I’m a year-round knitter. I knit at least a little bit on something almost every day of the year. I love knitting. It allows me to relax and decompress, it gives my hands something to be doing when I need it, and it makes me happy. So, knitting is part of my self-care routine.
That means that I still knit even in the summer when it is hot! I do change what I knit on the warmest days though. And I’m sharing some of my thoughts on knitting in the heat here.
4 Thoughts for Knitting in the Heat
- Pick small projects or lightweight projects. You want projects that are easy to take along and small enough not to cover your whole lap. I love having a knitting bag that will loop over my wrist or clip to a belt loop to keep the project completely out of my lap.
- Consider plant fibers like cotton, Tencel, bamboo, linen, or some blend of them. These fibers are great to wear during the heat and also feel great in your hands as you work them during the heat.
- You’ll also want simple or easy-to-memorize patterns for projects you’ll take along to picnics, get-togethers, road trips, outdoor concerts, or poolside.
- Choose your knitting needles for comfort. Some knitters prefer metal needles in the heat because they feel cool to the touch.
Here is what I knit in the summer
Socks. Socks. And more socks.
My next favorite things to knit in the heat are wool hats for winter (because winter is always coming). They are small. Easy for grab-and-go projects. Fit nicely into my smaller Kipster bag from Zoe’s Bag Boutique to clip to a belt loop or wear on my wrist. And extra bonus – can go into the Christmas basket!!!
I also love to knit cowls out of plant fiber blends. I really love a good cotton, Tencel blend. I love bamboo blends and linen blends too.
Tees are good too. Especially if you’re wanting to work on a big project. Again I normally knit these in plant fibers for summer wear. I’ve recently branched out to fingering weight sock yarn for some layering tees I plan to wear in the winter. The smaller yarn keeps a tee from feeling too bulky or warm sitting on my lap even if it does have some wool content in the yarn.
Whatever you choose to knit in the heat, I hope you can relax a bit, make time for self-care, and enjoy the summer!
