Knitting Summer Brights

Happy first day of summer.  As I write this, it is 9 pm, and it is still just barely light.   Days like this get away from me, as I have no natural indication that dinner time is approaching, and I’d better get on with it.  Caught up in my knitting, or doing the newsletter, or whatever, I suddenly look up and find that it’s nearly 7:30.  It’s still hot outside, but I am knitting anyway

Some knitters only knit in the winter time - they don’t even consider knitting in or for the summer.  Maybe it’s because they’re thinking of knitting only things to keep warm - hats and scarves, warm sweaters, and mittens. For me, summertime knitting is the best.  Not just because of those long languid days, but because summer time knits are so wearable.  When the temperature nears 90 with matching humidity, there’s nothing nicer to wear than a light knitted cotton or linen blend top.  

Knitted fabric is cool and breathable, so you can catch a bit of breeze right through it.  But more importantly, knitted fabric is stretchy.  I don’t know about you, but I just think clothes that stretch are infinitely more comfortable to wear than something made from woven material.  I just feel like I can move better wearing knits.   

I also really enjoy summertime knitting.  There’s something about these long languid days that makes it okay to spend hours in a lounge chair knitting. Not that I actually do, but isn’t it the most awesome image.  Realistically though, I do seem to have more time to knit in the summer, and thanks to the blessings of air conditioning, I could even knit a giant fuzzy wool and mohair sweater all summer if I wanted.  And maybe I do just that when the male personages in my house turn the air conditioning down to sub-arctic.  

You know what else makes summertime knitting great? Summertime knits.  The shop takes on a whole different feel during the summer with those happy bright colors.  I’m especially loving all the colors of cotton from rowan this year. Cotton Glace, which is by no means a new yarn, is new to the shop, and it definitely has a new feel in the Summer Brights Collection.  

Summerlite dk and 4-ply are much expanded in support of this collection, as is Kidsilk Haze - not a yarn you typically think of for summer, but it works. Isn’t it fascinating how these yarns come together with a fresh palette that always looks fresh and new.

The credit goes to designers, of course, but also to the incredible leadership team at Rowan.  I’m excited to welcome David MacLeod, Rowan Brand Manager back to the podcast to chat about this season’s palette, the design process, and more.  

That interview will stream live Saturday morning at 10 am Eastern time - because that’s just before tea in Great Britain.  

It’s always so much fun to chat with David.  I hope you will join me.  

Warmly,

Ellen