Summer knitting is not just about hiding away in the air
conditioning it is a great time to start your fall and holiday knitting projects
and gifts. You will never have that sweater ready for fall if you don't start
it now. I know, I know, you are looking at the temp and scoffing at sitting
with wool yarn in your lap. What better excuse to hide inside during the
hottest part of the day than because you are preparing for the holidays. I find
my fall sweaters are always brighter and more cheerful when I start them in
summer. Add to the above the fact that school is starting soon which means you
will have the time to start some summer knitting projects. All good news! Plus
I can throw another one at you: try working up all your knitting projects (or a
majority as a compromise) in chunky weight yarn. Your projects will fly off
your needles, leaving your with more time for you or to complete more
projects: including sweater, mittens,
scarves and (my favorite) shawls.
I love shawls because they can be any size, any funky design
you like and are perfect to wear any which way you like. Shawls knit in chunky
yarns are even better in my book because they actually keep me warm. I love the
lightweight shawls but only for an accessory. If I want a shawl that looks good
and is super warm I have learned to knit it in a heavier gauge. I recently made
the
Pembroke
Shawl from Interweave Knits in
Lion
Brand Wool-Ease Chunky which turned out amazing. I really enjoyed working
with the yarn but also I love how quickly something so beautiful came together.
The delicate lace pattern was not overwhelmed by the thick yarn but gave it new
depth and texture that can be missed in a light weight yarn. I believe the
design stands out more with the chunky yarn because there is less of it. With a
lighter weight yarn, you must repeat the design over and over and it is very
small. With a chunky yarn, you repeat the design much less so you see more of
it. After many years spent knitting shawls in fingering and DK yarn it was
refreshing to be able to see a new take on an old favorite. My Pembroke Shawl
seems so warm and cozy even though it is not very big (36'' across the top). It
only took 2 skeins of yarn making it inexpensive with dramatic impact. Knitting
the Pembroke Shawl as inspired me to rethink my favorite shawl patterns to try
them with a thicker yarn. It has encouraged me to try many other patterns with
a chunky yarn like
Lion
Brand's Wool-Ease Chunky or
Amy
Butler Sweet Harmony Yarn. I am actually excited this year to start my
holiday projects because of this nice little chunky weight "short-cut" I've
found!
