Fiber Series: Cotton

I just can't even handle how cute this hat is. 

I love everything about it, from the polished seam decreases...

...to the I-cord ties.

Unfortunately I don't have any toddlers to try it on, so I had to model it on a growler from Canal Park Brewing Company (empty, sadly).

So here's the picture from the pattern, modeled on an actual baby.

See?? It's cute!

Pattern: Alladin
Yarn: Cotton, sport weight, something from Knit Picks that I got a million years ago, and since then I lost the label :(
Needles: Clover Bamboo Circs, size 2
 
I've made very few things with cotton, including this hat and a baby blanket, but as a knitter I like to keep myself informed about the fiber I work with. That's why I studied horticulture for 4 years. Just kidding, I did that for funzies.

cotton: yes, it's a plant.

Just like carrots. But you don't wear carrots. And you don't eat cotton. 

The most important things I learned from working at Bed Bath and Beyond is that the quality of cotton depends on the staple length (length of each individual fiber) and that Receiving is the best job in the company. The cotton I used is Gossypium barbadense, or pima (so named for the Native Americans who grew it for USDA cotton testing in the early 1900's). Pima has an extra long staple, which makes it great for knitting because the yarn won't easily break or pull apart.

Cotton is an amazing fiber because it's durable even when washed and soft on sensitive skin. That's why it's great for making baby clothes (which require frequent washings), plus it's gentle on their brand new skin! This tiny hat would be an amazing for a small human to wear for warmth in the winter; or as a light, breathable, sun hat; or, if you add a bell at the end, as an adorable accessory for an elf costume.

Before I sign off, I have an announcement!

I'll be offering knitting lessons this summer, and I need your help! What's a knitting instructor without her student? The ideal student would be interested in learning how to manage stress, be productive while doing menial tasks such as watching TV or riding the bus, all while creating beautiful clothing and accessories. So Twin Cities residents can pass on the info, or comment below. Or send me an owl, whichever is most convenient.

Basics of Buying Yarn

I'd like to introduce you to the very first pair of toe-up socks I've knitted; they're also my first lace pair. I actually finished this project a while ago, and gave them to my mother-in-law for Christmas. So naturally since then I've gone through all the steps of grief/loss. This post is part of my acceptance stage.

Yarn: Malabrigo Eggplant. Fingering weight. From The Yarnery.  
Needles: Addi Turbo US 1 circulars, two of 'em.
Pattern: Feather Lace Socks by Rosemary Falk.

The one thing I would change if I do this pattern over again (and I will) is that I would have added a couple more inches on the leg. I often, if not always, get antsy and finish the leg before it's as long as I want it. This happens whether I'm working a top-down or toe-up pattern. It's like my brain forgets what a normal sock length looks like, or stops caring because it knows it'll have to mirror those extra inches on the second one. Mostly the latter...

Okay so guys, the real reason I'm writing about these socks is so I can rave about Malabrigo yarn*, which is what I used. But before going too in-depth about Malabrigo, I want to share...

factors I consider when buying yarn

#1. Fiber. I get really, really excited about wool, and for a good reason! Wool is awesome! I'm sure I'll write an entire blog post about this topic someday soon, so I'll save the lecture til then. But for now I'll just say, whenever possible I purchase wool over any other fiber.
#2. Price. My frugality stems from my lack of disposable income, and since my craft remains a hobby and not a business, I shall continue to be cost-conscious.
#3. Softness. It's gotta pass the stroke test! Most of the things I knit are worn close to the skin (baby clothes, socks, scarves) so it's important that they feel comfortable!

I discovered Malabrigo last year, when I bought the eggplant yarn for these socks. I bought another skein of blue-green fingering weight yarn soon after that (also for socks). Now I'm on my third project using Malabrigo, and this time I'm going way out of my comfort zone and I'm making an entire sweater using this beautiful, worsted weight, stormy sea-green yarn. More about that project later. Being 100% wool, a decent price, and soft as a lamb's bottom, Malabrigo passes all three tests with flying colors (and it comes in all sorts of colors too!). I came across another blog by a woman who actually toured the factory in Uruguay, and was able to record some of it! Here's the video. My favorite part is toward the beginning, the guy tying knots in the skein! He's so quick, it's amazing! It proves that every inch of this yarn really is a piece of art because no skein is going to be exactly like the next, even if they're in the same dyelot. They've been knotted individually so they're each beautifully unique. There's a metaphor for life in there somewhere, but I'll let you pick it out for yourself.


Oh and just a random note, I've just been reading Philomena: A Woman, Her Son, and a Fifty-Year Search, it's simply marvelous and based on what I've read so far, I would recommend this to anybody interested in biographical novels.


K thanks bye!










*Disclaimer: The comments in this post are all my own opinion. Malabrigo is not paying or compensating me for promotion, I am simply excited about how awesome their yarn is and want to share it with the world. Thank you.