A Fresh Take on Cotton
"She was the only doctor's wife in Branford, Maine, who hung her wash on an outdoor clothesline instead of putting it through a dryer, because she liked to look out the window and see the clothes blowing in the wind. She had been especially delighted, one day, when one sleeve of the top of her husband's pajamas, prodded by the stiff breeze off the bay, reached over and grabbed her nightgown around the waist."
Dear One,
In my little corner of Minnesota, we've been having a beautiful stretch of sheets-on-the-line days. You know what I'm talking about: vivid blue skies, warm sunshine, and a gentle breeze making the dandelions wave.
How I love crisp cotton sheets that have spent a bit of time in the sunshine. Their scent and texture remind me of summer visits to my grandparents and blissful nights of sleep at the cabin.
And my heart sings loudest when the sheets are boring old white. But I have a girlfriend who loves them bright and flowery...like that scene in Mama Mia where the colorfully printed sheets are flapping in the wind. So follow your heart when it comes to fresh bed linens!
In this season of fresh cotton bliss, we've received a beautiful new cotton yarn in the shop. It's called Huasco Coton Glisten from our friends at Araucania Yarns. It's actually got a glimmer of sparkly lurex (6%), but the rest is OEKO-TEX 100 cotton. And the color options are calm and refreshing.
So whether you are animal fiber-sensitive or just craving some cotton in your hands during the warm months of the year, this yarn is going to suit you. It's fingering weight---which is a rare find in cotton---so will work for all of those delicate wraps and shawls that we love so much on a summer's evening.
And if knitting for a friend stresses you out (can they wear wool? will they hand wash and dry flat?) this yarn is perfect for taking the stress out of that process. It's easy to wear and easy to care for.
In my mind, the perfect thing to knit from this fresh cotton yarn is the Bad Oyster by Alex Tinsley. It's a very clever design, knitted in the round and then cut to create the lovely fringe on the edge. It's a one-skein project you'll wear endlessly.
If crochet is your passion, Elle helped me out by suggesting Over the Willamette by Jenn Wolfe Kaiser. Again, it's a small, light triangle shape that makes the perfect bandana with a white t-shirt and a jean jacket...or your favorite sundress. And again, just one skein.
It probably goes without saying, but either of these beautiful designs would work with whatever skein of fingering yarn your heart craves or your stash provides. We have other great (non-cotton) Araucania yarns that would be amazing choices, too!
It is my fondest wish that, wherever you are this wee, you get to experience a bit of blue skies and sunshine, some birdsong and dandelions. And I hope you have a great warm-weather project waiting for you when the day's work is done.
Cheers,
Gaby
