I know when it’s miserable out, spring and summer can seem all too far away. Fear not! Now’s the best time to start planning ahead for simple light sweaters and fun accessories to perk up any wardrobe.
(Oh gosh, did I really just write that? I’m sorry. If you’ve met me in person, you know that I’m actually a complete fashion disaster and it’s a miracle I get out of the house in the morning with my clothes on the right way round – so take my recommendations with a grain of salt. Please. Other people with more fashion sense than I will thank you.)
Every season, the fashion industry likes to pick out a color palette and inflict it on the rest of us. Wonder why everything you see in the stores is always the same few colors? Yes, it’s all decided ahead of time. This means you can get a jump start on spring knitting and still be fashion-forward.
- Image courtesy of Pantone
Spring and summer 2011 promises to be bright and sunny. Pantone have chosen their Color of the Year – a lovely pink they like to call Honeysuckle. I was afraid it was going to turn out to be hot pink, but it’s actually a much more wearable saturated blush pink. I think it’s a happy, vibrant color without being obnoxious.
The rest of the colors… well, they’ve carried over three or four almost neutral colors from fall; last year’s Color of the Year (turquoise); and some very candy-colored shades to fill in the remainder.
- Image courtesy of Pantone
So now what? What if you don’t want to surround yourself in Honeysuckle or any of the rest of these crazy shades, but you feel as if you have to fit in somehow? Enter the shawlette.
Choose a lace or sock yarn that jumps out at you, and pick a quick and fun project. Check out the list of popular shawlettes on Ravelry, or look out for new patterns. Two that have recently hopped into my queue are Alcea by Susanna IC, and Chandra by Caryl Pierre. These shades from Spud and Chloe Fine will fit into the spring palette and add a pop of color to your wardrobe.
Besides brights, the fashion industry is showcasing colors they like to call anything from “nudes” and “neutrals” to “classic lingerie colors” – that is, paler, subtle shades of cream, grey, pink, and taupe. For most of us, these are easier to wear than brights as a sweater or shell. These colors also look great in cotton and linen blends to help keep you cool.
Here are a couple of my favorite new cardigan designs for spring.
The first is called “Vives”, from Berroco booklet #307, knit in the new worsted-weight cotton-linen blend, Linsey. (The Linsey yarn offers both the bright and sunny palette that pantone suggests for spring and also the softer neutrals that make great pullovers and cardigans for cold spring nights.) I like how they’ve altered a traditional jacket style while keeping it very wearable.
Another cardigan in Linsey that I love is called “Nidden”, from the Norah Gaughan booklet #8. Not too boring to knit, not too complicated to wear – I can see this becoming a go-to wardrobe piece.
