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12 Gorgeous Summer Knitting Patterns

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12 Gorgeous Summer Knitting Patterns

Summer knitting calls for lightweight yarns, small projects and lace when at all possible. When knitting in the summer heat, the last thing you want is a big pile of wool sitting on your lap. It's also prime travel season and the knitting project I love to travel with is socks. They are fun to knit and won't take up a lot room in your carry-on.

Since moving to California, I've nearly stopped knitting. I make a pair or two of socks a year, sometimes a hat or an occasional baby sweater. Whereas when I lived in Oregon, I knit countless hats, mittens and a fair number of big bulky sweaters. Here in southern climes though, I have little need for sweaters, especially bulky ones. So my knitting has dwindled and sewing has stepped in to fill my making hours. For a few years now, I've been thinking that I was just knitting the wrong things and should try a summer knit. So to inspire myself (and you!) I put together this little roundup of summer knitting patterns. 

12 Easy Summer DIY's

12 Easy Summer DIY's

Whether you're vacationing or stay-cationing, summer is the perfect time for an easy DIY project. The days are longer, the weather is fine and with these easy projects you'll have plenty have time to do some crafting and get outdoors too. I've compiled 12 of my favorite DIY projects to get your summer crafting started. Click through to get all the links. 

8 Ways to Hack a Sweatshirt

The Linden sweatshirt is one of the most addictive patterns I've come across recently. I've already made three and when you're making the same thing over and over it's fun to change it up a little bit and play around. (See yesterday's post! :) I've seen a lot of great sweatshirts around the web recently so I thought it would be fun to create a list of ideas for how you can DIY your own sweatshirt and make it all your own.

1. Panel Print This is a great way to showcase a special piece of fabric. Simply cut the front raglan panel from an alternate fabric or layer a sheer on top of the main body fabric. Felted Fox has a great DIY version with African wax fabrics. I also love this RTW leather version. Photo source.

2. Jewels & Studs Adhere jewels or studs to the raglan seamlines, shoulders, neckline or anywhere your heart desires. Photo source.

3. Colorblocked Sleeves You can make the sleeves a different fabric or color (or just use the wrong side of the fabric). Or, I've seen a few RTW sweatshirts that do a color blocked sleeve with a second fabric from the neck to just past the shoulder. This would look great with the shoulder pieces in a faux leather fabric. Photo source.

4. Lace Add lace applique to the shoulder seams like this gorgeous version from Katy & Laney or around the hem or cuffs. Photo source.

5. Applique Use an iron on appliqué or  fabric paint to make a customized statement piece. Photo source.

6. Pocket Cut out a kangaroo pocket and topstitch to your sweatshirt like I did here.

7. Quilted Use a quilted fabric or make your own (learn how here from See Kate Sew). I'd love to have a sweatshirt with a quilted body and plain sleeves. This would be a great way to jazz up a solid color sweatshirt fleece. Photo source.

8. Zipper Add a zipper to the hem, neckline or wrists. Check out my DIY version here with zips along the raglan seams. Photo source.

You can use a lot of these hacks for RTW sweatshirts as well as ones that you make yourself. I hope that you enjoy this list and are inspired to do some DIY with your loungewear.

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