates of new posts, join our email list below. It also includes coupon codes for our shop, and specials, giveaways on Instagram etc. as we run them, you'll be the first to know!

Thanks for hanging out with me today!

Much Love,

The Easiest Knit Hat, Dare I Say, Ever!

This hat is so easy, no purl stitches, no decreases, just straight knitting.

AND, its super thick, and warm!

So, I usually make my kids hats each year for winter, and a few weeks ago, my daughter came home and she told me that when it got really cold here she was still cold with her hat on while playing outside at school (They only go outside if its above -15C, and stay inside if below) Now, I've been experimenting with double thick hat brim, but when I showed her my example, I also offered her the choice of being the full length double thick, or just the bottom, over her ears. Well, I'm sure you can see based on the pic above, she wanted the full length double thick. So, that is the story of the beginning of this hat tutorial and pattern. I hope you enjoy it as much as she is!

Materials and Tools

We are using a medium weight yarn(4) and I found this fun ombre/tweed in the Red Heart Roll with it, in this fun violet ombre. This one is also a favourite of mine and is much less expensive through Michael's.

We're also using a 5mm round knitting needle, a darning needle and a stitch marker.

Side Note: I usually buy tools, like needles and hooks, etc. from Amazon, but I usually buy yarn from Michael's, and sometimes Walmart.

Tutorial

To begin, we're going use our Long Tail Cast On, and start with an extra long tail so you have enough to sew along the bottom, once our hat is finished. With our medium weight yarn, and 5mm needles, we casted on 80 stitches. This worked out to be a good size for my daughter, who is almost 8 years old, and has a 21" head circumference, but you can adjust for an adult, probably 90-100 stitches, or a smaller child 50-70 stitches. I also liked using the round needle because it was so fast to knit a row, and no extra needles to worry about and work around, if we used double-pointed needles.

I bought the set above awhile back, and its perfect for all my hat patterns and I've made so many with it. I've also worked things as if I was using straight needles on them too, like a scarf, or dishcloth.

Bring the first stitches around to begin knitting them, but be sure you don't twist them. Place your stitch marker at the end of your row.

Secret Tip: Add 1 extra stitch when casting on. Then, when you get around to start your first row, knit the first stitch, and then loop your last stitch off (as if your casting it off), and it will help keep you from getting that long strand between the last stitch and the next one.

Knit each row around, until your tube measures a little more than double the appropriate length needed for the size you're making. Not sure how long it should be, check out our crochet hat size guide, here, (the password is Purple) and use double the length shown, and add 1 more inch to your total length. For mine, I went 15.5" long. (It still turned out a touch short, but we only had an extra 0.5")

Do NOT cast off, but cut your yarn about 12-15" from your needles when you're at your desired length.

Use your darning needle, and sew around the bottom edge, about every 2nd or 3rd stitch is fine, you don't need to do every one. If you have trouble threading darning needles because of all the strands, watch the video below. There's a quick tip in it for making it easier!

Use your darning needle, sew through each loop stitch on your needle, looping them off your needle as you go. (Sewn Cast off)

Now using your bottom yarn, pull on it to tighten the bottom, and repeat again with the top. Pass your top tail through the center and bring it out the bottom. In the video below, I tied my 2 tails together, and matched up the centers, making the bottom section become the inside, and the top, the outside. If you weave your tails in well, or tuck them between your layers of your hat and you don't add a pom pom, your hat could easily be reversible!

So, to recap, cast on, and knit in the round until your hat is double the required length, plus a little, sew around the top and bottom so you can cinch your circle closed, fold in half and tie the top and bottom centers together.

I have made many many knit and crochet hats, and this is by far the easiest. Definitely not the fastest, but so simple, even beginners are capable.

This one is even suitable as a first project. You'll get lots of practice with straight knitting, you'll be a pro, ready for lace and cables by the end. ok, maybe not, but its still a great first project. Watch the video below for additional tips and tricks for putting this hat together.

As always, tag us on Instagram with your makes from our videos and blog posts. I can't wait to see them!

Much Love,