You know those strange in-between days of late summer when you’re halfway between sandals and socks, the garden is still insisting on tomatoes, and yet you’ve started eyeing up the kettle in the evenings? That’s where Joinery by Yumiko Alexander  (Published in DanDoh) really shines.

It’s not a heavy “hunker down for winter” knit, and it’s not a breezy cotton tee either, it’s that just-right layer for when the wind has a sharper edge, but you’re not quite ready to call it autumn.

We’ve been making it in a mix that feels like the knitting equivalent of that perfect late-August outfit: BC Garn Allino(50% linen, 50% cotton) paired with Kremke Soul Wool Reborn Jeans (a soft, recycled cotton blend spun from old denim). The linen gives it drape and crispness, the recycled cotton adds softness and a worn-in familiarity,  like your favourite jeans, if your jeans were light enough to drape over your shoulders instead of your legs.

And yes, I can hear you: August? Knitting sweaters? Really? But here’s the thing, knitters don’t wait for cold weather to cast on a sweater. We start now, so that when the first “it’s definitely sweater weather” day hits, we’re not frantically weaving in ends in the corner. Plus, both Allino and Reborn Jeans are plant-based blends, so your lap stays cool while you knit no wool-induced stickiness in sight.

Yumiko’s Joinery design is all about clean lines and clever structure, with subtle texture that shows off beautifully in these yarns. The panels join together like puzzle pieces, and there’s something quietly satisfying about watching it come together. It’s a project that feels mindful and slow in the best possible way, like shelling peas or brewing tea in a pot instead of a mug.

So maybe this is your end-of-summer knit. A bit of linen, a bit of denim, a shape that will take you through those early autumn days without jumping straight into “chunky cable” territory. Cast it on now, and by the time September rolls in with its cooler evenings and shorter days, you’ll have your Joinery ready — a little bridge between seasons,