Eyelet Cardi knit along starts August 21st

Photo courtesy of Bonne Marie Burns - Chic Knits

Driving Elizabeth back to college this morning, fields of brown corn stalks reminded me that summer is coming to a close. While it’s not officially fall until late September, now is the time you need to get started on a wonderful transitional garment. You want something that will give you the look of fall but still feel cool during our inevitable Indian summer--something light weight in a rich autumn tone.

My favorite transitional fiber is a blend of silk and wool – these two fibers combine to make a light and breathable yarn in saturated colors. Two terrific and very different options are Silky Wool, by Elsebeth Lavold and Silk Blend by Manos del Uruguay. Silky Wool has a subtle texture –flecks of silk give it a slightly tweedy effect that shows off fancy stitches and makes even stockinette stitch interesting. Garments knit in Silky Wool have excellent drape and are very light. Manos Silk Blend is a smooth, single ply - the silk gives the yarn an overall sheen and very saturated colors. A semi-solid kettle dyed yarn, Silk Blend also looks great in a wide variety of stitches. Both Silky Wool and Silk Blend make garments that are a pleasure to knit and a joy to wear.

Cardigans are a natural choice for transitional piece. Not only are they easy to slip on and off, they’re perfect for layering. Wear it over a sleeveless tank, then a crisp blouse, then a turtleneck as temperatures drop. You’ll be able to wear the same sweater the entire season. One of my favorite pieces is the Eyelet Cardigan from Bonne Marie Burns. Worked in one piece from the neck down, it's super-easy to vary the sleeve length and the body length to suit you. You can just try it on as you go.