​

😎 Cotton: A very cool fiber

While we here are Yarnist have a fondness for wool, not everyone is able to knit with it.

Some folks would even prefer to stay away from animal fibers altogether.

And if you live in a climate that's already warm, how are you to keep knitting without overheating like an ant under a magnifying glass?

Don't worry fellow knitter. Cotton has got your back.

What is Cotton?

Cotton is technically a shrub which grows a fibrous boll, or protective case, around its seed.

The fibers have been harvested and processed into yarn going back 5,000 years.

It has many unique properties which make it ideal for textiles, which we'll discuss in a minute.

Types of Cotton

There are four commercially grown species of cotton grown around the world, but the most prized is called Gossypium barbadense from which both Egyptian and Pima cotton are derived.

These are praised for their longer fiber staples, which in turn produce a softer, more durable fabric.

Organic cotton is not a specific species, but rather cotton that has not been genetically modified or grown with pesticides.

You might also see mercerized cotton, which is a special process developed by John Mercer in 1844. It consists of soaking fibers like cotton or flax in a sodium hydroxide solution. This helps increase dye uptake, tear strength, and reduces fabric shrinkage.

A side effect of mercerization is a silk-like luster that gives it a distinct look.

Benefits of Cotton

There's a reason cotton has been used to make fabric for millennia. Here's a few of them:

It's comfortable

Cotton creates a fabric that is breathable and absorbent. It easily wicks moisture away from the skin, helping to keep you cool and dry. It isn't prone to static cling, it's hypoallergenic, and it doesn't hold onto odors.

It's sustainable (relatively)

While it does use more water than most other plant fibers, it grows easily all around the world, is biodegradable, and is a renewable resource.

It's affordable

The ubiquity of cotton as a textile commodity means there is a lot of it. That availability drives prices down, making cotton one of the cheapest yarn fibers around.

It's durable

Cotton is incredibly strong. It does not pill or tear easily. That means your knits are going to last a LONG time.

It's versatile

You're going to find cotton in everything from towels to t-shirts, underwear, socks, and even Q-tips.

Cotton Drawbacks

Although it's a pretty amazing fiber, cotton is not perfect. Here are a few issues you might encounter when knitting with a cotton yarn.

It doesn't stretch

Much like me after a workout, cotton doesn't like to stretch. That extra durability and strength also means that those fibers don't want to move much. However...

It doesn't keep it's shape

If you leave cotton alone for a while, eventually it's going to lose it's shape. The fibers have no natural memory, so the will not spring back if forced to stretch. And because it's a heavy fiber, gravity will do the stretching for you. However...

It doesn't like hot water

Much like a Gremlin, water can make it transform. You won't end up with a room full of monsters, but you might end up with a sweater that now fits your dog.

What is Cotton Good For?

As we mentioned before, cotton is extremely versatile, which makes it well suited to all kinds of projects.

However, it shines in garments for warm weather, like tees, sweaters, and wraps.

And of course it is the unofficial yarn of dish cloths everywhere.

Our Favorite Cotton Yarns

There are hundreds of cotton yarns available, especially when you include cotton blends.

Here are a few of our favorites ranging from affordable to luxurious.

Dishie by Knit Picks • Buy It Here​

A practical prodigy and home décor hero, Dishie is a hardworking worsted weight 100% cotton yarn with a tight spin and high absorbency. This makes Dishie not only easy to knit with, but extremely durable as well - the go-to choice for hardwearing projects that will last for years, even with daily use.

24/7 Cotton by Lion Brand • Buy It Here​

24/7 Cotton® is a worsted-weight, mercerized 100% natural fiber yarn. Choose from a variety of 30+ colors, which will be perfect for making fashion garments, home décor, bath and kitchen accessories, and items for babies and children.

Ultra Pima by Cascade • But It Here​

Cascade Ultra Pima yarn is ready for your Spring and Summer making! Perfect for most DK-weight patterns, this 100% Pima cotton yarn lends itself well to those of us who want to make all year round! The lightweight cotton base makes every piece you make breathable and wearable in even the hottest of months - talk about a win for us!

Organic Cotton by Blue Sky Fibers • But It Here​

Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton offers an irresistibly soft cotton yarn in a worsted weight! Light yet durable, this yarn is perfect for those bulkier projects you love to whip up over the weekend. Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton comes in a gorgeous range of colors varying from rich darks to pastel lights and is made from 100% organic cotton, making it the perfect yarn you'll want to snuggle up in while remaining breathable!

Wool + Cotton by Madeline Tosh • But It Here​

Madelinetosh Wool + Cotton is about your new best friend for spring and summer knit and crochet projects! We are so excited about this blend of 50% Superwash Merino + 50% Pima Cotton because it's super soft and breathable! The wool dyes, but the cotton does not. Creating a beautiful soft color with a vintage melange feel.

---

📅 Stitch of the Day

Blanket Rib Stitch

Cotton is ideal for dishcloths so today here's a great stitch to make a dishcloth with.

The blanket rib is a simple two row pattern that creates a lovely textured fabric.

Those bumps and numbs will give you extra surface area to wipe up those kitchen spills.

And the easy to remember repeat means you can knit this up without much effort.

Get written instructions for this stitch

​

---

❝ Fearless Words

🎅🏻 12 Days of Knitmas

Stitchionary: Knits & Purls Vol. 1 (Pay What You Can)

For today's Knitmas deal we're bringing back one of our most popular deals.

You can grab our first Stitchionary by paying what you can.

Yup, you choose the price, be it $1 or $100, it's up to you to decide.

This video e-book includes 30+ stitch patterns using only knits and purls.

Each stitch has high quality photos of the right and wrong sides, charts, written instructions, and links to videos to demonstrate how to use them.

And you can use it on any device whether it's a tablet, phone, desktop, or e-reader!

Did I mention the visual index and full glossary? It's pretty cool...

Get This E-Book

​

---

😂 Just For Laughs

​