5 Summer Shawls You’ll Want to Knit Right Now
As temperatures rise in late summer, what projects do you reach for? As a designer, summer usually means I'm furiously knitting late fall and early winter projects. But as a knitter, I prefer summer-friendly projects, especially in Charleston's sticky heat. Some of my favorite hot weather projects are light shawls worked in cooler fibers like linen or silk.
Things to Look for When Picking a Late Summer Project
Portability:
Summer means vacation, and you’ll want to bring your knitting with you! Look for projects with stitch patterns that are easy to memorize and require minimal finishing. Check out this guide for more tips when choosing a project for your next trip.
Fiber Content:
Choose plant-based fibers like linen and silk to keep your hands from getting too sweaty. This guide will help you choose the perfect summer-friendly yarn.
A few tips for using silk, linen, and cotton yarns for knitting summer shawls
When working with plant-based fibers, several knitters and crocheters can feel pain in their fingers and wrists. Something about the way we grip these fibers to keep them from falling off the needles and the inflexibility of the fiber combines to cause undue tension and strain. There are a few things that can help to ease this tension:
Start with a wool blend:
If you’re unfamiliar with plant-based fibers, take it slow and start by using a wool or alpaca fiber blend. One of my favorite examples of this is Purl Soho Linen Quill, a blend of wool, alpaca, and linen. You get the cooling effect from linen with the stitch definition and ease of working from the wool. The wool helps to provide a bit of stretch so it’s not as hard on your hands.
Switch your needles:
If you use metal needles and are having issues, try bamboo needles. If you primarily use bamboo needles, give metal needles a try. There are benefits to each, and understanding where your pain is coming from will help you determine which needle type is best.
If you find yourself gripping metal needles too tightly to keep your stitches from sliding off, switch to a wooden needle. The wood will keep the stitches from sliding off as easily, allowing you to loosen your grip and continue knitting more comfortably.
If you’re knitting in a particularly humid spot, you might also enjoy switching to wooden needles to keep your palms from getting as sweaty.
Just a side note - if you do switch needle type, do another gauge swatch. Your gauge actually changes depending on the needle type (material and fixed v circular).
5 Summer Shawls to cast on now
1/ Jordan: Knit in Purl Soho Cattail Silk, Jordan is a corner-to-corner triangle shawl with a Stockinette stitch base accented with a delicate lace border. Knit the main triangle while on the go and work the lace edging when lounging at the end of the day.
2/ Brighton: Also worked in Purl Soho Cattail Silk, the Brighton Wrap combines two unique lace stitch patterns separated by a Stockinette stitch section. The two lace patterns are easily memorized and can be tackled by both advanced beginners and expert knitters. This delicate wrap is a perfect layer for any summer outfit.
3/ Enoree: Kerchiefs are having a moment, and this one is short and sweet to knit but heavy on style. A garter stitch base makes for a relaxing, mindless project, and the lace edging adds just enough challenge to keep you intrigued. Enoree is a great way to show off your knitting skills.
4/ Wild Dunes: Made of lace-weight silk, the stitch pattern on Wild Dunes mimics the way the sand looks after a long day on the beach with a gentle breeze. Its crescent shape makes it really wearable and versatile for any summer outfit. A second sample (the gorgeous pink one) was knit with Megs and Co Ellis yarn, a 100% wool fiber.
5/ Egret: Last but not least, Egret also worked in Purl Soho Cattail Silk, clearly one of my favorite summer fibers. Nothing says summer quite like a crisp, white lace shawl. The lace stitch section is finished with a crisp 1x1 ribbed border for an unfussy finish.