Knitch Magazine

As we enjoy the spring weather and look forward to the warmer days of summer, our thoughts turn to how we can enhance our knitwear collection to keep up with the latest trends. We know what the haute couture designers have set as the newest styles. But for knitwear projects, we must turn to our favorite yarn companies and designers to see what they are featuring for spring and summer.

First off, check out the lovely fashions from Rowan and their stable of talented designers. Right in step with the renewed interest in prints and striping, we can enjoy the stylings of new Rowan designer Grace Melville. Her Denim Sun Sweater Dress is a clever take on intarsia featuring four complementary yarn shades in a lovely print design. Also notice the popular just-above-the-knees length too. Or if you prefer the unstructured retro look, take a peek at the unusual and oh-so clever Kidsilk Haze Vision Shrug. And for those who love the lacy, crocheted look, you can enjoy the flowing lines of the Fantasy Crocheted Jacket that is also unstructured and loose-fitting. One final terrific unstructured example is the Savannah Pampas Top from Senior Designer Marie Wallin. A cross between a top and a vest, this lovely piece is truly multi-seasonal and a great layering item too.

Another Britisher superstar known world-wide is Debbie Bliss with her classic lines and love of fashion, and her spring & summer designs are truly outstanding. The retro lines of her Prima Cap Sleeved Top echoes the lovely striped tops of decades past, while her Angel Lace Edged Tunic is airy, lightweight and unstructured for an easy fit. Then look at beautifully Debbie combines the A-line trend with her love of cables in the Bella Moss Stitch & Cables Top. Even a touch of the romantic is quite evident in her spring/summer designs as with the feminine ruffling added to the Bella Flounce Jacket and the open-weave, delicate beauty of the Angel Lace Capelet, perfect as a shoulder accent even well into the fall.

Next another influential designer who has inspired lovely additions to our wardrobes for years is Gedifra Creative Director Karola Gottwald. For unstructured lines, you can’t go wrong with her sensational, easy-fit Amara Lace & Rib Cardigan or the classic, loose fit of the Pertinio Simple Jacket. And auto-striping yarns are taken to a new level with her Fiorista Ribbed Top. But perhaps her most innovative use of striping comes in her stunning Violena Striped Vest where she uses bright, narrow stripes contrasted with a darker background. The result is a high-fashion look that is extremely flattering and wearable.

Of course, Eisaku Noro is another of our favorite fiber artists who always brings his own special touch to any season, and his styles for spring and summer are terrific also. Our favorite creations from him this season are the Nobori Cabled Tank and the Nobori Cabled Bag, both of which show how beautifully his self-striping yarns work up. But Noro’s superb fiber blends are also the inspiration for some of Jenny Watson’s most spectacular designs where she combines seasonal fashion trends with spectacular results. For instance, the loose-fitting lines of the Taiyo Long Cabled Waistcoat is a marvelous way to add a lovely vest to your collection and have a stunning, multi-seasonal layering piece too. Or if you preferred the cropped look, go with the simple yet gorgeous lines of the Sekku Tank Top.

When we turn our thoughts to American designers, then we must highlight the latest fashion creations from Berroco Creative Director Norah Gaughan and her team of designers. Auto-striping, self-patterning yarns are beautifully rendered in many of their designs for spring & summer including the Linsey Josu Pullover and the Linsey Soto Camisole. But perhaps the most spectacular of their creations is the Bayarri Jacket, which combines stripes with a superb loose fit suitable for a variety of body shapes and sizes. Or if you prefer a longer length for your easy-fit cardigans, check out the sensational lines of the Pure Pima Coscob Cardigan.

And last but certainly not least, we explore the all-American classics from Tahki Yarns. From the unstructured lines of the Warren 2-Way Jacket to the longer length of the Natural Earth Pierrepont Cardigan, this retro trend is well-represented. Then the Gracie Tank mixes the A-line swing shaping with feminine romantic embellishments at the neckline both front and back. But perhaps our favorite new Tahki design is the one-of-a-kind, innovative Ripple Remsen Twist Front Top. The front focal point where the front pieces have been twisted to resemble a mobius style makes for a truly outstanding addition to your spring/summer collection.

So as you can see, your choices from your favorite designers are many and varied for this season. And these few examples show how well your knitwear can be just as in vogue as any other part of your spring/summer wardrobe. Just choose the styles that best suit you and you’ll be ready to strut your stuff well into the fall. And we guarantee all you’ll have to do is sit back and just wait for compliments to start rolling in.