This year, I’ve definitely been switching up my knitting hobby a bit to focus on making things that will get more use living here in Phoenix, AZ. I mean, as much as I love knitting chunky sweaters, It’s a bit of a bummer that I can only wear them for a couple weeks out of the entire year.
The nice thing about using thinner yarn for smaller pieces is a) it’s usually less expensive and b) the projects still don’t take a ton of time because, well, the tops aren’t very big (just the way I like them). But, since I want to share more of my knitting projects on here, I want to do more blog posts on my recent test knits along with yarn details and styling notes.
This Cordelia Bandeau is actually my fourth knit summer top (I’ll share the others soon). This was a test knit for @gorillaknits and I made the size Large. If I made it again, I would actually size down to the Medium.
I used Dragon Hoard Yarn Myth Fingering in Unseelie Court and I made the whole top with less than one skien, about 340 yards total. I am totally in love with the colorway for this top.
The total time for this top probably took between 15-20 hours with the lace section being the most time consuming. Once I got to the stockinette, the rest of the top went fairly quickly.
I consider myself to be a somewhere between a beginner and intermediate knitter and had no problem completing this top. It was my first go at knitting a lace pattern, but the instructions were clear. As long as you’re able to keep track of stitches and where you are in the pattern, I would think any level of knitter could complete this top without a problem.
I’ve never been an avid blocker of my knits, but this top needed it. Especially beacause of the lace, blocking will ensure the pattern lays flat and doesn’t curl at the bottom.
I styled this top with my favorite pair of denim shorts, a bracelet stack, a vintage belt, and my two favorite gold necklaces but I think this top would also look cute with a pair of wide leg jeans and platform sandals or a pair of straight leg jeans, booties, and a western style belt.
