Help, need advice please

Hi everyone,
I’m in need of advice please. Going through the menopause and winter gone I found my usual dk jumpers too much. I would love to knit something lighter but not lace. What yarn would give me a light result. Any advice would be great and very much appreciated as I love to knit.
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A post was split to a new topic: Problem with pattern

Hello
I’m making a sweater at the moment that is very light. I was given some yarn and had to work out what to do with it and initially I didn’t think I could find anything I was happy with but I’ve settled on something eventually.
The yarn is a bamboo cotton mix, it is light soft, I have used this mix in DK weight before and liked it but the yarn I was given is called number 1 weight so it’s fingering weight. I thought I’d need small needles but actually ended up with 3.5mm which is making a lovely light stretchy fabric. I’m using a pattern which is just stockinette v neck but I’ve chosen to add a garter stripe up it. No lace.
Maybe you could try something like this?

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Thanks for replying, did you knit to a Dk pattern?

Here is a pattern I’m working on
https://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=8620&cid=17 I’m using DK weight yarn Drops Belle. I also suffer from being hot all the time. And sweaters are not in my wardrobe anymore a have few cardigans that I can take off as needed.

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Welcome to KnittingHelp!
Cotton/linen blends are very nice in summer. The linen lightens up pure cotton yarn which can sometimes be heavy. Openwork stitch patterns (not lace as such) are also nice.
I’ve used Juniper Moon Farm Zooey and Hempathy which are cotton/ linen blends although closer to worsted weight.
Berocco Modern Cotton DK is a blend that works nicely too.

I’m using a Drops pattern for fingering weight yarn, it’s this one


You’ll see the needle size is 3mm for the main body but I’m using 3.5mm. If I hold the fabric up with light behind I can see through it but it is not what I’d call a see through top and no lace holes, just a soft lightly open stocking stitch.
I’m not using the yarn given in the pattern because I was given yarn and just found a pattern to make with it.
My garter stripe is just knit 3 rows purl 1 row, very simple.

Maybe just buy one or two yarns in a single ball to see if you like the yarn and fabric produced on different size needles, and if you feel okay knitting it if you are not used to the thinner weight. It did take me several practises with it to find a fabric gauge I liked but I became more familiar with the yarn as I went. I chose the plain knit top because I don’t think I’d manage very well to make cables or lace in this yarn.

Drops label their yarns in groups, group A is fingering weight and you can search on their site for the yarn group and knitting tension 23 - 26 sts then check on the pattern for the gauge and that is not yarn held double or held with a second strand of another weight.

You can also search on raverly if that’s a site you use.

I’ve used a cotton linen blend before and it is nicer, softer than just cotton, but I’d say the bamboo cotton mix is even softer. Different makes must feel different too though and I haven’t tried them all.

The Flax sweater from Tin Can Knits is a great top down raglan. https://ravel.me/flax-sock free download on Ravelry
Comes in 3 yarn weights and many sizes are included.
If you get the Tin Can Knits app you can set up for just the size you want in the yarn weight you using. You will also have access to many helpful tutorials if you get stuck.

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Starlight1,
You’ve come to the right place - I have been on this forum for a number of years and it has been a lifesaver more times than I can count! Welcome!

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In addition to the plant fibre suggestions, you might think about different styles which have more ventilation? Such as open front cardigans, or open sided patterns.
Also, there is a big variation in the weight of DK yarn depending on the spin. So some come out at 200m per 100 g and others, more at 300 m per 100g, which gives a much lighter result (although that still might be too warm for you in summer) . I’ve knit the same garment in drops lima and BC garn loch Lomond, and they are very different! Also chained yarn constructions or blown yarn (a cotton tube with fibres blown into it) can also be lighter in weight but knit up at the same gauge.

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