Favorite Thing Friday: Summer Knitting

My first summer knitting project is complete, thanks to a head start in April and fantastic chunky cotton yarn. The Organic Sprout Tank is a quick and relatively easy top to knit given its simple design design and thick (yet, lightweight) yarn. I found the pattern in Knitting Green by Ann Budd and instantly fell in love with it’s natural aesthetic. Plus, any project with no sleeves is very appealing for someone who lives in a desert!

In only three weeks, I had a super cute tank top that goes great with both jeans and shorts!

Minty green goodness!

While the pattern is beautiful, I did run into a few problems during the process. First, the diagonal ribs are a bit of a pain to maintain once the front and back are split. The pattern does not clearly explain how to continue the pattern in the midst of constant stitch decreases and increases. Let’s just say I kept my crochet hook handy so I could reverse stitches in previous rows. Second, the bottom edge of the tank top would not stop rolling. However, I solved the problem by adding a crochet chain through the bottom cast on edge. I learned that little trick when making my Derry Raglan sweater and it worked like a charm. No more rolled edge and the crochet chain actually creates a very nice finished edge.

The yarn is Classic Elite Sprout in Mint. This is seriously among my favorite yarns. The strand is super soft and uneven to create a unique texture. Despite being “super chunky” it is lightweight and breathes easily. I love it so much, I’m going to use the left overs to make a little blanket for my dog. It’s perfect yarn for a little dog that loves to snuggle!

Up next, I’m getting ready to cast on my next project: Box Pleat Scoopneck. I went nuts for this pattern the first time I saw it and I can’t wait to get started!

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What’s your favorite thing this week?

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c.b.w. 2014