Fiber Series: Synthetic

Acrylic, polyester, and rayon get a bad rap sometimes. To be fully honest, I was a synthetic-hater* for a while. By the time I had finished highschool my first projects (including a classy belt/scarf combo and a second, rather lumpy scarf) were completed. I had used polyester yarn from Walmart because I was young and lived in rural Minnesota and didn't know there were such things as yarn stores. And then when I went to college, a friend told me about Knit Picks and everything changed! I was knitting with inexpensive, beautiful merino wool, and I was loving life. Seriously though, I probably knit like 3 pairs of wool socks that year, to the benefit of my family members at Christmastime.

In all actuality, synthetic fiber can be pretty great, especially when blended with cotton or wool to make it  extra-strong. And now you can even purchase premium 100% synthetic yarns! Here's an example of Brava from Knitpicks.

Yarn: Sport weight Brava from Knitpicks in Peapod
Needles: Clover Bamboo #1
Pattern: Made this one up on the fly, I think I started with about 100 stitches (50 on each needle) and worked a k2p2 rib for a couple inches, worked stockinette stitch for 6 inches and then decreased gradually to make a cute elfin point.

I also wanted to show off another acrylic project but I don't have a model to wear it for me. It's really cool though, I promise I'll post about it soon! And it's crocheted, so I guess I'll have to change the name of my blog. Hah.







*synthetic-hater: A person who refuses to use the likes of rayon, acrylic, and polyester in her knitting projects. See also "wool-snob."

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.