So I’m thinking about summer sweaters, and what jumps into my path right on its annual cue? Crochet. Namely, these two cuties from Wool and the Gang, both simple as can be—
TOP: Walking On Sunshine Sweater, which is just so much beachy goodness that I find myself wanting it even though it’s all the things I don’t like on me! (Boatneck, drop-shoulder, wide sleeves … and yet.)
BOTTOM: Hot in Here Dress, which is tunic length, but I would do it cropped and bigger/boxier (And wear with a tank or camisole underneath!)
I’ve still never knitted/crochted a WATG pattern but I’m super into that recycled denim yarn used for the top one, while the bottom one has me wondering whether you could crochet with Kestrel. Anyone ever tried it?
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PREVIOUSLY in New Favorites: Baby cardigans
I have never knit or crocheted Kestral, but I have seen it , and more to the point, I have crocheted miles and miles of grannies. Kestral is a fairly heavy yarn, with some texture because of its structure. Whereas the knit stitch is one two sided loop looping into another two sided loop, the crochet stitch is three strands, twisted about each other; a crochet stitch is therefore inherently chunkier than a knit stitch made with the same yarn. To be a garment, and wearable on the normal curvy woman’s body, crochet needs to be a bit loose and flexible. Crocheting kestrel would produce big very thick grannies that would not flatter many bodies. HOwever, crocheted kestrel would make a seriously great bag, and might satisfy your desire to try crocheting it.
Quince makes a lighter weight linen which wouod be perfect, if you wanted to remain with that brand
I have to say that to me crochet speaks more of cold weather than warm. As Ellen says, it produces a thicker fabric than equivalent knitting. Warm weather crochet would need to be very fine for me to be comfortable wearing it.
I think it depends how much densely crocheted and how openness to the stitch pattern. A granny square being different from rows of dense single crochet or whatever.
I’m pretty sure you can crochet with any fabric. Some even crochet with recycled plastic ;-)
I tried that a few years ago, without success, but still love the idea! I saw a bag like that in a classroom just the other night and it reminded me of my failed attempt … need to try again someday.
What Ellen said…crochet tends to make a dense fabric. Walking on Sunshine looks very warm to me, not summery. If you make Hot in Here, and are planning to wear a tank or cami underneath, I would use a lighter yarn and a bigger hook…much like they advise you to knit lace with larger needles for an airy look. I think Churchmouse has a scarf pattern that is just single crochet, but a fine yarn and a giant hook make it look wispy.
This lovely cardi has been in my queue for a while: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reina-cardigan
Lion Brand has been creating more and more crochet patterns. http://www.lionbrand.com/nsearch/?q=jeans%20patterns
Ohhhhh, I like these…especially the top one….
I love the Hot in Here (as much as I hated that song)!
I’ve tried crocheting with Kestrel, and while it looks really pretty it’s pretty heavy and doesn’t have the same drape that knitted Kestrel does. Plus the tape yarn gets pretty twisty pretty quickly. But Willet looks stunning crocheted!
Willet is a great idea.
What if you did the walking on sunshine as a cardigan? Leave the center front seam open. Good for air conditioned buildings in summer
I’m in pullover mode, but that would be cute!
Yes, I’ve knitted a sweater in that watg recycled denim yarn (as part of your top down knit along). I got a gauge which seemed about right and looked like a normal density. I noticed that the knitting was a bit heavy as I went but my brain didn’t connect that what I was actually knitting was a piece of armour. I think that’s why all their garments in it are really loose gauge / crochet etc. I’ve ripped the whole thing out and will eventually knit another sweater with it, but about 3 needle sizes up.
I have the kit for the little shorts and need to pull it out and swatch one of these days …
I have crocheted with Kestrel and it is not easy to crochet with. There is no give. Also, the texture of the yarn makes the stiches look lumpy and uneven. The colors are beautiful and it’s gorgeous for knitting.
That’s how I imagine it, so I was surprised to see them doing a crochet pattern with a tape yarn, but I imagine the character of the two yarns is probably completely different.
In my experience, you must buy the whole WATG kit in order to get the pattern. Their marketing and packaging is very compelling. I bought one of their kits, but haven’t made it yet. One of these days….
Oops, scratch that. I thought it was referring to the Spanish company We Are Knitters (WAK). Don’t know if you can get patterns separately from WATG.
Is there typically a delay in WATG posting its patterns to Ravelry? I don’t see it there yet; I wouldn’t complain* if they didn’t sell the pattern without the yarn but I’d like to favorite it so I don’t forget.
* ok, maybe I would.
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