I’m always fascinated with trends. As anyone who knows me knows, I’m not big on keeping up with trends. I like knowing about trends, just not all the effort around keeping up on them.

If you’re like me, or if you just like a reminder, here are a few trends worth keeping in mind as you plan your Spring and Summer 2017 crafting.

Sashes

This is made for crafters – shawls and scarves FTW!

Give your outfit a pop of color – look at those neons below. Or update your wardrobe with khaki, florals or stripes.

Check out a few of our free patterns…

Neons

This is a great way to instantly update your look. Or go crazy and make a statement with a whole outfit (you’d be braver than me!)

Adding neons to your crafting gives you a great excuse to buy some new yarn. Just remember to care for it a bit more. Store it away from the sunlight and hand wash when you can.

You can also read the advice from Liz at gnarledpaw in her interview.

Off-the-Shoulder

If you lived through the Flashdance era (like me), this is the first thing you think of.

But, off-the-shoulder means:

• less fabric
• cooler wearing

And if you want a bit more coverage, put on one of your shawls to cover up a bit more.

Also, wearing a T-shirt with an off-the-shoulder aesthetic and topping it with a shawl is a great way to update your look.

Khaki

The opposite of neon, khaki is creeping up everywhere.

I always think about military or khaki pants, but there really are a lot of options. It’s just about the yarn you choose.

Here’s an idea that pairs a light green with khaki. I like this combo because it’s unexpected.

Yellow and Blue

If neon isn’t your thing, maybe adding a pop of yellow or blue is the way to go.

Or go whole hog and do yellow and blue.

Waist Cinchers

You guessed it – tie a shawl or scarf around your waist. I used to tie a small scarf around my waist when I was a teenager. Who knew I was such a trendsetter?

What Does This Mean for Crafters?

There are a few ways you can take advantage of the trends without spending too much effort on something that’s going to go away.

• Make a pair of socks – see all our free sock patterns
• Make a shawl – see all our free shawl patterns
• Make a scarf – see all our free scarf patterns

Make a pretty accessory and use one of the color trends for the season.

The Trends

If you’re trendy then this is likely old hat to you. That’s ok – repetition can be a good thing.

If some of this is new to you, then maybe you got an idea (or two). We’ve given you lots of ways to add some trend to your crafting this season.