If only I hadn’t broken my arm, I’d have spent the past few weeks making summer tops from the lovely book Knitted Tanks & Tunics: 21 Crisp, Cool Designs for Sleeveless Tops. Designer Angela Hahn’s patterns include a variety of techniques and skill levels, all using a nice selection of cotton, linen, bamboo and other cool yarns.
Several tops feature clever construction, like this one called “Charlotte”:
The techniques used in different patterns range from lace, to fair isle, to this mosaic design:
I love that there are patterns that appeal to many skill levels. Relatively new knitters could easily make this cute “Atlanta” top. I can see this as an excellent first project to teach a new knitter the basics of making a sweater.
Here’s the top want to make. I like the “Marietta” V-neck back, mirrored by a clever V-shaped insert in the front. I like the simple cable down the center, too.
A careful study of the designer’s instructions show they are well-written. Her charts are well-done, with clear symbols and detailed written instructions for special stitches. I really like Hahn’s schematics, too. They include more details and more measurements than most schematics I’ve seen. I love great schematics that enhance my ability to understand a pattern.
The other place this books excels is in the Techniques section. The directions are very well written, with fantastic photos to illustrate the techniques. Over the years I’ve been knitting, I’ve appreciated being able to learn new skills from Techniques sections like this. Well-written and well-illustrated tutorials like these have given me the confidence to try patterns that I thought were beyond my abilities. It’s so gratifying to learn new skills and be able to finish such projects!
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I’m giving away this wonderful perfect-for-summer book in a random drawing from comments left here on this post. The comment period will be open until midnight Eastern Time on Sunday, August 19th.
To enter the random drawing, simply leave a comment here on this post. Please include your contact information in your comment so I can let you know if you’re the winner. (One comment per person, please, with only one comment and email address per person.)
I can mail this book anywhere in the world as long as there are no postal or delivery restrictions.
Resources:
Angela Hahn’s patterns can be found on her Ravelry page . I also recommend her Knititude website.
This book was kindly provided by the distributor National Book Network.
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