In the mood for spring? Here you can find spring yarns 
Esther Sweater Baby 
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You can find all Maschenfein pattern here
Hello and welcome to Saturday Coffee! "It's summer no matter if you sweat or freeze, summer is what happens in your head..." you can hear the Wise Guys warbling out of the swimming pool speakers every year. Especially when it's a wet and cold, typical German July - but fortunately it doesn't look like that at the moment.
That summer can nevertheless be a question of inner attitude is something that knitting enthusiasts in particular are well aware of: let a summer piece made of mohair fly over the needles or think today about tomorrow's fall model? We knitters are creative and flexible, right?
Therefore, we have today, in addition to classic tops a - literally - colorful mix of knitting inspirations for you. Have fun with it!
A little bit of June always goes. Also in July
She did it again: the Dane Mette, better known to us all as PetiteKnit, has published a new tutorial and of course the Scandinavian chic that characterizes her designs can not be missing in any Saturday coffee.
Her June Top is a wonderfully simple strap top that should be a good starter project for beginners and experienced knitters certainly quickly from the hand or the needles. The shirt is knitted in tank top style (with slightly wider straps) from the bottom up.
You prefer to knit top down, because then you can try in between?
That's no problem either: The pattern offer an alternative method. Start in the middle with a provisional cast on and then knit down in rounds before knitting the straps at the end.
But that's not the end of the variety. Summer is not as fresh everywhere as the pictures from the far north on Mette's Instagram profile sometimes show. Maybe that's why, in addition to the somewhat heavier June Top there is another pattern, namely for the June Top Light. In this even more summery option, the back neckline is a little deeper, but still enough that the bra disappears underneath.
While the original is either single-threaded from Mandarin Natural from SANDNES GARN or two-threaded from Pure Silk KNITTING FOR OLIVE, the light version is knitted in one thread only. Pure Silk is knitted with one thread only - with correspondingly smaller needles, of course. Jule has already packed practical kits for all three versions in the store.
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June Top (Mandarin Natural)From: 19,00 €incl. VAT
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June Top lightFrom: 19,90 €
incl. VAT
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June Top (Pure Silk)From: 39,80 €
incl. VAT
One drop, three in mind, root of 43...
Knitting has a lot to do with mathematics. Admittedly, when you're knitting, it's usually enough if you can count (which sounds easier than it actually is with 228+x stitches on the circular needle...), but when it comes to designing, neither geometry nor algebra skills do any harm. Jennifer, who studied mathematics, is Knithagoras when it comes to knitwear design - in reference to the ancient Greek Pythagoras and his theorem about... well, who remembers... exactly: triangle.
Your Spring Fling Tee therefore shines not quite by chance with a sophisticated structure. The figure-hugging shirt in rib pattern is also interesting because of its shoulder area: it is worked with the so-called contiguous method, which is explained in detail in the pattern. This type of construction makes it possible to knit seamlessly top down (1st plus!) and at the same time to adjust the shoulder area to one's own body shape by increasing it accordingly (2nd plus!).
In terms of yarn selection, we're going with Jennifer's suggestion: Organic Cotton KREA DELUXE. The GOTS-certified cotton is available in lovely summery pastel shades, among others.
A declaration of love for knitting and diversity
Writing love letters is no longer so trendy in the digital age, I have the impression. On the one hand, that's a shame, but on the other hand, not everyone fell into the poetic inkwell at birth. So maybe a heart emoji is the better choice anyway.
Alexa and Emily from TinCanKnits make us a declaration of love of the woolly kind: Love Note Is a lightweight sweater that is perfect for throwing on on somewhat cool summer evenings. The sweater with the fine lace pattern is knitted top down and is kept rather short. If you still prefer it longer, just turn a few extra rounds before the cuff.
More and more designers are striving to make their designs size-inclusive, i.e. to offer a range of different sizes and thus a garment for people with the most diverse body shapes. Love Note is proof that this topic is a real affair of the heart for the Canadian sisters: the smallest size is not XS, but baby, i.e. a sweater for the age of 0-6 months. The scale goes up to 5XL. So if you want, you can knit the entire family with this design - if that's not love.
Depending on your personal feeling for warmth or when you want to wear the sweater, you can adjust the yarn selection: A little warmer and cozier you knit with Organic Wool 1 and Deluxe Silk Mohair from KREA DELUXE. More summery is the KNITTING FOR OLIVE combination from Pure Silk and Soft Silk Mohair. So really light and airy Love Note becomes single-threaded from Løvetand from CAMAROSE or Morning Salutation Vegan Fino from KREMKE SOUL WOOL.
Summer is more than pinacolada, stracciatella and sunscreen: it's getting colorful!
Yes, we love clean cuts and cream-colored shirts. But why should it not also be colorful in the summer! Our next two designs show that colorwork is not just for winter.
Caitlin Hunter lives in Alaska with her husband and three sons. So it's no surprise that she enjoys designing chunky sweaters, cowls and hats. A fashion design major, she has spent a lot of time studying traditional patterns and techniques. Under her label Boyland Knitwear she also publishes more elaborate colorwork pattern.
The fact that this technique does not have to be limited to the cool season is shown by their shirt Ghost Horses. The gorgeous piece is constructed with a round yoke over which she lets a herd of horses trot. When it comes to yarn, we recommend either using Cotton Merino from KNITTING FOR OLIVE, a real all-rounder in cotton and virgin wool, or - if you want animals only in the pattern, but not in the material - from Organic Cotton from KREA DELUXE.
The real challenge with colorwork designs is not so much the choice of material as the choice of color. To make your life and your decision easier, the Maschenfein store has been offering the "Compare colors" function on the yarn pages for some time now. You can use it to digitally place the balls next to each other and thus create the perfect harmony or the most striking color contrast - just the way you like it.
Off to the bookstore? A good idea in any weather
This feature might also be helpful for our second splash of color: Vellichor By Andrea Mowry is a relaxed shirt that's cut rather "cropped" in length, meaning relatively short. Andrea got the idea to name the structured knit piece this way while wandering through her favorite bookstores in Portland. It describes the atmosphere and very special smell in used bookstores: yes - there's actually a word for that. Etymologically, it's made up of "vellum," Latin for "parchment," and "ichor," ancient Greek for "blood of the gods." Hopefully, the knitting process will take place without any bloodshed (fortunately, even needles from CHIAOGOO are not that sharp...).
From the yarn point of view a thin summer yarn is suitable, for example Tynn Line from SANDNES GARN, of which many colors are currently in stock again. The run on the linen yarn is still unbroken. Another, also very fine option would be Puno Winikunka from PASCUALI. As for the color selection, I advise you to click through the image gallery on the tutorial page at Ravelry: Two-color makes the pattern something, but also three- or four-color you have plenty of options to let off steam creatively.
If you just thought to yourself while reading this, "That name rings a bell...", you're right. Andrea Mowry's designs are also very popular in the Maschenfein community. Her Weekender can be found at the top of the Ravelry charts. If you want to get started for the winter, you can find the corresponding knitting kit in the store. But there's now also a "light" version for summer, which I've been prancing around for a while. But until that would be on my knitting list, it's probably already time for the winter model anyway...
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WeekenderFrom: 41,40 €
incl. VAT
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The Weekender LightFrom: 59,50 €
incl. VAT
plus shipping costs
Delivery time: approx. 3-5 working days
Once Pizza Funghi - without cheese, but as slipover, please.
If you design a knitted piece, you also get to give it the name of your choice. Sure. Rikke aka Refined Knitwear doesn't tell us how she came up with her fluffy, light slipover. Fungus she doesn't tell us in the pattern. Maybe she was thinking of the soft slats hiding under the mushroom hat. Who knows...
But anyone who can throw on this delicate piece after knitting is sure to feel like a lucky person: The secret star here is the double beaded pattern, which visually contrasts the cuffs and collar. The shoulder seams are on the back, creating a soft, seamless drape in the front with dropped shoulders. The little cloud is knitted from two threads Soft Silk Mohair from KNITTING FOR OLIVE. You can work with one color or with two different shades, so that a subtle play of colors is created.
If you reserve mohair exclusively for winter (there should be, fleece or not), you will also find it at Refined Knitwear. The Linea Top is a cute little pendant from Pure Silk from KNITTING FOR OLIVE. Front and back are identical and are knitted separately first. Under the arms is then closed to the round. The vertical lines, which add a bit of clean textured style to the romantic style, are created by simple but effective turn-ups. The whole thing is held together by I-cord ribbons that are knotted over the shoulders.
Net whisper and maschenfein knitting round
The ranking of the world's most liveable cities was published again recently. Right at the top: Vienna! I can only confirm this based on numerous visits to the Austrian metropolis. Manuela is even lucky enough to live there. She is perfectly equipped for a slightly cooler evening in a Viennese pub with her new Osaka scarf.
Mary is back at the beginning, because after a small ribbing round a few days ago a new model from the Honey series of PetiteKnit was allowed to hop on the needles. This time it will be a Honey-Purse the big sister of the Honey clutchnamely from Sisu from SANDNES.
Regardless of the season, I'm currently faced with the question: monogamous or multiple projects? Actually, I belong to the faction of variety, but at the moment I'm dutifully hanging on my Cumulus Tee. It should finally be finished (... which with 2.5 needles is really dragging on...) and if I still jump back and forth - then the part does not bathe before October. But on the other hand the Girlfriendscardigan grow further and such a June Top would also not be bad and...
How are you doing there? Can you resist the temptation or do you need a change on the needles more often?
In any case, we hope that this Saturday Coffee has inspired you again - either for now or for later.
Have a great knitting weekend!
About Judith
I'm Judith and I live in the Rhineland, but everyone recognizes me as a Lower Bavarian because of my dialect and Frida, my rough-haired dachshund. As a freelance author, I am allowed to support the maschenfein team with content from time to time and combine my two great passions: Writing and knitting.
Show all posts by Judith
4 comments
What needle strength is best for fine yarns? How to read through the pattern beforehand? Before I decide to buy, I need to know whether I can and get there.
Thanks
Dear Eva, we always link to the pattern of the proposed designs - most of them lead to Ravelry and there are usually quite detailed descriptions of how to knit the design. Some designers also indicate whether it is suitable for beginners and/or which techniques are used. And if you get stuck, there are always great tips in the Maschenfein group on Facebook, for example.
In the descriptions of the designs or the yarn used, you will always find an indication of the needle size. However, this is only a rough guide. You can find out which gauge is best for you by taking a stitch test. I know: stitch tests are not necessarily fun, because you want to start right away. But especially for larger garments, you should definitely do them so that you don't end up with a sweater, shirt, etc. that's too big or too small. It would be a shame to waste all that work.
All in all, I would say: Just dare! In the worst case it means: ribbing and start over.
Best wishes and have a nice weekend, Judith
What great inspirations are shown here again. I am always very much looking forward to Saturday. Cumulus tee with needles No 2.5 is also with me on the needles. After I have unraveled da result (torso) with needles 2.75 again 🙈. I wish everyone a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, dear Michaela. This morning - just in time for Saturday coffee - my Cumulus was allowed to hop into the bath. I'm already looking forward to wearing it for the first time and keeping my fingers crossed that it will soon be time for you, too. Have a nice weekend, Judith