Summer KAL/CAL - Cotton!

#1

[LEFT][B][SIZE=4][COLOR=red]SUMMER CROCHET & KNIT-ALONG[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]
:sun: :grphug: :sun: [/LEFT]
It sure is HOT this year in the Southern USA. :hot: :passedout:
We only had about a month that felt like Spring, then Summer temperatures came on with a vengeance. Now, it is officially Summer, and it doesn’t look like the high temperatures are going away anytime soon.

I know that some of you might take a break from knitting this time of year, but not me! I prefer to stay indoors for the summer months, and watch tv while knitting or crocheting. And, it is SUCH a relief when Fall finally gets here! cloud9

I don’t think I’m the only one who does crafts this time of year. So, I would like to host a little craft-along for those who are knitting and crocheting like me.

There are plenty of pretty cotton yarns available at craft stores and yarn shops. So, I think that cotton would be a fun choice for us to work with. We could make tank tops, or summer shawls, toys, or even dishcloths, coasters and cozies!

Would anyone like to join in a Summer KAL with me?

#2

I found my first project!

I’m going to crochet some coasters, using two different yarns in my stash.

Here’s the pattern I’m using:
Quick and Easy Coasters

I’ll be using a skein of Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton

Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton - Naut 02 by Shandeh, on Flickr
And South Maid Cotton 8 in Coral. I have TONS of that yarn, so I need to use some of it.

Cotton Yarn won on eBay by Shandeh, on Flickr

I think I’ll use the coral yarn for the body of the coaster, and add an edging with the Nautical Cotton. This will make the edging a little curly, because it’s a thicker yarn.

#3

I’ll play! I’ve been collecting cotton yarns to do a dishcloth/placemat project for my mom’s beach house. I’m off to plan and pick patterns!

#4

Awesome! :thumbsup:
Welcome to the Cotton Club! :teehee:

#5

Since I’ve been having a lot of wrist, arm, hand pain lately, I’ll join this KAL/CAL as a shadow participant.

I’ve already got a dishcloth (or wash cloth) on the needles and a few rows (very few indeed) completed. I’d like to do some more of these little projects like this, but I may have to postpone that until the wrists are feeling better.

Thanks for starting this!

#6

Welcome to the KAL! :slight_smile:

I know how you feel with the wrist pain. I get it sometimes too. Just relax and look at knitting magazines until it gets better.:hug:

#7

I know that only looking at knitting patterns would make my wrists better, but it doesn’t make my head any better because then I really really REALLY want to knit something. HA!

Of course, it doesn’t help that the other things I do besides knitting (i.e., crocheting, kayaking, and typing for work) don’t help matters either.

I think I’ll just knit a few rows a day and see how it goes!

#8

I feel your pain (literally!)
My life doesn’t help with my wrist pain either. I type on my computer a LOT, because I moderate here, blog for Bernat yarn, and moderate the Bernat Cares Forum as well. I also play piano and organ a lot, because I’m a church organist and piano teacher.

Sometimes, I will take ibuprofen, then place cold packs on my arms, and just watch tv for a while. I’ve fallen in love with several shows on Netflix.

#9

I got out my crochet hook and yarn, so I could start making my coasters. But, I never found my Louisa Harding yarn. Figures! Oh well…the coasters will look fine without a different color border.

I already finished making one! :slight_smile:

I will post a photo soon.

#10

Here’s my first coaster!

First Coaster by Shandeh, on Flickr

#11

Those are nifty looking coasters, Shandeh. You know, I’ve made lots of people coasters, but I’ve never made any for me. Go figure!

And I HATE it when I lose something (lately that’s happened a lot). Hope you find your AWOL yarn.

Yeah, it sounds like you’ve got really busy hands, too. Take good care of 'em!

#12

Thanks! I’m already using the coaster today.
I just need to make myself make MORE of them now! :teehee:

This past Sunday, I noticed a sign on the church nursery door, asking for bibs. So I am making a quick bib for them, using Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Twists in the color “Mod”. The pattern is free on the website: Handicrafter Cotton Bibs & Booties

Baby Bib by Shandeh, on Flickr

#13

I am making hand towels, washcloths and soap sacks with cotton yarn this summer. They are for Christmas gifts for some new friends we have made here in Florida. I enjoy watching TV and knitting also. Will post pics when I can.

Bea :knitting:

#14

Welcome to the KAL/CAL, Bea! :muah:
I hope we can see some photos of your work soon.

I finished the bib! I left off the picot edge, and added single crochet ties instead of making a buttonhole.

Finished Baby Bib by Shandeh, on Flickr

Now, I’m making another one with some yellow Bernat Cotton Baby. And I found a skein of Handicrafter Cotton “Peace and Love” in the color Psychedelic. So colorful! I’m gonna make a bib with that too.

Bernat Handicrafter Peace and Love - Psychedelic by Shandeh, on Flickr

#15

I’m in. My latest project is a mesh cotton backpack. I’m going to customize it with pockets for my bus pass, change, and house keys. I never seem to have any pants with pockets and I’m always digging for those things in the bottom of my tote bag. Antares, you might try Aspercreme for your wrists. This is an odorless cream that disappears into the skin. I’m on my feet all day long at work. I come home barely able to walk. This helps a great deal. Shandey, if you like history Netflix has a great History Channel documentary called The Revolution. I couldn’t stop watching it.

#16

Welcome! Your project sounds cool and smart! :thumbsup:
Can’t wait to see photos.
By the way, if you don’t know how to post photos here, let us know so we can help you do it. Sharing photos of our work is the best part of this forum! :wink:

I watched part of that show last night! It was very interesting. It’s nice to know all the parts of history that our high school teachers left out. :teehee:

#17

Arggh! I really had good intentions with the cotton Sugar and Creme tote bag/backpack but this just isn’t going right. I’m doing this yo, k2tog mesh and keep dropping stitches. I’m constantly having to frog. I should have done the lifeline thing. Well, I’ll refrog back to the knit stitch base of this thing and start over. Setting it aside for a day or so to clear my head will help. Some projects are just like that. Ya gotta go with the flow.

#18

Oh, I hate when that happens! I hope your new stitch design works out better for you. I had that same problem with a market bag once. The stitches were so loose that they kept slipping off the needles. :doh:

#19

Well, it was late at night and I was a little sleepy. I was listening to the radio so I was distracted. Plus note to self It’s probably not a good idea to knit with black yarn at night even with the best lighting conditions. I’ve got the first lifeline in and it’s going much better. I did use the Knitting Help tutorial on lifelines. I had trouble threading the thin stuff through the Knitpicks hole. But then I’m old, wear bifocals, and have trouble threading needles. What worked for me was to loosen the needle tip, lay the cord into the needle tip thread, then tighten it back up. After I finished, I unscrewed the tip and took the cord out, retightened and continued knitting.

#20

I don’t know how to post pictures here. Help, please!

Bea