I finished the body of my second Love Note sweater and just didn’t care to start on sleeves, so I decided to wind up my yarn to make my last true summer knit, a Two Color Togue Pond Tank.
These were the last full skeins of Berroco Maya yarn that I owned and I’m so sad to see them go. I hate when a company discontinues a yarn that I love. I talked a little bit about how I use this as a less expensive alternative to Kestrel yarn but one of the questions I get asked is how I choose a yarn or determine a yarn to substitute for another. It comes down to gauge and your swatch you make for the project. You can swap out any yarn as long as you get gauge. Just know sometimes it can change the drape of the fabric. Example, the gauge for the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan was 16 x 22 inches with Aran weight yarn, the designer used a size 8 needle. Well, for my version I used DK weight yarn and size 10 needles. The result is a lighter sweater with a bit more drape to it, which is fine with me. Swatching is important because we all knit at a different gauge and you need to adjust your needle accordingly for the best fit and it allows you to see how your finished knit will turn out.
For my version of Togue Pond, I omitted a few of the short rows for shaping at the bottom and added an extra inch of length. This is the 5th time I’ve knit this pattern, so I know the adjustments I like to make and work it accordingly. I also wasn’t sure I’d have enough yarn for it to be solid blue so I took that as a sign it needed to be a two color piece. It’s also the perfect kind of piece for to wear to work while the temperatures are still crazy high in DC. I can’t believe school starts in less than a month!
Lightweight summer knits are definitely one of my favorite things to make. And this pattern will always be one I put in my queue for a satisfying quick knit. This one took me just 3 days!
Yards of Happiness 
Great tank and Love those red pants!
Any other alternatives to Kestrel since the Maya has been discontinued?
Thx!
It looks great! Love the red with the blue!
Three days, really? It looks great.
I love this. Your knits are so inspirational to me. I don’t think I would have even noticed this pattern without seeing your finished objects. Thank you!
Beautiful!!!
You look beautiful in that tank! Your posts have inspired me to knit a sweater or a tank and to use some color. Love it!
Gorgeous ❣️ I am so glad you showed us this top. I am finishing up weaving in the ends of my second tank. I used 2 strands of berroco remix light together. Worked great and gave it a nice tweed look. On the second one I used your suggestion of making less short rows in the back and making it a little longer- that was great advice also. Thanks for sharing your tips 😀💓
The colors play off each other so well! It almost looks like the red is a faux layer! So cool!
Thank you for sharing your Togue Pond tank. I bought this pattern when you first wrote about it (I think it was on MDK) and am now waiting for my yarn to come in from my LYS. Ordered a SQ of Blue Sky Fibers worsted 100% organic cotton in color Mediterranean blue💙 Hope my FO looks 1/2 as beautiful as yours😍
Love love love your tank!
Beautiful!!
Fabulous tank top!! I love the two colors:)
Beautiful top! I love to wear red and blue, too.
Love it ~ Nice stitches and it looks great on! Seriously, three days! That is SO amazing 🙂
As I commented on your IG page: Love, love, love!!!
You look so pretty in that blue and red tank. Would love a video showing how you knit so fast.
I was thinking exactly the same thing!!
You look super adorable in that! So cute!
Love your sense of color!
Do you think this top would work in a linen yarn?
The pattern was originally knit with Kestrel, a linen yarn.
So cute! Another inspiring knit.
I just wanted to let you know how much you have INSPIRED me for knitting sweaters and for using all kinds of yarn. I’m on my second sweater for myself and have knit two baby sweaters, and now (thanks to you!) I have a list of patterns that I can’t wait to try. I’ve wanted to knit colour work sweaters for my niece and nephew, but haven’t because they’re toddlers and I didn’t think that I could use anything but wool for colour work. You’ve convinced me that I should try cotton! I love that you talk about affordable yarns, in addition to expensive ones. I’ve followed you on Instagram for a little while, and am now slowly catching up on your blog. I got away from blogs over the past couple of years, but your blog has me hooked! It’s so well done. Your YouTube videos are fantastic as well. Thanks for the hard work that all of this must take! Your joy and personality really shine through 🙂 Wishing you all the best in the new school year! 😁
Thank you ☺️ and I’m glad you’re now addicted to sweaters too! And may I also suggest Knit Picks Mighty Stitch for tour niece and nephew? I’ve used it before for kids sweaters (and adult ones too) and it washes and dries nicely in the machine.
Thank you! I will definitely give it a try ☺
For a Kestrel alternative I was recommended Wool and the Gang TinaTape yarn by an LYS to make Deschain. It is not cheap either but it is cheap-ER. Dana, it is not just that your colors are bright, but your color sense that makes everything work, as Victoria said. If I took those risks it would look downright gaudy. But you never do. I think this two-color Togue Pond is my favorite. Chloe
I would have never thought to put those two colors together but you made them the perfect combo. You look spectacular in your new knit top. Now I want to make this pattern.
I know I’m responding late to this post, but I’ve found Berocco Maya in color Cheromoya on sale at Little Knits for a stellar price ($15/5 skeins): https://littleknits.com/berroco-maya-cherimoya-color-5643-full-bag-sale-5-skeins.html