Summer Tees

It's soon to be summer, which means that it's time to slip, slop, slap - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat - and if that shirt happens to be a gorgeous hand-knitted one, then all the better! For when the sun is beaming down and the mercury is rising, there is nothing better than the feel of cool, crisp natural fibres on the skin, like cotton, linen and bamboo.

Sharron and Leisl at Woolarium are both planning some lovely summer tee knits - here's the shortlist of their absolute favourites!

Hane by Kirsten Johnstone is a beautiful design that looks stunning for both day and night. With gently gathered side shaping and an asymmetrical drape, this tee will suit all body types. The pattern comes with 6 design variations, including sleeves and sleeve ruffle. Designed for linen, we think the Shibui Linen would be perfect for this garment. Leisl is going to make hers up in the Poppy colourway, so if you head into the store over summer you might be lucky enough to see her wearing it!




Another beautiful design is the Irokata Tee by Olga Buraya-Kefelian. This colour-blocked tee is made for 4 ply yarns, and once again the Shibui Linen would be ideal. Short row techniques employed for the neckline and colour shaping mean that minimal finishing is required - hoorah! We love how cleverly Olga designs her knits, and this one is another winner.

This being Melbourne, however, you can never trust the weather to stay warm and settled for long. When the cool wind blows in, a versatile top with longer sleeves is often required - like Boxy by Joji Locatelli. With a wide body and slim, flattering sleeves, this easy knit is the ideal top for cooler days, or for covering up in at the beach. Knit in a 4 ply yarn, we think the Spud and Chloe Fine, Rowan Wool Cotton or Shibui Staccato or Linen would be lovely choices.

Last but definitely not least is this gorgeous tank top designed by Sharron herself! Called Vertical, this beautiful design is knit up in the wonderfully drapey Baby Bamboo. Designed with relaxed summer days in mind, this top will look equally good over pants as it does over your favourite bikini! The lace centre stripe gives this classic design a modern edge, and it is sure to become a summer staple. Simply purchase yarn for this divine tank, and the pattern is yours for free!

If you purchase the yarn by mail order, drop us a note and we'll include the pattern in your parcel. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to seeing all your lovely summer knits - be sure to pop into the shop to show them off to us if you can!

Cardigan Inspiration

Weather report for this coming Sunday: Bendigo - sunny with a top of 26 C. Surry Hills: Mild and sunny, top of 24 C. Darwin: Sunny periods with slight cloud cover, top of 34. Toowoomba: Sunny day, top of 24.

Hmm. I think I'm seeing a trend here. The cool days are gone, and the warmth is picking up as we head into spring and summer. So no matter where you are in Australia at the moment, it's time to put away the scarves, hats and gloves, pack up your winter knitting and get cracking on some summertime projects. And what makes for a better project than a summer cardigan? Perfect for throwing over a summer frock, or for warming cool shoulders as the night draws in, cardigans are the ultimate layering piece and are invaluable during the warmer months.

We LOVE a good cardigan at Woolarium, so we have chosen our favourite designs to give you a bit of cardigan inspiration. There's a design and ply to keep everybody happy!

For those who can't bear anything too heavy during the heat, but still want to be protected from the sun, the Featherweight cardigan by Hanna Fettig is the design for you. Knit in a 2 ply yarn, this gorgeous cardigan is minimalistic chic, and is sure to go with everything. We think the Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace or the Shibui Cima would be perfect for this garment. The pattern can be purchased as a Ravelry download.

Another must-knit is the Grace cardigan by Jane Richmond. And it's not just a favourite with us - it's a firm favourite with the Ravelry crowd (where it can be downloaded), with over 400 versions made so far. Our image above shows a long sleeved version, but this seamless design can easily be knit with short or 3/4 length sleeves. Made up in a 4 ply yarn, we suggest the heavenly Malabrigo Sock, the Rowan Wool Cotton 4ply or Rowan Siena, the Shibui Staccato or the Spud and Chloe Fine.

The next cardigan on our list is actually being knitted by Leisl as we speak. It's the lovely Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier. Cleverly designed to incorporate a waterfall front which drapes beautifully due to the radial eyelet increases, Leisl is knitting hers up in the Jo Sharp Mulberry Silk Georgette. Other 5 plys that would look equally divine are the Millamia Naturally Soft Merino or the Blue Sky Alpacas Metalico.

What's that you say? You want more lace? Allrighty - let's try the Surry Hills on for size! This vintage-inspired garment, designed by Maria Magnusson, would look equally at home over a simple cotton frock as it would layered over an evening dress for a special occasion. Knit up in 8 ply yarn, we'd love to see this made up in the Rowan Creative Linen, Zara, Sublime Baby Bamboo or Rowan Wool Cotton DK. Best of all, this pattern is a free Ravelry download! Thank you Maria, on behalf of all lace cardigan knitters everywhere!

Thanks for joining us for our inspiration post today. If you have any other beautiful cardigan ideas that you'd like to share, let us know in the comment section below - or even better, pop into the shop and tell us about it in person. We love to know what our customers are making!