Too Short! That's what the Summer knitting season, much like Summer itself, is all about. After countless Summers of knitting myself nuts trying to get Summer knitting done before Labor Day, only to be met with a September of -"OMG! its Fall and I haven't started ANY Fall knitting",I learned to STOP knitting myself in circles and just sit and knit.
Summer knitting, actually knitting anytime of year, should be stress-free, no deadlines, no anxious moments(unless of course you are dealing with a pattern written with holes in it). Breathe...so what! if it doesn't get done by Labor Day, so what! if you tuck it away til next year, so what! if Fall comes and you are still knitting pink cotton..its OK!!! THAT is what knitting should be in your life...the place that it is OK to work at your own pace and on your own schedule. Here are some ideas to make Beach Bag Knitting what it should be...Relaxing and fun!:
1. Love It!!-Choose a project you love-this works anytime of year but in the shortest knitting season find something you are crazy about working on and who cares when you finish it...it is ALL about the knitting not the calendar...I love cables so one of my summer projects(and I promise it will not get done this summer but will continue right into the Fall) is this cable cardigan from Sirdar
(Rams Wool)2. Day Off and Done!-Work on a project that knits up quickly...a flirty little top, bag or cardigan...love this Blue Sky Eyelet Cardigan and this quick cable clutch -switch out the bulky wool for a thick ribbon yarn, throw a great button on for a closure and go out to dinner!
(Blue Sky Alpacas) (Keep it Simple Designs)
3. Carry Along Swatching-Try NEW thing...play with new stitches or teach yourself a new "trick"...for me this summer's "Knitting outside the Box" is Lace...work on carry along swatches with scrap yarn til you "get it" then go play!! For my Lace lessons I Love this shrug from Kim Dolce and Classic Elite's Fan and Feather cardigan is in the works...
4. Keep it Cool-Don't knit on Sweaty yarn-Mohair is NOT a Beach Bag yarn-yuck! Smooth cottons and silks are perfect...this year is the best with loads eco-friendly yarns to try. I love Rowan's Pure Life Organic Cotton-DK
(Rowan)
5. Dumb Dumb Knitting is OK!!!,not every project has to have your full attention especially when you are sitting by the lake-actually some of my favorite projects are Dumb Dumb projects...summer is a good time to put your brain on cruise control-find a great yarn you love and knit in garter stitch!! Love this adorable jacket from Kim Dolce. You can knit and read a good book at the same time!
6. No Heavy Lifting! 'Tis the season for portable projects...might seem silly to work on a scarf or socks but they are easy to carry and worked in a light yarn make the perfect "take me to the pool" project. Try afghan squares!!...one of my favorites...The Great American Aran Afghan from Knitter's Magazine
7. Organize-summer is a great time to organize your stash, figure out what you have-hop on Ravelry and pop it all in one place so when you find that perfect Fall pattern you can check what you have in your own "stock" and start knitting right away.
8. Finish it!-Pull out a project from last Summer -you started it for a reason so see if you still love it enough to finish it this summer
9. Gift it-OK no one wants to think about it but the summer is a great time to do some gift knitting-simple portable projects like socks and scarves...you may be able to cross a few people off your list by Sept.! Check out Handknit Holidays and Holiday Knits for inspiration ...
10. Pattern Prep-I am always planning the next project...the line circles the globe with all the things I want to knit next. Much like organizing your stash pattern prep is a fun way to figure out what you have in the baskets and files that may be next in line. The Container Store has cute files and organizers to pop the patterns into by categories-cables, aran, lace, scarves, socks, bulkies. cardigans, shawls...Ravelry is also a great place to keep all the dream projects in one spot and see what others are doing with the patterns you love...
10. Pattern Prep-I am always planning the next project...the line circles the globe with all the things I want to knit next. Much like organizing your stash pattern prep is a fun way to figure out what you have in the baskets and files that may be next in line. The Container Store has cute files and organizers to pop the patterns into by categories-cables, aran, lace, scarves, socks, bulkies. cardigans, shawls...Ravelry is also a great place to keep all the dream projects in one spot and see what others are doing with the patterns you love...
11. Yarn Tours-if you are on the road traveling this summer visit the LYS in the spots you are vacationing. Visiting new yarn shops is so much fun...great way to meet new knitting friends and find yarns and patterns that your local LYS may not carry-if you are traveling abroad this can be the best part of the trip...in France especially there is a yarn shop on every corner...skip the patisserie-go buy some gorgeous yarn! Knitters Magazine publishes a Shop Finder-toss it in the tote.
12. Read and Knit-Yup, you can do both-keep the knitting and the reading light and you won't drop a stitch. Here are some Good Yarns...
