We are in the miserable, dog days of summer here in Wisconsin. I take a few medications that impact my ability to regulate temperature, so I’m hiding from the heat and humidity inside with my knitting. I’m working on some light weight summer projects, and also listening to some great audio books, and I wanted to share with you all.
July means it’s time for Olive Knits annual MKAL (and this year will be the last one!). If you aren’t familiar, Olive Knits releases a pattern for a summer sweater in July and does a four-day knit along. If you’re like me there’s no way you can finish a sweater in four days, but I plan to get it done this month at least.
This years pattern is called Watermark and it’s a lacy pullover or cardigan. I’m doing the pullover version because I hate purling. I’m using The Croft DK in Harkland 226.
I’m also working on socks because I’m ALWAYS working on socks. Socks are the perfect project for summer days because they are small and light and don’t sit heavily in your lap like a blanket or large sweater.
I have a couple of go-to patterns for textured socks. I like to use really brightly colored yarn with lots of variegation and speckles, so I want socks with some pattern but nothing that will be overwhelmed by the color.
Bembe from 52 Weeks of Socks is the perfect blend of “I don’t really have to think about this” and textured knitting. It’s a pattern you don’t need to look at much while knitting, but the results are very pretty.
For even more texture I love these Crunkled Socks. This pattern is just a knit and purl repeat over 12 rows that is easy enough to remember to be TV knitting.
They have almost a scale texture to them which could be really fun to knit while watching House of the Dragon. I’m knitting mine with this Life of a Showgirl yarn from Blue Barn Fibres because I’m an unabashed Swiftie feeling all the wedding vibes right now.
Right now, my audio listening and my knitting are colliding the best way. I too am on the Dungeon Crawler Carl train. I don’t know that I would enjoy this book on it’s own, since I tend to glaze over when they’re talking stats, but the audio is a fucking delight. This is a book that lends itself so well to voice acting to add color to the scenes.
The knitting community has embraced DCC as well, especially Mongo and Princess Donut.
I splurged on this Mongo colored yarn from Undercover Otter.
Blue Barn Fibres has an entire DCC collection and I am waiting for my skein of Goddamnit Donut!
I’m also listening to Nine Goblins by T Kingfisher which is a wonderfully funny light fantasy read in the vein of Terry Pratchett.
Need something Goblin-core to knit? For Colorwork, I’m making the Magical Mycelium socks from Stone Knits. I’m using a kit I got from Fiber MacGyver that I got at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool last year.
What summer crafty projects are you working on? Are you listening to anything on audio?
