Memorial Day, along with it's honoring of our country's lost soldiers, for many represents a transition into the summer season with it's outdoor activities, BBQ's, travel, and other fun warm-weather activities. It's hard to believe that summer is almost here!

I don't know about most of you, but when this warm weather hits, the last thing I want to be knitting on is a heavy woolen sweater or blanket, which is why I thought it might be nice to put together a list of items that would be warm weather appropriate and/or easy to travel with!

First up, garments. I'm refraining from knitting any of these lovelies until after I have this baby in July (hah, as if I'll actually have time to knit after that!), but I love each and every one of them. :)

This Togue Pond Tank by Pam Allen was originally knit in Quince and Co's Kestral, but since we aren't able to carry their yarn, I've got a great substitute! Berroco just came out with a similar linen-blend yarn called Linus, which would be perfect for this simple tank. I love the easy fit combined with the dropped back hem which makes the shape that much more modern. So pretty! 



The Gemini top by Jane Richmond (free on Knitty) is a great summer-weight tee! Knit in a DK weight cotton linen blend, this one can be knit in a number of different yarns! My picks would be either the Juniper Moon Farm Zooey, which would lend the pattern a little bit of texture, or the Rowan Creative Linen for a smooth and simple linen cotton blend. Either one would be lovely for this easy yet lovely tee.



I stumbled across this Shibui "Tank" on Ravelry and I couldn't help but love the simple shape and of course the pockets. Knit in Shibui Linen, this top is lightweight, simple, and perfect for wearing all summer long. Not only that, the light weight yarn won't weigh you down in the summer heat.




One item I don't often consider knitting is a skirt. I'm not really sure why, but I think I'm more worried about ruining a skirt than any other garment, so I don't think about putting the work into that large of a project. That said, the Amaranthus Skirt knit in Juniper Moon Farm Findley and Findley Dappled makes me want to change my tune. Isn't this thing stunning!?!? Two gauzy layers of lace, one solid and one variegated with a lace pattern, and this thing really swings.  



Last up in the garments category is Janna's Tunic by Grace Akhrem. This feminine tank features some cute neckline pleating and button details at the hip that make it truly unique. Classic Elite's Firefly or Bella Lino yarns would be perfect for this design which calls for a sport weight linen blend yarn. If you want a solid color, the Firefly is a good bet, whereas the Bella Lino provides some gentle self-striping throughout.



Now onto some smaller projects, perfect for weekend getaways, longer travel, camping trips, and just about anything else you can think of! 

If you are anything like me, you've got about a thousand single skeins of fingering weight yarn just lying around in your knitting stash. (Ok, well maybe not a thousand, but certainly a lot.) The Multnomah Shawlette, free on Ravelry, is the perfect one-skein shawl project that can help to knock out some of those single skeins. It takes about 412 yds, and is a simple project that you can easily do while hanging with friends or doing any other activity that doesn't require a lot of concentration. It also makes a great gift...just in case you are so inclined to begin working on some holiday knitting.

Don't have a lot of fingering weight in your stash? Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Manos del Urugury Alegria, Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock, and Cascade Heritage Silk Paints are all great options for this shawl!



Prefer knitting socks, but find your normal wool socks are too much for your summer shoes? Then these cute little knit peds - or called Skimmer Socks are perfect for wearing with all of your summer shoes! (Sandals more your thing? Check out this designer's other sock patterns. She's got plenty of toeless options to choose from too!) There is no project more portable than socks, and these are quick and easy. Plus, since you need less yarn, you can get away with just about 50 grams of sock yarn like 1 skein of Koigu KPPPM or Spud & Chloe Fine!




Lastly, a blanket project that can be knit square by square is another great summertime travel project. Since one little square doesn't weigh you down, you can knit them throughout the season and then sew the whole thing together when the weather gets cool again. I just love the Vivid Blanket from Tin Can Knits. The pattern is in the Handmade in the UK book, but it's also available for single PDF download on Ravelry as well. What is great about this blanket (aside from how stunning it is), is that the pattern includes yardage requirements and measurements for 3 different weights of yarn so you can configure your blanket based on a weight you like to work with (or what you might have plenty of in your stash.) Personally, I like DK weights for summer knitting and also as a nice lighter weight for a throw. The HiKoo Simplicity is perfect for this design because it's just the right amount of yardage per skein to one square in the pattern, is machine washable, and comes in TONS of gorgeous colors. 


I hope these projects provide you with a little summertime knitting inspiration! I know I've got my work cut out for me. :) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday weekend and happy knitting, crocheting, or crafting of your choice!

-Kristen

 

Let's see if I can talk about these wonderful fibers and not bore you too much because they are so cool in a geeky, science-y sort of way!

Rayon is perhaps one of the least understood fibers worked with by hand crafters.  Rayon came into existence in the attempt for humans to duplicate what a silk worm does naturally.  That is, turn plant material into a fine, highly desirable fiber.  In essence, rayon is artificial silk.

Many people erroneously think that rayon is a synthetic fiber but it is not; it is a cellulose fiber. While it is man-made, the raw material is from plant material, most frequently wood pulp.  You may recall from high school science class that the cell walls of plants are made from cellulose. Using various chemical methods the cells are broken down and reconstructed then forced through spinnerets (tiny holes) to create rayon fibers which are then spun into threads and yarns. Because rayon is a cellulose fiber, it can be considered renewable.  It is also biodegradable, and it can be dyed in brilliant colors using the same kinds of dye used to dye cotton and linen or by incorporating dye into it during processing.  Some processes for making rayon can be fairly water intensive and can use varying quantities of chemicals but overall it is much more environmentally friendly than synthetics made from petroleum-based products.

There are several different kinds of rayon each using different variations of plant materials and chemical processes.

Viscose is probably the most common form of rayon; it's sometimes just called viscose or viscose rayon.  It is a very soft fiber that feels good next to the skin.  It has beautiful drape, very much like silk but not as elastic.  It is highly absorbent but does become weaker when wet so can lose resiliency if wet blocked too hard.  So only block hard if you want more drape and less "bounce" in your finished garment.  Rayon is washable.  Most garment labels will specify if you should wash or dry clean.  If the label says to dry clean you should do so, as some rayon is not as colorfast and the dye will run unevenly.  Ask me how I know!  I'll show you the lovely rayon scarves I purchased back in the 80's and how they look rather tie dyed now. If you should want to take the chance and wash a rayon item that specifies dry clean only, test an inconspicuous area to check for colorfastness.

We have many yarns that contain rayon/viscose.  My personal favorites are Classic Elite Firefly, Plymouth Linen Concerto, Crystal Palace Monaco (which is on sale!), Berroco Lago, and Rowan Panama.

I encourage you to use our Advanced yarn search  to find other rayon and viscose yarns and our Advanced Fabric search to find rayon fabric and ribbons!

Modal is a type of rayon made from European Beech trees which are grown specifically as a renewable resource. Modal is the registered trademark for Lenzing AG in Austria.  The process of making Modal reportedly uses less water and fewer chemicals than other types of rayon.  It is my understanding that all of the chemicals used to make Modal are completely recaptured and reused. Modal is very smooth, soft and about 50% more absorbent than mercerized cotton.  Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy is one yarn that contains Modal along with cotton and hemp.

Tencel is another trademarked name for another type of rayon, lyocell.  This fiber is extremely drapey, doesn't wrinkle easily, absorbs dye well and has a lovely sheen.  There are a quite a few lines of travel clothing made from Tencel.  At the moment we don't have any Tencel yarns but watch for new ones and know they are a delight to work with!

Soysilk, the registered trademark of South West Trading Company for a type of rayon made from soybean pulp that is left after pressing the beans to remove the oil. Unlike the other types of rayon which help you feel cool in warmer weather, soysilk feels warm but does wick moisture away from the skin as do other rayons.

Seacell, is the trademarked name of a type of lyocell that has about 5% seaweed added to the base materials. It is said that the natural minerals found in the seaweed are retained in the yarn and could possibly be imparted to the skin, contributing desirable minerals to help keep your skin healthy. Hand Maiden Sea Silk is the only yarn we have with seacell.

Bamboo is another rayon that is from a highly renewable resource and has the unusual property of being antibacterial even after many washings. Bamboo fiber is very soft and absorbs moisture very quickly then allows it to evaporate just as quickly so it helps you to remain very comfortable.  It makes excellent bath towels and sheets.  Yarn containing bamboo will have a nice soft drape, excellent wicking ability and dyes in beautifully vibrant colors.  It is an excellent fiber for making warm weather socks!  It's also great for shells, tops, coverups, evening wear, hand towels, baby clothes or any time you want a cooler fabric with drape, shine, durability and the added bonus of being renewable.  Some of my favorite bamboo yarns are: Be Sweet Bamboo & Bambino, Crystal Palace Panda Silk, Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo, Vail, Chalet, HiKoo CoBaSi, Frog Tree Pediboo Sock & Worsted, and Univeral Bamboo Pop.

Corn and other high starch agricultural products like sugar & wheat are also being broken down through chemical processes to form polymers, which are then spun into fibers!  We are currently out of any yarns that contain corn but do watch for Araucania Ruca which is 100% sugar viscose. We'll be getting more in a few weeks!

Acetate is a slightly different type of fiber that starts with wood pulp but goes through a different chemical process.  It has been around for decades, and most of us are familiar with the shiny fabric that melts when ironed too hot.

Last, but far from least, is one of the newer technologies, Outlast viscose!  According to the Outlast website (in geek speak): it is a phase change material that can be incorporated into or coated on a fiber and adapts to the temperature of your body.  It pulls excess warmth away or radiates warmth back depending on what is needed.  I recommend visiting the website, Outlast.com, to find out the more technical aspects, which are really cool if, like me, you love geeky science stuff but I fear will put many people to sleep. So far, the only yarns I know of that incorporate this high tech fiber are Lorna's Laces Sportmate & Solemate!

Are you still with me?  I didn't put you to sleep with too many facts?  Good! Rayon is one of my very favorite fibers to wear.  I have several knitting project planned with these awesome yarns like Paseo in Lorna's Laces Solemate and Cocoknits Belle in Classic Elite Firefly.  I'm very much looking forward to learning to sew better so I can try some fabrics too!

I hope this helps clear up some confusions about these wonderful fibers!  There is lots more to read about each of them if you're interested.  Check out The Knitter's Book of Yarn  which has been very helpful to me in preparing this post for you and then don't forget to search the web!

If I can help further please drop me an email: askTerry (at) jimmybeanswool (dot) com.

Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Sewing!

Terry