Those who imagine that knitting is only done in autumn and winter are completely mistaken! Yes, what a pleasure to practice the fiber arts by the pool, with your feet in the grass, in the middle of the fields enjoying the sun!
Knitting or crocheting in summer will require some adjustments. Indeed, knitting a wool sweater with cables and having it on your knees at 35°C is not necessarily the most pleasant. On the other hand, crocheting or knitting light and colorful yarns is the most fun thing for those who handle stitches.
Moreover, designers and yarn brands have created lots of new lovely models perfect for the warm season so you never run out of inspiration to knit or crochet whatever you want.
If your heart still leans towards wool, there is still a very easy solution... focus on small projects: socks, headbands, hats, mittens… that won’t cover your knees or keep you too warm!
So, settle in (in your deck chair or sofa) and let's get started on summer knitting and crochet projects!
Which materials to knit or crochet for summer?
While in winter it is very pleasant to use animal-based yarns for your projects, in summer, you will preferably choose plant-based yarns. Indeed, they are much more breathable and comfortable to wear during the warm season.
There are many plant-based yarns. The best known is, of course, cotton. However, new yarns with blends of plant fibers are increasingly offered by brands. We think especially of blends using linen, hemp, bamboo, tencel, or even blends of wool and plant fibers… We take advantage of the qualities of each to create a yarn combining the best of each fiber it contains.
Let's talk materials
You know I love cotton because it is a natural fiber with many qualities. It is a comfortable fiber to wear in hot weather because it is breathable and helps prevent unpleasant sweat odors. Cotton fiber is soft and durable, easy to care for.
The only real constraint when using cotton for knitting and crochet is its weight. Indeed, cotton fiber is quite heavy, so you need to take that into account when choosing your pattern. Favor short projects without cables to avoid the weight deforming the garment over time. So we opt for tops, camisoles, tank tops, short-sleeved blouses, and "airy" cardigans...
I also really like linen, which is another eco-friendly plant fiber produced in our regions. Linen produces a very light and strong fiber. However, it is stiffer than cotton, which is why you will often find linen blended with other fibers to make your project more flexible and soft. Like cotton, linen is breathable, which is very pleasant in summer. Unlike cotton this time, linen is light. So you can be more adventurous with your patterns!
What have we chosen to offer you at C'est du Joly?
As you know, we work with the French brand DMC, whose reputation is well established. What we particularly love about DMC is the combination of a historic brand offering modern products renewed year after year to create a quality product that’s up to date.
By the way, this year’s patterns are really catching our eye!
Enough talk, let’s discover together the qualities of the products the whole team has carefully selected.
Eco vita by DMC
This yarn made from recycled cotton fibers is oeko-tex certified 🌱 and I think it's great to offer you a more eco-friendly yarn that’s better for our little planet. Indeed, Eco vita comes from textile scraps, sorted by color and composition. The fibers are then cut, shredded, and spun to create a new yarn. This technique requires no dyeing process, and the new yarn undergoes no further treatment.
It is available in a wide range of 30 nature-inspired colors, allowing you to create a sustainable wardrobe for the whole family. Its tubular construction, suitable for making knitted or crocheted garments, makes it easy and enjoyable to work with. It is especially suited to highlighting textured fancy stitches.
For Eco Vita, you will need needles or a hook No. 4 or No. 5 to achieve a soft, fresh, and natural feel. The skeins weigh 100 grams and contain about 250 meters for a 10 x 10 cm gauge of 22 stitches - 30 rows.
Eco Vita is easy to care for with machine washing on a 30° wool cycle.
Linen yarn with Natura Linen
The yarn Natura Linen is made of 58% linen, 26% viscose, and 16% cotton. It’s an easy-to-knit and crochet yarn with soft, feminine, and natural colors. It’s truly an ideal yarn for spring and summer, allowing you to create simple, natural, and refined pieces with comfortable and elegant shapes. Think tops, short-sleeve blouses, small cardigans, shawls...
The skeins weigh 50 grams and contain about 150 meters for a 10 x 10 cm gauge of 22 stitches x 28 rows.
To crochet Natura Linen you will need a hook: No. 3.00 and to knit it, needles: No. 3.5.
Cotton yarn with Natura Medium
The crochet and knitting yarn Natura Medium is a premium 100% cotton yarn.
Combed with a matte appearance, it offers great softness and exceptional durability.
This yarn is very pleasant, easy to work with, and allows you to create beautiful knitwear or hand crochet.
It is especially suitable for making garments thanks to its softness.
The Natura Medium range consists of 32 colors that blend perfectly together. This yarn can be worked by both beginners and expert hands.
The skeins weigh 50 grams for about 75 meters with a 10 x 10 cm gauge of 24 x 18 stitches.
The recommended crochet hook size is No. 4.00 and for needles: No. 4 to 5.
I’m delighted to offer you these lovely products and hope you’ll like them as much as we do!
If you want to work on them with us, the beginner and advanced courses in crochet and knitting are online!
Enjoy discovering everything 😊
So get your needles and hooks ready, let's go!
