Thanks for always giving a thorough description of the skills one might need to knit the garment. Super helpful for me when setting my expectations about how a project might go.
Thank you for the reviews of the summer patterns. I just finished Yume. I highly recommend this pattern. Very well written and I love the option of long or short sleeves. Fairly easy to memorize the lace pattern. I have never knit lace before and this was a nice pattern to launch me into this technique.
I absolutely love my Rock It Tee and have made two versions, one as written with alternating fingering and mohair, and one with alternating two fingering gradients, one fading green to blue and the other fading blue to green. I also just enjoyed knitting a Riveria top by Berroco, with is a top down circular lace yoke tee. Also made a Ranunculus in Juniper Moon Farm’s Zooey, a cotton-Linen blend. The short sleeve version for a 48 inch bust only took 2 balls so it’s really inexpensive to make!
I finished the Bamboo Summer Top (Nancy Ricci) today, and I very much enjoyed knitting it. The bottom lace panel was a lovely detail and was easy to remember. It's a DK weight tank top so it knits up pretty quickly. I'm definitely going to make this top again!
I live in Texas and the Heat Index was at 107 back in May here, so I am SUPER excited about these pattern ideas. I am currently knitting my first sweater, the Summer Saunter by Samantha Guerin in BC Garn Allino, a linen/cotton blend.
Also the reversible v uses fading so a great wat to use up those not quite full skeins you have in your stash. It's ubber comfy my most favorite summer top.
Thank you for sharing this! As I watched, I was wearing my Luminous Summer, and working on a 2nd Summer Sorrel. You're amazing and always give me loads of ideas to keep me creative!
Just to add: the Tolsta Tee does include some short row shaping at the back neck (but it's a very straightforward and simple pattern) and just today there was a pattern update that includes optional bust shaping 🙂 I've made one so far but my yarn was awful so I will be starting another one very soon!
I’m interested to know how you find knitting the Vee backed tee by Jamie Hoffman. I started trying to knit it in 2022 , frogged it and tried again later. I still have not managed to finish it. I’m getting lost with the short row below armhole shaping. 😢 I’m looking for courage to try finishing it. I’ve knit the Yume sweater several times and love this pattern. Thank you for this video. I find it very useful.
I have knit the summer sorel and the rockit Tee. Summer sorel is a beautiful pattern with great tutorial support. My disappointment is yarn. I chose a pink, mint green, and white hand dyed yarn. It lost its brightness after blocking. Considering dyeing the garment. Rock it tee is another great one. I used yarn bought from jimmy bean yarn shop in Reno, NV on a driving trip.
I'm wearing the Gather Round Tee from Espace Tricot www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gather-round-4 I TRY to remember to put the pattern link in the video description so you can always check there for the pattern!
Hi Tanya, Have you looked at Cloudesley by Isabel Kraemer? I’m about to start knitting it for this summer. It looks light and airy with a really interesting design going down the back. I can’t wait to get started-just waiting for the yarn!
The V-Back Tee, I have a question because I really like the pattern. I have a larger bust so would you still be able to make it reversible? I worry that one side would be too tight or the back too loose. Thanks for your opinion, I love watching your videos.
I haven't seen the pattern so I couldn't tell you how it would fit. But, as a woman with a larger bust too, I think I'd probably choose which side I'd want as the front and adjust it accordingly (I really dislike excess fabric on the back of my sweaters which would be hard to avoid with a reversible top).
Hi Tonia, I would like to knit a summer sweater for my sister. She had a mastectomy several years ago and says she wished she had asked for a double one so that her tops would fit better. Can you think of any way to adjust the top for women who have gone through this same thing. She says she cannot wear anything with a wide neckline because it is too ‘open’ and would not work on the side where there is no bust. Take your time thinking of anything that you can come up with, I am not in a hurry. Thanks again!
I've been asked this question before and don't really know since it's not something I have any experience with. I would suggest choosing tops that have a closer-fitting neckline so they don't gap open. And perhaps choosing a size based on the upper chest measurement (around the torso measured just below the underarm) and adjusting, if needed, for the full bust.
Do you have a favorite knitting pattern for summer tops or tees?
Thanks for always giving a thorough description of the skills one might need to knit the garment. Super helpful for me when setting my expectations about how a project might go.
Glad it was helpful! I figured that required skills might be better than 'levels' - since those can vary so much.
I did Birdwatcher by Casapinka and really liked that pattern. I made the sleeves longer and it worked out well. Thank you for all your great ideas.
There is also a PDF with the 4ply version of the Tolsta Tee as well as the dart instructions included in the same pattern. The gauge is 24 stitches.
Thank you for the reviews of the summer patterns. I just finished Yume. I highly recommend this pattern. Very well written and I love the option of long or short sleeves. Fairly easy to memorize the lace pattern. I have never knit lace before and this was a nice pattern to launch me into this technique.
The Tolsta Tee has a short row option and now also has bust shaping available. 🙂
Love The choices
I absolutely love my Rock It Tee and have made two versions, one as written with alternating fingering and mohair, and one with alternating two fingering gradients, one fading green to blue and the other fading blue to green. I also just enjoyed knitting a Riveria top by Berroco, with is a top down circular lace yoke tee. Also made a Ranunculus in Juniper Moon Farm’s Zooey, a cotton-Linen blend. The short sleeve version for a 48 inch bust only took 2 balls so it’s really inexpensive to make!
I knitted up the rocket tee as well using just fingering weight and love this pattern ❤
The Tolsta does have short row shaping and as of today, included bust dart instructions. There’s also a tank and long sleeved version now.
Thanks to all who sent in their faves. I think next year will be dedicated to colourful summer tops. Need to find some easy to knit linen blends.
I’ve got Summer Sorrel in my Ravelry queue. Angela Hahn also has some lovely tops in her book on tunics and tanks.
Thanks for leaving the link to the community post
I finished the Bamboo Summer Top (Nancy Ricci) today, and I very much enjoyed knitting it. The bottom lace panel was a lovely detail and was easy to remember. It's a DK weight tank top so it knits up pretty quickly. I'm definitely going to make this top again!
I live in Texas and the Heat Index was at 107 back in May here, so I am SUPER excited about these pattern ideas. I am currently knitting my first sweater, the Summer Saunter by Samantha Guerin in BC Garn Allino, a linen/cotton blend.
Also the reversible v uses fading so a great wat to use up those not quite full skeins you have in your stash. It's ubber comfy my most favorite summer top.
Thanks for the tip! I am going to have to knit this one!
I have some silk and thought about a summer knit... Lovely right time to come to listen
A silk top sounds lovely!
Thank you for this video! I purchased the Lenu + the hood pattern that goes with it. It does look interesting!
Thank you for sharing this! As I watched, I was wearing my Luminous Summer, and working on a 2nd Summer Sorrel. You're amazing and always give me loads of ideas to keep me creative!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for all the great summer tops! I’m new to garments and this review had lots of options I want to try!
You are so welcome!
Just to add: the Tolsta Tee does include some short row shaping at the back neck (but it's a very straightforward and simple pattern) and just today there was a pattern update that includes optional bust shaping 🙂 I've made one so far but my yarn was awful so I will be starting another one very soon!
Thanks for the update - sounds like a very useful pattern!
There’s also a Tolsta KAL starting today. I’ll be doing another.
I’m interested to know how you find knitting the Vee backed tee by Jamie Hoffman. I started trying to knit it in 2022 , frogged it and tried again later. I still have not managed to finish it. I’m getting lost with the short row below armhole shaping. 😢 I’m looking for courage to try finishing it.
I’ve knit the Yume sweater several times and love this pattern.
Thank you for this video. I find it very useful.
I just subscribed, I would love to give this a go, however I am quite intimidated by the thoughts of it.
I have knit the summer sorel and the rockit Tee.
Summer sorel is a beautiful pattern with great tutorial support. My disappointment is yarn. I chose a pink, mint green, and white hand dyed yarn. It lost its brightness after blocking. Considering dyeing the garment.
Rock it tee is another great one. I used yarn bought from jimmy bean yarn shop in Reno, NV on a driving trip.
All of Tanis Lavallée’s (the designer behind Tanis fiber arts) are amazing! I have also knit the Rockit tee and was actually wearing it yesterday!
Great list thank you. Grrat to see a Truly Myrtle pattern at the end.bshe has other grrat designs
I totally agree!
What top are YOU wearing, Tonya? There’s also a blue ones with vee neck you wore in a previous video. I like them both.
I'm wearing the Gather Round Tee from Espace Tricot
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gather-round-4
I TRY to remember to put the pattern link in the video description so you can always check there for the pattern!
Hi Tanya, Have you looked at Cloudesley by Isabel Kraemer? I’m about to start knitting it for this summer. It looks light and airy with a really interesting design going down the back. I can’t wait to get started-just waiting for the yarn!
I will check it out!
The V-Back Tee, I have a question because I really like the pattern. I have a larger bust so would you still be able to make it reversible? I worry that one side would be too tight or the back too loose. Thanks for your opinion, I love watching your videos.
I haven't seen the pattern so I couldn't tell you how it would fit. But, as a woman with a larger bust too, I think I'd probably choose which side I'd want as the front and adjust it accordingly (I really dislike excess fabric on the back of my sweaters which would be hard to avoid with a reversible top).
Hi Tonia, I would like to knit a summer sweater for my sister. She had a mastectomy several years ago and says she wished she had asked for a double one so that her tops would fit better. Can you think of any way to adjust the top for women who have gone through this same thing. She says she cannot wear anything with a wide neckline because it is too ‘open’ and would not work on the side where there is no bust. Take your time thinking of anything that you can come up with, I am not in a hurry. Thanks again!
I've been asked this question before and don't really know since it's not something I have any experience with. I would suggest choosing tops that have a closer-fitting neckline so they don't gap open. And perhaps choosing a size based on the upper chest measurement (around the torso measured just below the underarm) and adjusting, if needed, for the full bust.
@@NerdyKnitting Thank you for the suggestion of the close fitting neckline!