book review: Warm Days, Cool Knits: Lighter Designs for Every Season

Summertime … when the knitting is challenged. I live in a place with seasonal variability and am found in wool just about every day.

However, when the humidity climbs (as it did this week), I want to knit and wear projects that are more reflective of the season. But what are those projects? Should I just substitute a cotton-linen blend and knit up my favourite sweater? What could I knit for those early morning moments when it’s quiet and cool?

Corrina Ferguson‘s new book, Warm Days, Cool Knits: Lighter Designs for Every Season answers my questions and more. It is a great resource because it includes 20 patterns in a wide range of projects, fibers, and weights. I was honestly surprised to learn not everything was a lace weight cotton or linen!

The designs are grouped with a seasonal focus. Each project is portrayed with multiple clear photos that showcase details. The patterns all surprised me and I could see myself knitting and wearing just about everything. In this review post I decided to focus on four designs that caught my eye, yes, 3 are shawls but I find them the most versatile item in my wardrobe especially when the temperature is high and AC is on full arctic blast.

I’ll begin with Lochlan Cardigan.

I’m not sure why this design grabbed my attention so completely, but it has. I can’t stop thinking about how I want to wear it. How I could wear it. With everything. Lochlan is knit in a DK blend of merino, silk, and cashmere with an interesting textured stitch pattern. It is cozy, tailored, warm, and light-weight. What more could one ask for with a transitional layering piece? It even comes with a hood!

Everything about this design has me wanting to give up sleep and make it already. I know when I finally do cast-on and knit one for myself, I will be adding pockets to make it an even more perfect cardigan!

Ok, next are the three shawls that I love. Wiley, Mayella, and Junius.

I find shawls to be versatile, they aren’t as picky about gauge as a sweater and are often nice projects for those skeins of special yarn you just had to adopt. They can range from incredibly light and delicate to warm and comforting. They’re priceless to pull out when the AC is blasting or you just spilled coffee on your shirt. Again. They make great gifts and you don’t have to worry about finding the correct size!

Wiley and Mayella interest me because they are both two-skein projects — perfect for those special yarns I’ve purchased over the years. They allow for considerable customization choosing subtle similar shades or bold contrast to change the look! These designs require only one colour in use at a time, making them easier for when your brain wishes it was on vacation. Junius is a beautiful shawl. The photos do not do it justice. I saw the sample at TNNA (I forgot to take photos!) and everything about it — light, airy, snuggly, and the shaping means you can focus on being, not constantly fixing to make it stay on. Plus knitted in a sportweight it’ll go fast even with it’s larger size.

Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy!

Warm Days, Cool Knits: Lighter Designs for Every Season
By Corrina Ferguson
Interweave/F+W; $24.99
Learn more: http://bit.ly/1F9XDku
Ravelry pattern overview page