7 KNITTED SUMMER TOPS - a Mel Makes Stuff review

[@tamarafinkelstein4719]

I think you are one of the best knitting podcasts out there. So informative and interesting. It is SO helpful to hear your thoughts about all the little details and decisions that go into a finished piece. I just wanted to say a big thanks for putting so much useful info (with amazing editing) into each of your episodes. I can’t wait to see more! Please don’t stop podcasting!!

[@melmakesstuff]

Thanks so much Tamara, I really appreciate the nice feedback!

[@ptty44]

Yay, thanks for the recommendations of patterns and yarns. It's really helpful to hear about all the different properties that non wool yarns have and how this affects your knitting and finished fabric and garments.

[@melmakesstuff]

So glad this was helpful!

[@virginnocence]

Was hoping for a video like this! I love how popular knitting is getting

[@allinsonsherratt418]

I bought Ginkophyte a while ago as it's a beautiful pattern - your comments are really helpful. Thanks

[@Zendemic42]

Yes I am considering it, since it is just gorgeous. Saw it also in her plant fibres video.
Did you make it yet?

[@valturner2151]

As always, love your attention to detail and honesty about the possible negatives all around. Great video!

[@florenna]

Cotton is actually my preferred yarn all year round, but especially in the summer, I just can't fathom how anyone can do wool *in the summer* ;D So, accordingly I love to see knitting videos of summer projects & yarn other than wool.

[@diblust53]

Morning Sky by Heidi Kurmaier is a really pretty short sleeve top. I’m making it with Berrocco Vintage dk, an interesting blend of acrylic, wool, and nylon. Big Wave is a sleeveless top also by Heidi K.

[@LVXMagick]

Those are gorgeous! I actually never thought of knitted and summer together until just recently. Happy to learn I can make things for summer too. Thank you!🙏

[@maryannschleer1176]

I really like the reviews, I learned a lot about pattern choices and yarn selection. Thank you!! I hope to see more reviews by you.

[@TrudySchwartzBurrill]

Great info.. I’m new to your channel. I subscribed immediately after watching the 5 ways to join linen yarns. Thanks so much I will be watching you from now on and going back and watching everything that I dined interesting. The x details you provide are fabulous.

[@knittingthestash]

fun to see all of the variety. I have been toying around with making another summer top and the one you are wearing (the Lydia) for the majority of the episode.

[@marielaiten6760]

Wow! Thank you very much for the recommendations. I just found your channel and it’s the first time I hear someone describe how the yarn behaves in a finished garment. Usually I like to try different yarn to the one recommended in a pattern. I’m a advanced beginner

[@fujimaylor4614]

Wow, I love all of those beautiful patterns. Thank you for your sharing

[@kasiamichalec2305]

I love your podcast and the informative content and sharing your feedback about your projects with us. Cheers from Alberta Canada.

[@audreyofnuthatchhill]

It's getting to be about that time -- time to choose a summer project! Thank you for making this detailed video. The close looks and honest insights about your different projects were very helpful. I shared it with a few friends, too. I'd love to know what summery projects to chose to make this year, too.

[@melmakesstuff]

I'm getting the itch for a summer project too! Still deciding on a pattern, there are so many nice ones...

[@klxzz]

Can't wait to come back to this video once I finally get actually comfy with knitting like I do crocheting. But... let's see if I remember to come back to this next summer. Only reason I wanted to learn how to knit is to do summer tops (Texas is brutal).

[@Zendemic42]

Maybe it is time to come back now? :)
I am learning more knitting too and want to make one of these tops - perhaps the Ginkophyte if it is not too difficult!

[@MrMonet111]

Great insights! Thanks! Used Dan Doh cotton and silk for Petite Knits Anker Tee. Great yarn.

[@libellula3313]

Thanks for your information. I just put the Ginkgophyte in my favorites on Ravelry. I find it really helpful hearing someone explain the order or knitting garments.

[@forthefunofknit5322]

Great video- thank you for the patter reviews… added 4 to my must make list…yikes…I need more arms🤗. Have a great day- Linda.

[@Jules-ce8jl]

I watched this video last summer and came back here to comment that I saw the Katia Cotton cashmere on sale (50% off!!) the other day at the store and had Mels voice in my head "You should get hold on this stuff if you can" , so thats what I did. 😅 Now I need to figure out what pattern to make with it . 😊 Thanks for your very informative videos, they obviously leave a lasting impact on my brain. ;)

[@carolbyrne45]

Loved this video, so helpful regarding patterns and yarn choices. There goes another 2 in my queue 😂

[@ShowandTellknitting]

This was a great topic for a podcast. I'm always on the lookout for summer knits so I can knit year round. As Spring approaches, I'm gearing up for summer with a 1930s pattern called Slit Neckline. The yoke has cut outs and wedge shapes that link to a neckband: very unusual. I'm using a Cotton/Bamboo blend from GoodLoops and will be hosting a knit along with a discount for the yarn, for those who have never knit a sweater in pieces.

[@melmakesstuff]

Fun! I don't do a ton of knitting from vintage patterns but there are a lot of beautiful ones from that era.

[@littlebigknits]

Your videos are always great Mel!!

[@GrownToCook]

That was so helpful, Mel, thank you! I’ve just finished my first summer knit - Vellichor in Coast yarn which is a cotton/wool blend but it’s very thin and the resulting fabric is very light (without being see through). I would love to knit with linnen next as I love linnen fabrics for summer, so this video gave me lots of ideas ❤️

[@melmakesstuff]

I love the Vellichor pattern and want to try that one out! Maybe I'll give Coast a try.

[@GrownToCook]

@@melmakesstuff Nice to hear from you, Mel - I miss your videos :)

[@chelseyummali]

Please make a video about knitting with cotton and linen (plant fibers) I live in a hot climate and get so bummed when I hear people say, don’t use cellulose fiber with cables or patterns or lace, stick to a simple stockinette…blah how boring! I just get frustrated that I have all these patterns I feel I can’t do because it’s just not realistic for me to have tons of wool garments. Btw I’m watching these for the second time lol.

[@melmakesstuff]

It's coming Umm Ali, I promise!! I have it on my plans as a special episode for the next few months as everyone is gearing up for summer :-)

[@allinsonsherratt418]

I use 100% cotton all the time & the only issue I've found is it can feel heavy. Just done a v neck cable top. If I don't like it after wearing it, I'll frog it. Lost a lot of weight recently & I've frogged loads where I've knitted totally the wrong size😂
Just try a pattern - you'll know if it works fairly quickly.

[@victoriacutler3612]

Hi. Just found you and I really enjoyed your format. Great information , clearly presented.

[@mrscraftalot]

Great video. I really appreciate hearing such honest reviews. I want to like knitting with linen but so far, do not. The biasing does drive me a little bit nuts and also my knitting is not entirely even and linen shows the flaws so much, I think. I’d love to try that Katia yarn someday.

[@melmakesstuff]

I totally get it. Blocking will help a LOT with the tension in the finished fabric, but it's sometimes hard when you're in the middle of the project and not liking the process.

[@tracihall7083]

thank you this is so helpful

[@maxinebleiweis2110]

I'm making Sayer by Julie Hoover and loving the detail that she includes in all her patterns. I'm using Zooey and not finding a pooling issue (yet!).

[@melmakesstuff]

That's a beautiful top - I think my sister has made that one twice now so it's in my mental queue!

[@karolm4901]

I'm knitting petiteknit's Anker's Summer Shirt right now :) First time knitting with a plant based yarn: Sandnes Garn Line

[@melmakesstuff]

Love the look of that pattern! Adding Sandnes Garn Line to my list of summer yarns to try 😊

[@suzannescott7724]

Do you think you could ever do a video on how to convert a flat pattern to in the round? I’ve never seen a video on it? I would love to do the autumn pullover and i know people have converted it but I’ve never seen a video on it. You do a great job at explaining!! Thx!!

[@melmakesstuff]

Thanks for the suggestion! Yes, I can absolutely do a video on this, that’s a great idea. I’m working on a colorwork cardigan conversion from flat to in the round right now, but it’s a paid pattern so it might not be the best for explaining in detail if I can’t give out the stitch counts. I’ll put this at the top of my upcoming ideas list, thanks 🥰

[@suzannescott7724]

@@melmakesstuff - the autumn pullover is a t-shirt style “free” pattern that a lot of people have made. Some have converted but never told how they did it. Perhaps you can use that as an example? Maybe not make it if you don’t want but use as the sample to talk about? IDK let me know!! Thank you!!

[@8531022]

So helpful! Thank you ☺️

[@chelseyummali]

Mel I’m a new knitter. I’m also a covering Muslim so I wear long sleeve year round. I live in a hot/humid east southern climate. I’m still new to yarns as well and although I’m familiar with fibers as a clothing maker I’m n experienced with wools. I’ve heard wool is surprisingly great for hot weather as it wicks moisture. At the same time it retains heat. We all know cotton is highly recommended for hot weather but you don’t see seasoned knitters using cotton often. I have used a worsened Moreno/cotton blend for a hat and feels very warm. If you chose to wear knitted sweaters in the spring/summer what kind of yarn would you prefer? And do you find the weight of the yarn has an impact on coolness?

[@melmakesstuff]

Hi Umm Ali! Thanks for asking, these are good questions. For summer garments, I personally usually use 100% cotton or linen - the garments made from these fibers are easy to care for (I often wash them in my washing machine on delicate) so that’s an important factor when I’m getting sweaty in the summer. Other plant-based yarns like bamboo or tencel would also keep you cool. Wool blends can really vary in terms of coolness/warmth, some of them do wick and are fine in the summer (in my opinion) - fingering weight sock yarn will usually work. Wool/cotton blends can go either way… I tend to go by the “feel” in those cases, if it feels smooth it might be okay in hot weather, but if it’s fuzzy at all I tend to avoid it for a hot weather garment. As far as the weight, I find that heavier yarns (worsted and up) do feel heavier on the body, but if they are majority plant fiber, that can counteract the heat. I have a few garments made out of Aran weight 100% linen and I love those for summer. I hope that helps!

[@melmakesstuff]

One other thing - if you decide to try a cotton or linen yarn, I’d really recommend using a wooden needle instead of metal. The plant fibers don’t have nearly as much elasticity as wool and they can be a bit hard on the hands, and I find that a wooden needle helps with that since the needles have a bit of “give” in them.

[@chelseyummali]

@@melmakesstuff thanks so much your comments have been super helpful. I actually recently picked up Irish cottage knitting as I mentioned in one of your other videos and I'm really enjoying it. Of course it may have it's limitations on patterns because of knitting flat but I wonder if this would work better for cottons and linen and being easier on the hands. I do have some mild carpal tunnel from years of tie dying fabric and it flared up a bit at the end of my pregnancy 3 months ago. Thankfully chiropractic has been helping so I was a bit concerned with knitting cotton or linens but do love the feel of them personally. I crochet as well and cotton is my favorite to crochet with. I appreciate your time.

[@tuesdaygrey4752]

Great vid! What top are you wearing in this? Thanks!

[@mcoknits856]

I enjoyed this podcast. What would be helpful to me as I have much more experience Knitting with wool than cotton is pointers about knitting with cotton, linen etc. Do you need it to a tighter gauge? Are there any other changes you make so that these fibres keep their shape as they have less memory then Wool.

[@melmakesstuff]

What I have found is that patterns written for cotton/linen etc. sometimes use what I would consider to be too loose of a gauge for the type of yarn. If my swatch at the pattern gauge looks like the fabric is too loose and could stretch out of shape, I'll either do math to knit the pattern at a tighter gauge, or try to find a thicker plant fiber yarn to sub in.

[@maninhadeni]

Love ,love it love