Right, so, I do actually like heat - but his year it seems to be getting to me. My body has turned to syrup, my mind is mush, I don't seem to be able to form one coherent line of thought, and everything goes so slowly, even the easiest of tasks takes for ever to do. here ever I've been the last 5 weeks there has been a heat wave, admittedly that was just wonderful when on holiday, but now that I'm back to work I find it a bit hard to cope. What I would like is a massive thunderstorm and rainfall, just over night, to clean the air and release some of the pressure, then I would be perfectly happy with another stretch of sunshine.

I guess I'm not the only one who has found knitting particularly difficult this summer. I mean, we normally choose those fibres that work better in hot weather, linen, cotton, silk, that goes without saying, but when it is so hot that even cottons get sticky between your fingers it is a bit much. However, I am actually close to finishing my summer project, and as I've been dreaming about colder days and woolly knits, I've been searching for exactly that - to set me up for long, dark, knitting evenings curled up on the sofa. I've been looking for sweaters that are HOT RIGHT NOW, pun intended, and these are my favourites. Now off to narrow down my choices, which one would you choose?

Easy V by Caitlin Hunter

Easy V (link to Ravelry page) sweater is knit top down in the round and features a subtle V shaped neckline which transitions to a round colourwork yoke design. You need a Main Colour and 3x Contrast Colours for this sweater. The colourwork is easy to work with short repeats and only 2 colours per row, making the knitting fun and relaxing while letting your colour choices stand out as the star of this sweater. It is designed to have a relaxed, easy fit- perfect for everyday wear, and I can see this one quickly becoming a favourite wear.

For the Easy V I would choose Nua Worsted or Cumbria. I'm picturing this design in more solid colours than the typical variegated ones, so Cumbria would definitely be my first choice, all though I love the flecks of linen in the Nua which will give a bit more 'life' if that is something you desire.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) {7, 8, 9, 10} 
Recommended ease: 6-8” 15.5-20.5 cm of positive ease at the bust.
Finished bust circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56) {60, 64, 68, 72}“ 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142) {152.5, 162.5, 172.5, 183} cm

Meterage:
MC: 670 (743, 816, 889, 963, 1037) {1110, 1192, 1264, 1338} yards 
612 (680, 746, 813, 881, 948) {1015, 1089, 1156, 1223} meters

C1: 125 (139, 152, 166, 180, 194) {207, 222, 236, 250} yards 
114 (127, 139, 152, 164, 177) {189, 203, 216, 228} meters

C2: 142 (158, 173, 189, 205, 220) {236, 253, 269, 284} yards 
130 (144, 158, 173, 187, 201) {216, 231, 246, 260} meters

C3: 130 (145, 158, 171, 187, 201) {215, 231, 245, 260} yards 
119 (132, 144, 156, 171, 184) {197, 211, 224, 237} meters

Easy V by Caitlin Hunter
Easy V by Caitlin Hunter

Desperate Housewife by Melanie Berg

One of my favourite designers just released a bound to be favourite cardigan. I've done many of Melanie's designs, and they never disappoint, every thing I've made of hers have received a lot of use and so will the Desperate Housewife (link to Ravelry page). This cardigan is a treat for your wild and wonderful side, this slouchy, grandpa-fit cardigan is the perfect project to knit in those stray moments you steal away for yourself. Desperate Housewife is a top-down, one-piece cardigan with a circular yoke, ideal for lounging or throwing on for a splash of color when you run errands.

The original is made in a sports weight Alpaca, so for me there could only be one choice - the wonderfully natural dyed shades of G-uld Alpaca. You'll need 1 Main Colour and 7 Contrast Colours
Bust sizes for the finished cardigan are: (41, 44.75, 48.75) (53.25, 57) (60.75, 65.25, 69.25)“ / (102.5, 112, 121.5) (133, 142.5) (152, 163, 173) cm at the bust, it is designed to fit with 4 - 8” / 10 - 20 cm of positive ease. For the Main Colour you need (4, 4, 4) (4, 4) (6, 6, 6) 50 g hanks, and then 2x 50g for each of the 7 contrast colours.

Desperate Housewife by Melanie Berg
Desperate Housewife by Melanie Berg

Outline Raglan by Jessie Maed

Outline Raglan (link to Ravelry page) is an easy-wearing long-sleeved tee with a sweatshirt fit accented with raw edges and body framing dropped stitches for an airy casual vibe, equally cozy in cotton or wool, and the perfect weight for transitioning from summer to early autumn! I love the simplicity of this design and I find the dropped stitches creating those bold lines so tempting!

I would totally make the Outline Raglan in Vivacious DK, it has such a smoothness to it, and a high twist that will highlight the details of this design.
Sizes are at the bust: (37.5, 41.5, 45.5)49.5, 53.5, 57.5{61.5, 65.5, 69.5}“ / (95.5, 105.5, 115.5)125.5, 136, 146{156, 166.5, 176.5}cm.
This top is designed with 7.5 – 9.5”/19-24cm of positive ease at the full chest for a very relaxed fit. You will need (4, 4, 4) 5, 5, 5 (5, 6, 6) hanks to complete the Outline Raglan.

Outline Raglan by Jessie Maed
Outline Raglan by Jessie Maed

Ochre Cardigan by Ambah O'Brien

I know I said 'woolly' and 'colder days', but I'm not completely ready to let go of the summer quite yet. And then I discovered this little number! The Ochre Cardigan (link to Ravelry page) is made in any fingering weight yarn, but I have to admit I am fascinated by the use of linen in the original, and I think I would stick with this for a lightweight layering cardi to just throw over your shoulders. The Ochre would easily become a key garment of any wardrobe, including mine.

Our Växbo Lingarn is just perfect for this cardigan! Bust sizes are: 30 (32, 34, 37, 40) 42, 44, 46, 48, 51 (54, 56, 58, 60)“ / 75 (80, 85, 92.5, 100) 105, 110, 115, 120, 127.5 (135, 140, 145, 150) cm and you would need 2 (2, 2, 2, 3) 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 (4, 4, 4, 4) hanks to complete the Ochre Cardigan.

Ochre Cardigan by Ambah O'Brien
Ochre Cardigan by Ambah O'Brien

Lace & Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli

A boxy jumper can be worn with absolutely everything and it is flattering no matter your body type, and when it incorporates delicious textures, you know I'm already sold! Boxy sweaters are like a friend who loves us dearly: always makes us feel comfortable and beautiful. In this version, The Lace & Fade Boxy (link to Ravelry page) delicate bands of lace alternate with bands of silky fabric that subtly change colors. I can't wait to sink my needles into this one!

I'm torn between yarn options though, there's so much to choose from! For the lace panels which are done in a fluffy yarn, there is only one alternative for me, and that would be the Fyberspates Cumulus, but for the Stockinette stripes I need to make a decision whether or not to go with solid colours or a handdyed variegated one. If I go for solids, I opt for luxury, as I would definitely use the Fyberspates Scrumptious which has such a high silk content this jumper would feel like a cloud to wear, or if I go the handdyed route I'm looking at Black Elephant Singles which offers such an excitement coming to choose potential colour combos.

Garment sizes are, with a lot of positive easy built in: 59 (62½, 66, 66, 73, 73, 73, 76½, 76½, 76½)“ 148 (157, 165, 165, 183, 183, 183, 191, 191, 191) cm. 
You'll need 5 colours for the Stockinette sections, and one colour for the lace panels. In Fyberspates Scrumptious or Black Elephant Singles you'll need 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) hanks of colour 1, and one hank of each colours 2 - 5, and in the Cumulus you'll need 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls.

Lace & Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli
Lace & Fade Boxy by Joji Locatelli

Volia Blouse by Teti Lutsak

Volia is a single Ukrainian word with so many important, powerful meanings. It means willpower, self-control; a desire and a right to act at one’s discretion; but most importantly it means freedom and independence. The Volia Blouse (link to Ravelry page) represents freedom, created by Ukranian designer Teti, because it is a light, loose-fitting garment, it offers freedom of movement, of choice as to which sleeve shape and length to pick and how deep the neck opening to make. It’s playful with cute little tassels resembling those of traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouses.

The original is made holding 3 strands together, two strands of lace weight linen, and one strand of fluff. You can make the blouse in any 4ply one strand, reducing the strands to 2. Should you go for a woolly warmer version, I believe that the Volia would look absolutely stunning in Norne Yarns Singles, Black Elephant Singles and even the Vivacious 4ply. However, sticking to the linen theme the obvious choice for me would be our Växbo Linen, and I would hold it together with the Fyberspates Cumulus, no doubt!

Finished bust circumference: 95 (105, 115, 125, 135) (145, 155, 165, 175) cm / 37.5 (41.5, 45.5, 49.5, 53.25) (57.25, 61.25, 65, 69) in incl. ca. 20 cm (8 in) of recommended positive ease.
In the Växbo Lingarn you'll need 2 (2, 3, 3, 3) (3, 4, 4, 4) hanks, held together with 6 (6, 6, 7, 7) (8, 9, 9, 10) balls of Fyberspates Cumulus.

Volia Blouse by Teti Lutsak
Volia Blouse by Teti Lutsak

Love Note by Tin Can Knits

This is a classic, and I wonder if this is the year I will jump the craze of Love Note (link to Ravelry page). I've seen so many versions of this beautiful jumper, no wonder it has become such a staple design from Tin Can Knits. This sweet little sweater knits up quickly from the top down. The combination of mohair lace and single-ply merino creates a fabric that is floaty, soft and sensual. With a high-low hemline and two length options, what’s not to love? So again we are looking at the combination 4ply + lace = DK, and the usual suspects would then be any single yarns that we stock, like the Black Elephant Singles, held with a fluffy yarn - we would always choose the Fyberspates Cumulus. BUT to be perfectly honest - what about trying something completely different? For my Love Note I would go for a more rustic quality and choose one of the stunning colours in the Norwegian Peltwool yarn Tinde.

Tin Can Knits has a reputation of accommodating for every size, meaning baby to adult, and the Love Note is no exemption. Sixes are: 0-6 mo (6-12 mo, 1-2 yrs, 2-4 yrs, 4-6 yrs, 6-8 yrs, 8-10 yrs, Adult XS, S, M, L, XL-XXL, 3XL-4XL, 5XL). Finished garment at the bust are: 24.5 (25.5, 26.5, 28.6, 30.5, 32.5, 34.5, 38.5, 41.5, 44.5, 48.5, 56.5, 66.5, 72.5”) For the regular length version you would need : 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6) hanks of Tinde.

Love Note by Tin Can Knits
Love Note by Tin Can Knits