How You Made It: Tropicana

Tropicana, from knitonthenet Issue 6 is a gorgeous summer top, designed to be dressed up or down with a 1970s hippy vibe to it. Made with a merino and silk blend, sport weight yarn, Tropicana features a delightful lace pattern called Pear and Trellis. By inserting a ribbon the lace of the bottom part of the top is delineated from the ribbing at the top. Designer, Just call me Ruby's original sunshine-yellow Tropicana is pictured above.

There have been some great interpretations of Tropicana such as the one below by Marial from Rockford, Illinois who knitted most of hers on the bus using a lovely lavender shade of yarn.

CottonCandy404's Tropicana. Image copyright CottonCandy404.

Ameri from Japan knitted her Tropicana entirely from yarn she had spun herself on a drop spindle. No mean feat!

Tropicana Vest by Ameri. Image copyright Ameri.

Italian knitter, Eleonora made some adjustments to the original pattern for her own take on Tropicana. You can read her pattern notes on her Ravelry page.

Greenie Vest. Image Copyright June-.

Arianwen knitted a super-sunshiney Tropicana for herself, adding an extra pattern repeat to make it a little longer, and will be knitting one each for her daughters too.

Tropicana NaKniSweMoDo 4 by Arianwen. Image copyright Arianwen.

I hope that these great versions have inspired you to knit one of your own, and if you have already knitted Tropicana, we would love to see how it turned out too.

Happy knitting
Ingrid

How You made It: Evangeline

Evangeline is a gorgeous hat pattern from Issue 10 of knitonthenet. Designed by Just call me Ruby this quick knit is inspired by 1920s and 30s cloche hats. If you remember the wonderful BBC series, The House of Eliott you may have guessed that this pattern was named after Louise Lombard's character.

The construction of Evangeline is updated from the interwar originals in that short rows and seamless shaping are used. The hat is also knitted in contrast to many original patterns which were crocheted. Evangeline is the perfect hat on which to show off a lovely vintage button too.

There have been some great examples of the hat made already on Ravelry: here are a few which have caught my eye.



























MandaR's Tempting Evangeline. Image copyright, MandaR

Amanda from Scotland knitted her Evangeline in Babylonglegs' Purple Tempest and shows off a really gorgeous button in an Art Noveau style.

Hazel from Kent has made two Evangeline hats as seen below, and has included some useful pattern notes on her Ravelry project page too




























KnitYoga's Evangeline Hats. Images copyright KnitYoga.

We'd love to see your versions too: drop me a line.

Ingrid

ingrid(at)knitonthenet(dot)com

Pillbox Hats

Pillbox Hat by JustcallmeRuby. Image copyright knitonthenet.

A pillbox hat is a small woman's hat with a flat crown and straight, upright sides. This style was very popular in the 1940s and was often worn with a veil. Historically they have been used as part of women's military uniform, but were popularised by the US First Lady, Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. More recently, Carla Bruni, the First Lady of France has also been seen wearing a pillbox hat.

Pillbox Hat by JustcallmeRuby. Image copyright knitonthenet.

JustcallmeRuby's Pillbox Hat, from knitonthenet Issue 2 is a striking example of this style, which instead of being constructed from a frame and fabrics, is knitted and crocheted. Made in double knitting weight wool, is a great project to show off some vintage buttons on the side flaps.

knitonthenet reader Amy from Leicester made this lovely purple version as her Christmas hat. Using a 'mystery yarn' and some matching chenille for the side-flaps, she made her hat in just three days.

Xmas Hat by Amyjaneb on Ravelry. Image copyright Amyjaneb.

Ravelry user, Loveable created a grey version of the Pillbox Hat and used a great button which gives echoes of the military look.

Pillbox Hat by Loveable on Ravelry. Image copyright, Loveable.

If you would like to make your own Pillbox Hat, please do visit the pattern page, and don't forget to show us your finished object too by adding your images to the Flickr pool, posting them on our Facebook page or sharing them with the knitonthenet Ravelry group.

Ingrid

How you made it: Lydia Scarf

Lydia Scarf by LazyKate Image © knitonthenet

The Lydia Scarf, from knitonthenet Issue 3 is a pretty scarf knitted in DK weight yarn. Designed by LazyKate, her original coral-coloured scarf is pictured above.

There have been some great interpretations of the scarf such as these two by Rhona from Sheffield:

Aunty Agnes' Scarf by Cryinglion (Ravelry link)

Another Lydia Scarf by Cryinglion (Ravelry link)

Nancy from California used a yarn with a long colour change to make her Lydia Scarf giving it a whole new look:

Lydia Scarf by yarnadjuster (Ravelry link)


Lydia Scarf with Flowers by LazyKate (Ravelry link)

If you like the Lydia Scarf, then you may also like LazyKate's Lydia Flowers pattern (pictured above) which complements it beautifully.

There's still time to knit one for Christmas, you know...

Ingrid
editorial assistant