Tee Stack

It is almost summer, and I have been enjoying pottering about in our small garden, sitting outside in the sunshine with a good book, trying out new recipes, and crafting for the warmer months ahead. I have also been adding to my handknit tee collection. Knitted t-shirts can seem counterintuitive, but these items can be useful additions to round out a handmade wardrobe. These seasonally appropriate tops are often made using breathable, cool fibers like linen, cotton, and silk. And the best part is that I can customize them to suit my style and shape.

My favourite yarn to use for a knitted tee is Sandnes Garn Line, which has a blend of cotton, linen and viscose. The fabric produced when using Line is cool to the touch, washes well and softens with use. Additionally, this yarn comes in a range of colours, which is always fun.

I just wrapped up the knitting on the Calm Down Tee by Lily Kate France. And then, surprise, surprise… the second garment currently on my needles is also by Lily. I think her designs are always top-notch with many thoughtful details and an excellent fit. This pattern is called the Movement Tee for which I am using Line in a spicy red paired with beige. The fun part about this garment is the stripes for a relaxed look. Stripes always seems to make the knitting go faster!

I have to always remind myself that knitting with plant-based yarns can be hard on one’s hands due to the inelasticity of the fibers. Taking frequent breaks and knitting smaller projects that don’t weigh down your wrists can help avoid hand pain.

A stack of tees in every shade sounds like a fun idea for summer knits

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An April Cardigan For April

The April Cardigan that I spoke about recently is done, and it is a perfect piece for spring. This cardigan was in my WIP pile for ages as I got distracted by other knits. I am so glad I finished it because we have the perfect spring weather for me to put this garment to good use.

This cardigan pattern by PetiteKnit has a V-neck, saddle shoulders, and contiguous sleeves. The top part of the body then goes on to a typical raglan-style construction. All these techniques used in the design result in a cardigan that has a great fit.

For my version of the April Cardigan, I used my favourite yarn duo of Knitting for Olive Merino and Soft Silk Mohair, which were held together. The fabric is soft, fluffy, and luxurious, and I love the colour. I added about an inch in length to the body of the sweater. The other modification I made was to swap out the ribbing on the buttonband for a double-knit buttonband. I am so happy I made this switch because the finished look is exactly what I wanted.

I was thrilled that I found the perfect buttons at Black Sheep Yarns, which is just the icing on the cake.

This sort of garment is so useful for these transitional seasons when the weather is neither here nor there. My new spring cardigan is giving me so much joy and is going to be such a versatile piece in my wardrobe!

April Cardigan (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: April Cardigan by PetiteKnit
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino and Soft Silk Mohair in “Blue Tit”
Needles: US 6 & 7 / 4 & 4.5 mm

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Finish Line… Almost!

I am so glad cardigans were invented because this item of clothing is perfect for the shoulder seasons. I have had the April Cardigan by Petiteknit in my knitting basket for ages, and I have been working on it on and off over the past little while. The slow process of creating this garment has been so enjoyable and I’m eager to be able to wear it soon.

This design has some interesting elements that I have never knit before. The pattern begins with saddle shoulders at the top and sleeve caps that are shaped simultaneously. This type of design feature provides a neat fit over the shoulders which, in my opinion, makes a garment look well-constructed. I am hoping the fabric puckering at the shoulders will even out when this piece is washed and blocked.

Unlike Petiteknit’s usual style of generous positive ease, the April Cardigan pattern is slightly more fitted and has a wide hem at the bottom. I have swapped out the ribbed button band for a double-knit one instead. The process of knitting a double-knit button band is time consuming but the result will give this cardigan a polished look once I am done. I found a really good video by Kimmie Munkholm to create buttonholes without snipping the yarn and it works like a charm.

The most exciting part is coming up though… choosing buttons!

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FIX OR FROG

What to do when your yarn doesn’t play ball with your chosen pattern? Do you fix your project or just frog your knitting and repurpose the yarn for a different design?

I shared last time that the most exciting project I was working on was the Calm Down Cardigan by Lily Kate France. Since that post, I made lots of progress and finished knitting the whole body. While I was knitting, I had a niggling feeling that my yarn choice was hindering the way the finished sweater was supposed to look. But I kept going forward following the pattern instructions and even completed a lengthy tubular bind-off.

I didn’t actively measure my progress along the way and things “seemed” to be fine. But then once the body was done, I tried it on and the half-finished cardigan almost visibly lengthened in front of my eyes! Gah!!

I thought the armholes were quite deep on this pattern so adding a sleeve would tighten things up. Nope, it’s still too long. I had forgotten to consider that this beautiful, soft yarn is comprised of 70% alpaca fiber! Alpaca, while it is so soft and dreamy, doesn’t have great memory and spring, unlike pure wool. No wonder my sweater was growing in length as the weight of the fabric increased.

I could choose to rip out a bit of the sweater and shorten the body length. However, is there any guarantee that the fabric won’t continue to stretch out with wear? Unfortunately, I will have to frog this project and use the beautiful yarn for a different design. I still want to knit the Calm Down Cardigan because this pattern is very well written and has so many great details. However, I will choose my yarn very thoughtfully next time 🙂

I had to remind myself that when a pattern-yarn combination isn’t the best match, I need to be fearless and frog my knitting. I will be much happier to restart than have a sweater sit unworn and unloved in my closet.

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Documenting My Craft Projects

Does anyone make New Year’s resolutions anymore? I am a long-standing member of the no-resolution camp. However, this year I have a new year “goal”. I am determined to document my creative pursuits more. Whether it’s via my blog or on my online journaling app — Day One. I found Day One through a recommendation by Youtuber, Ali Abdaal and have been using the app regularly since 2023. I have to say journaling via this online medium has been the most cathartic part of my day. Using the daily journaling prompts, adding quotes from books I am reading, or jotting down recipes has been a good discipline to focus my thoughts and reduce the noise. I tried writing in a physical journal before but found that I wasn’t as consistent.

In Day One, I have many sub-journals for travel, creativity, investing, faith, gratitude, etc. I was glancing through all the posts in my crafting sub-journal the other day and realized that I have so many projects documented there. I haven’t even talked about them here on my actual “creative” blog. These are projects that I have knitted, crocheted, and sewn – for me or as gifts. I have abandoned projects due to fit issues or a lack of interest. I have made things that have been donated or gifted. And then there are some projects that I have worn many, many times because they are favorites. Writing about the journey from idea to completion is something that I want to be better at.

I currently have 3 knitting projects and 1 crochet project on the go. The first one is an April Cardigan by PetiteKnit. I just have to complete the sleeves and the button band on this one.

 

The next one is a tank top that has been relegated to the bottom of the pile because it is boring with just plain rounds.

This crochet project is exciting because I want to get better at my crochet skills. I am using a tutorial by NautiKrall Crochet to make these fun squares.

But the project that is my favorite at the moment is the Calm Down Cardigan by Lily Kate France. So many fun new techniques and genius construction. I can’t seem to put this cardigan down. My knitting companion agrees 🙂

I will share about these projects more over here on my blog because my crafty mojo is definitely back and I am excited about continuing to curate a handmade wardrobe 😀

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Coloring Book Tee But Make It A Sweater

When the leaves turned last November, I had the urge to cast on something to celebrate pumpkin spice season. The perfect autumnal color “Rust” in Knitting for Olive was in my yarn stash and I decided that it had to become a sweater.

I went to Instagram and Ravelry to look for inspiration and of course, there are a bajillion options. I have followed Aimee Sher and their wearable design portfolio for a while now. Aimee specializes in great fit and modification options with their patterns, so I picked the Coloring Book Tee as my fall sweater thinking I could be done in a month. Haha, who was I kidding? Skinny yarn, skinny needles and tiny stitches — definitely a long-term project in the making.

November turned into December and then we headed into an early spring and other projects distracted me. If you are a creative person, you will understand this perpetual work-in-progress phenomenon. This year, when the first hint of fall was in the air, I was thrilled to have a half-finished sweater in the perfect autumnal shade. I worked on it steadily and just like that, a project that traveled from last year’s WIP pile into this year’s fall knitting queue was done!

The pattern at first glance seems like a simple, top-down tee design that’s been done by so many designers. But Aimee’s fit guidance, compound raglan construction method, bust dart options, and twisted rib details make this one of the projects I am so proud to have completed.

Even though this is a pattern for a tee I wanted to make this garment cool weather friendly. I chose to knit 3/4 length sleeves, who am I kidding… I was forced to knit 3/4 length sleeves because I lost at yarn chicken 😉 I picked a size with less positive ease so that I can style my sweater on its own or layer it under a warm coat or jacket on extra chilly days.

While the lightweight nature of KFO Merino seemed like my project was neverending, it was worth the patience for the wearable result it produced making my Coloring Book Sweater perfect for all seasons or for just being silly!

Coloring Book Sweater (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: Coloring Book Tee by Aimee Sher
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino in “Rust”
Needles: US 5 & 6 / 3.5 & 4 mm

Everyone needs a handknit to celebrate sweater weather 🙂

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Rita Vest

Gorgeous October is here with its beautiful fall colours and crisp autumn weather. The beginning of cozy season is always a wonderful shift. As a creative person who enjoys curating a handmade wardrobe using slow fashion, this is especially an inspiring time of year. It’s called Sweater Weather for a reason!

Kicking off my seasonal handmade creations with a cozy vest. This slipover/vest called Rita, is a pattern that was released in Wardrobe Toolbox. This is a subscription platform of which I have been a member for the past few years. Wardrobe Toolbox has helped me be fearless in the customization of my handknit garments and the knowledge I have gained by being a part of this community is unmatched. Back to my vest – Rita is a super cozy, super cute and super comfortable layering piece!

The details on this vest are really nice, with European shoulder construction, textured bands around the armholes, and extra chunky ribbing details throughout. There are two versions of this design. One with a longer length and side slits or a cropped style which is the version that I chose to knit.

I used two yarns held together from De Rerum Natura for my Rita to produce a chunky fabric. The yarns are Gilliatt (worsted weight) and Berenice (lace weight). We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving earlier this week which was the perfect opportunity to wear this vest – cozy without being too warm and in the perfect autumnal shade called “Caramel”.

This was just before I blocked the garment and finished weaving in all the ends. The fabric was quite stiff and my stitches were uneven.

Blocking made such a huge difference! I styled my Rita vest with a (not so) classic white shirt with eyelet details. I could see myself wearing this over a long-sleeved turtle neck as the weather gets cooler and I need more warmth. I will definitely knit this pattern again because it is so versatile and quick to make.

I cannot believe that I have never owned a vest or slipover before and now that I have one, I can totally see the appeal of having more of these in my closet. When these pieces are handmade and customized to suit my taste, it is a winning combination.

Rita Vest (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: Rita by Libby Jonson currently only available through Wardrobe Toolbox
Yarn: De Rerum Natura Gilliatt & Berenice both in “Caramel”
Needles: Sizes 6.5 & 7.00 mm

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Springline Tee

I just finished test knitting the Springline Tee for Samantha Guerin and I love it. I have been a huge fan of Samantha’s patterns and I have knit her Salty Air Tee quite a few times. The Springline Tee is just as enjoyable and the design, the fit and the test knitting experience were all top notch.

This knitted tee uses a drop shoulder construction where you knit the front and back separately while you shape the shoulders and the neck and then you join the pieces together and finish the rest of the body. The neckband and sleeves are completed at the end using ribbing.

I loved the pattern instructions for the lace panel to flow seamlessly where you join the front and back and also the neckline shaping is excellent. When designers pay attention to details like this, it makes for a well-thought-out design and gives a nice fit.

I used Knitting for Olive Pure Silk in the colorway “Poppy Blue”. It is definitely bright and poppy and will make a fun addition to my spring and summer handmade wardrobe. The Pure Silk felt a bit crisp and dry to the touch while knitting. This is because this yarn is bourette silk (raw silk) produced from silk fibers collected from broken cocoons after the chrysalises are allowed to mature into moths and escape. I love that this yarn is ethically produced and is free from harmful chemicals. Pure silk has temperature-regulating properties making it an excellent fiber choice for summer garments.

Check out the various Springline Tees by other test knitters over on Instagram and Ravelry. I highly recommend this pattern or any of Samantha Guerin’s desgins. She is most definitely the queen of the knitted t-shirt and so much more!

Springline Tee (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: Springline Tee by Samantha Guerin
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Pure Silk in “Poppy Blue”
Needles: Sizes US 3, 4 & 5 / 3.25, 3.5 & 3.75 mm

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Spring Knits Featuring Wayfarer II

I love knitting patterns designed by Libby Jonson of Truly Myrtle. I have been a part of her online subscription group called Wardrobe Toolbox for a few years now and it has helped me make better-fitting garments and embrace the idea of a thoughtfully curated handmade wardrobe. While I have yet to sew any clothes for myself, I have been slowly adding to my hand-knit wardrobe with the rest of the Wardrobe Toolbox community.

Wardrobe Toolbox has pattern releases exclusive to the community for about a year before they are accessible to everyone else. Wayfarer was one of the patterns released during an earlier season of WTB (we are currently in Season 9, woohoo!) I have knit this pattern before and shared it here on my blog.

I loved knitting the pattern and the fit is so nice, especially around the shoulders. I decided I would knit it again with some changes. I omitted the cable panel on the front and substituted the yarn by holding merino and mohair together for a lighter feel.

The result is exactly what I envisioned and I absolutely love this garment! It is perfect to wear during the spring and fall when you need just a hint of warmth and can be layered under a light jacket.

I used my favorite Knitting for Olive yarn combo – Merino + Soft Silk Mohair to produce a soft, light-as-air fabric. The colors I used are Marzipan for the Merino and Ballerina for the Mohair.

I also shortened the length a little bit because I ran out of the mohair. It is perfect as a spring garment and hits me at the perfect mid-hip length. My favorite part of this design is the fitted shoulder shape using set-in sleeves. I like this tailored feature in my knitwear and prefer the fit it provides compared to other constructions such as raglans or round yokes.

I knit size 5 for the body and size 4 for the sleeves and it was not too tricky to make these slight modifications to the pattern. This is one pattern I would love to knit again in a myriad of colors.

Wayfarer With No Twists (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: Wayfarer by Libby Jonson of Truly Myrtle
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino in “Marzipan” & Soft Silk Mohair in “Ballerina”
Needles: Sizes US 6 & 7 / 4 & 4.5 mm

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LYON SWEATER

I will never get tired of wearing stripes. Anytime I can incorporate stripes into my handmade wardrobe, I will go for it. The Lyon Sweater by PetiteKnit looks like a standard striped sweater at first glance, but there are quite a few details that elevates this pattern.

The upper torso shaping on this sweater is very interesting. I had never knit this type of shoulder construction before and it will not be my last, the fit is just perfect. I have heard of this technique being referred to as the European shoulder, English tailoring shoulder, or couture shoulder. Whatever the name is, the fit is really neat. The sleeves are knit contiguously which moulds the arm perfectly without being too constrictive.

Once these fun upper torso details are done, the rest of the garment is just a standard stockinette-in-the-round which can sometimes get boring. Thankfully, the stripes are fun to create, so this sweater progressed quickly throughout.

I used Marzipan as the colour for the main body and Pink Daisies for the contrasting stripes. A folded collar at the neck finishes this cozy sweater off beautifully. A successful finished sweater that has been in constant rotation in my winter wardrobe.

Lyon Sweater (Ravelry Project Page)
Pattern: Lyon Sweater by PetiteKnit
Yarn: Knitting for Olive Merino in “Marzipan” & “Pink Daisies”
Needles: Sizes US 6 & 7 / 4 & 4.5 mm

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