Summer Crochet Projects – 5 Tips for Making Warm Weather Garments

Summer crochet projects are my absolute favorite! I love to make a lightweight summer tee or tank top. It’s probably because I live here in Florida where it’s pretty much hot all the time. But I just love crocheting warm weather garments and accessories. I love market bags, tank tops, tees, swimsuit covers, all of it. So fun!

I know some people only crochet in the winter or only crochet winter makes. So if you’re just branching out into summer crochet projects, there are a few unique concerns that you’ll want to keep in mind. As you start seeing designers posting summer crochet patterns, I just wanted to share a few of my best tips for making and using those summer items!

1. Use Lightweight Yarns

First off, use lightweight yarns. Worsted weight goes back on the shelf for me in the summer. I hardly use worsted weight at all in the summer, especially when I’m making garments. Fingering weight, sport weight, even DK weight yarns are your friend in the summer.

I love using fingering weight yarn, like I used in the Jayda Cardigan, a lightweight summer crochet cardigan (pictured above). Yes, fingering weight yarns are small but they are so nice for the summer for many reasons:

• They’re lightweight so they’re not going to be as hot.
• You can get really good stitch definition with them .
• They create fabrics with a really good drape and flow.

Garments made with lightweight yarns are going to feel good, they’re going to look good, and they’re going to flow beautifully. Whether you’re making a crochet summer cardigan, or a dress, or a swimsuit cover, you’ll want to use lightweight yarn for your summer makes.

2. Cotton Blends are Your Friend for Summer Crochet Projects

I love a good cotton blend—and 100% cotton, too—but cotton blends are my favorite. You can find cotton and acrylic, cotton and bamboo, etc.

Cotton blends are great for bags. Crochet tote bags or market bags are the one summer crochet project where you want to use a heavier yarn, like a worsted weight yarn, or even a DK. My Magnolia Market Bag (pictured below) uses Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, a sturdy worsted weight cotton yarn.

I also love to make a crochet swimsuit cover or tank top with a cotton blend. They turn out so lightweight and breathable, yet sturdy. Cotton blend garments hold up well to swimming, sun, and sweat. So cotton blends are my favorite for warm weather crochet projects.

3. For Summer Crochet Projects, Choose a Pattern with Open Stitches

For summer projects, you are going to want something with an open crochet stitch pattern, for the most part. Open, lacy stitch work is perfect for a crochet summer tank top, tee, or cardigan. Not only do these stitches look amazing, but they maximize airflow to keep you cool. So definitely look for patterns with open stitch work.

My Sarasota Tank Top (pictured above) is a great choice for summer. It uses a completely open and lacy stitch pattern. You have to wear something under it (more about this later). But it’s so cool! I can wear it in the dead of summer here in Florida, where it’s pretty hot and humid. It’s so open that it’s comfortable on even the hottest days.

This is not a complete game changer. You’re not going to be burning up in a tank top if the stitches are not open and lacy. However, if you choose a more dense stitch pattern, yarn choice is even more important. For example, my Edgewater Tank Top is not made with an open stitch. But it does use WeCrochet Comfy Worsted, a soft and cool cotton/acrylic blend that is great for garments!

4. Choose Sleeveless or Short Sleeved Crochet Garments for Summer

This may sound obvious. But you might pick up a long-sleeved cardigan and think, “Oh, it’s lightweight. I’ll be fine.” But it’s still yarn. You might still get warm. So if you’re looking to crochet a cardigan for summer, go with short sleeves, or even elbow-length or three quarter sleeves—something that is open, not a full-on, long-sleeved, winter style cardigan.

Same for your tops. I love a good three-quarter sleeve spring top. But not for summer. It’s just too much. It’s too hot. If you are somewhere where it gets pretty warm in the summer, I would go with short sleeve or sleeveless. You’re just going to feel so much better than if you tried to do something with a long sleeve.

5. Invest in Camis or Tank Tops to Wear Under Summer Crochet Garments

If you’re making lacy crochet tops with open stitches, you’ll want to invest in some camis or tank tops to wear underneath your crochet makes. Again, you’re making an item out of yarn. You’re going to be able to see through it if it’s very open. As I mentioned before, you have to wear something underneath the Sarasota Tank.

Some other tops are not quite as obvious, like my Rosie Tee (pictured above). Someone commented, “This is see-through. I can’t wear it without a tank top underneath.” I wasn’t sure what to say. The reality is, a lot of summer crochet projects with open stitch work and/or lightweight yarn are going to be kind of see-through. So I nearly always wear a cami or tank top under my crochet garments.

You can find lots of cute options from Amazon, Old Navy, or wherever you prefer to shop. These spaghetti strap tank tops are super lightweight, so they’re not going to add a lot of heat to your body. So if you’re making a lot of crochet summer tops, I recommend you invest in some lightweight tanks to wear under them.

Of course, if you’re making a swimsuit cover or something you just plan on wearing to the pool or the beach, you could wear your bathing suit underneath.

I hope you find those ideas helpful and that they will improve your experience with making and using summer crochet projects. Do you have any more tips for summer crochet? Comment below and share them. I’d love to hear from you!

Tag me on social media @twobrothersblankets when you post your summer projects! I can’t wait to see everyone’s summer makes!

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