Summer knitting for me is usually something that happens at a slower pace. Projects tend to be smaller and yarn less bulky. Heatwave knitting is nonexistent for me. Not a fibre in my being desires to touch my yarn when I’m quite literally sweating my ass off. After having 2 tropical weeks in Hawaii I returned home to the usually rainy country that is the Netherlands to find temperatures even higher than on those islands in the Atlantic!
As far as seasons go I prefer fall and winter, and whereas I do appreciate the usual 2 weeks of nice weather we get in summer, I do not mind the otherwise ever changing weather one bit. Lucky for me temperatures went down again, and the knitting needles were picked up again.
I’m happily stitching away on two projects that both happen to be made with Malabrigo sock. First off there’s the pebble beach shawlette. Yes that yarn is pretty and yes that pattern is pretty, but somehow there’s something completely different that makes me excited about this project. There’s no chart in the pattern, just a line by line instruction with next to it percentages on how far in you are. I’ve never seen that before, but I find it incredibly motivating to knit until the next ‘milestone’. Isn’t it odd how much of an effect such a small thing can have on your behaviour?
Then there’s the Rye mittens. You might recognise the yarn as a leftover from my Blossom cap. I think I should have exactly enough leftovers to get these mitts done, and then still maybe push out a hexipuff or two. I love it when yardages work out so neatly.
How is your summer knitting going?
Can you share the specifics re the yarn used for the Pebble Beach Shawlette? Thanks.
Of course Lynn, it’s Malabrigo yarn Sock in the colourway Primavera
I just spent the hottest, sweatiest afternoon of my life….(almost to the point of being heat-stroke-sick) watching two grandsons play in their ‘world series’ baseball games. There is NO WAY I could have touched yarn this afternoon!!! But, I’m happily recovered, and nestled back in the air conditioned comfort of home…..and ready to go.
I’ve never seen a pattern, either, like that shawl….and I must admit, I would be exactly like you and reach for one milestone after another!!! How fun!!! (and how can you miss with malabrigo?!?)
It must be really lovely to have AC then! With the amount of heat we usually have not being too much, there’s no point for me in investing in AC. But I’m sure it would help me a lot with summer knitting!
The yarn for your mittens is beautiful!
I had no idea Pebble Beach came with percentages, but that sounds great. Having milestones to knit up to is very motivating. I noticed it while knitting the Imagine When shawl that consists of different sections. I finished it in only 11 days because it was fun to finish one section at a time and feeling quite accomplished when I was ready to start the next.
It’s so funny how this works right? I also have it with books, because with page numbers it is obviously quite easy to see how far you are. But with knitting it really isn’t always that easy to see how much there’s left to do.
As our Summers take up about 7 months of the year, I have learned to knit through the heat and sweats. Then again, I am indoors with the air cranking like an Artic breeze. 🙂
Your Pebble Beach is gorgeous!!
I can totally understand that you’d need to adapt to knitting in the heat when you’re in a warmer climate. But I’m sure arctic like AC helps a lot! 🙂
I knit less in the summer, I think because I’m busier. I love your new projects and I hope it cools down for you so you quit sweating your you know what off 🙂
Thanks Karen, luckily for me the weather is much more knitting compatible now. And indeed there are some activities that only really get done during summer, which also creep into knitting time.
Those are some excellent summer projects! I love Pebble Beach, and I think the color you’re using here is absolutely perfect 🙂 I think I knit as much in the summer as I do the rest of the year-I just don’t know what to do with my hands otherwise!
Nice to hear your knitting gets done all year round, I’m very envious of that!
I love the Pebble Beach Shawlette! I’m dying to knit myself one…I have 2 skeins of Malabrigo Sock because I want it to be HUGE!!! Can’t wait to see what yours looks like 🙂
A huge Pebble Beach would be so great! I also contemplated making a huge one, but I happened to have this 1 skein lying around and didn’t allow myself to buy more yarn 😉
Both knits are looking beautiful. You chose such beautiful color ways. I will always be in love with that purple!
That purple is indeed mesmerising, I love it so much as well!
you always have the best eye for colours on projects, I’m very envious 🙂 I know what you mean with the heat, i usually get quite annoyed if I’m too hot and can’t knit, though crochet is a lot easier come the summer month’s (not that we have a lot of heat in England I dare say). I’m working on a vest at the moment, perhaps a little large for hot knitting, but I’m using DK Stylcraft which, although acrylic, is so soft and comfy even when its warm in the day it isn’t at all uncomfortable to knit with!
I love the idea of a pattern with milestones, and it looks gorgeous too!
jenny xx
I guess picking the right yarn for hot knitting can already make all the difference! And crochet, when will I ever learn how to crochet?? It’d be perfect for summer!
Gosh your yarn choices and colors are spot on! That color way is perfect for Pebble Beach. Looks like little shells and sea glass on a sandy beach.
I hadn’t even thought of the colour that way, but it indeed does look like shells and sea glass on the beach! 🙂
Such gorgeous yarn choices for your new projects! I love the malabrigo colourway your shawl is in, and those pretty violet fingerless mitts are amazing. It hasn’t been that hot here in Toronto Canada yet- but supposedly this weekend is going to finally get really hot!
Thanks Julie! I’ll keep my fingers crossed the Toronto weather will be beautiful but remain knit friendly!
Oops Not sure my comment went through, but I love your shawl so very much I have to try to comment again! I cant wait to explore that unique pattern writing link
Thanks so much Kathy!
How come I’ve missed this post?! I love the projects! Malabrigo sock yarn is so fun to knit with and I like their colors very much.
I’m happy that the weather here isn’t that hot anymore, I don’t like that hot weather! I’m now off to read all about your trip to Hawai!
It is a great yarn, and they have so many fantastic colourways that it’ll be a long time before I get bored of it!