Join us for the Color Packs & Stash Scraps Knit-along from Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2016!

Tessie is a girl’s name of Greek & English derivation that means “late summer”. I stumbled upon it as the name for this little sweater as I was thinking along the lines that “putting on this little wardrobe piece that covers my shoulders & upper arms makes me feel ‘fully dressed’.” Which made me think of the song “Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” from the musical “Annie”, which made me think of the orphans in the story. And one of those orphans is named “Tessie”. Which means late summer…..which reminds me of this little sweater!

Are you dizzy yet? Then maybe you should consider relaxing with a new knitting project. Summer might still be a little far on the horizon to my friends in the northern hemisphere, but if you get started on a new summer sweater now, you’ll definitely have time to finish it before the weather will be right to use it! And the chill that is currently in the air will remind you that although summer is blessedly hot in many places, even the hottest climates have air conditioned buildings that seem like the Abominable Snowman himself is in control of the thermostat.

Don’t let the Yeti continue his reign of freezing cold terror. Save yourself and your daughters by knitting this little cardi to throw over chilly shoulders when summer weather turns cool or doesn’t follow you indoors.

The Yarn:
One Combo Pack of Mad Hatter 100% Merino yarn from Frabjous Fibers. (1 full skein “Tea Tray” • 340 yds / 4 oz + 1 mini skein gradient pack “Mimsy” • 430 yds /142g total • 5 mini skeins / 86 
yds each
MC: 210 (230, 240, 260, 280, 300, 320, 340) yds
CC: 300 (325, 340, 355, 370, 390, 410, 430) yds

Other Materials:

• US Size 3 / 3.25mm circular needle
• US Size 4 / 3.5 mm circular needle
• Pair of US Size 3 / 3.25mm dpns (optional)
• 4 traveling & 4 stationary stitch markers
• Yarn needle

“Intermediate” Techniques Used:
• Reading colorwork charts
• Knitting flat
• “Make 1” Increases
• Decreases (K2tog & modified SSK)
• Working with 2 strands of yarn per row (color transitions are stranded. Solid stripes between transitions use only 1 color of yarn.)
• Picking up stitches
• Working a charted pattern while working neckline shaping from written instructions

Many thanks to Doro11 & Niveknits who did a beautiful job test-knitting this pattern. I appreciate all the time your put into this project, ladies, and I am very thankful for all your feedback!