When I buying wool today, I noticed they had what they called ‘knitting cotton’. Each strand was very thin and looked non-elastic. There were some lovely colors. Brand was Anchor. I thought it was too thin to knit.
It looked something like this.
I was curious to know where can I use them. Generally, what is cotton yarn used for? What can I make using this?
I crochet with thread like that quite frequently, though I usually use size 10 or 20 thread. I usually use thread for things like doilies, bookmarks, and coasters. I’ve seen people crochet beautiful bedspreads and tablecloths with thread too, but I don’t have the patience. 
i’ve knit beaded necklaces with that weight cotton, and cotton doily’s.(bookmarkers, and coasters really)
others have knit hats (see Kathere Misegades knit hat in A Gathering of Lace, or see Anne Modesitt blog for her knit hat… )
you could also knit curtains (if you have a small window on your front door, or side lights to door that you want curtains for (but some have knit full length curtains!)
and you can knit bedspreads, or table clothes (there are lots of patterns for over sized lace doily’s/table clothes!)
i suspect, you could also knit socks, too.
i love cotton, and have been knitting up a storm of cotton lately, and blogging about it too… I started last month with knit bathmats, and wash clothes, and now i am knitting (and blogging about) double knit potholders.
Now you have a few ideas. and i am sure i have just stratched the surface of ideas for cotton!
Technically that’s thread, not yarn.
As the description says, it’s used for very fine lacy knitted and crocheted things like doilies, and for other needle crafts such as cross stitch.
Cotton also comes in knitting yarns that range from fine to bulky. You can use cotton for sweaters, jackets, tops, hats, bags, skirts, and all manner of household items including potholders, guest towels, bath mats, pillows. It’s great for baby things when the babies live in climates that are too warm for wool.
I use that type of thread to crochet doilies. I bought a bunch of it when I thought I was going to get into tatting. You might be able to hold several strands of it together to knit a nice summery scarf.
I like Sugar N Cream cotton yarn to make wash cloths. It holds suds really well.
Thanks for the ideas. I will find something interesting to do with this cotton ‘thread’.
I see a lot like that, too. I think some people use it to make lacy doilies, but I think they are crocheted. In Greece, you put doilies on top of EVERYTHING, even the TV, so I guess making them here is popular. :shrug:
I have had more than one lady suggest to me that I should make a lace tablecloth. If I did, I guess I would use something thin and washable like that. Can you imagine the ironing job… :shock:
you don’t iron them, you block them.
stretch them out (using blocking wires if you have them) or pin them them out if you don’t… and let them dry stretched.
it used to be, hand laundries used to have huge frames for blocking curtains (knit or crocheted) and coverlets (again knit or crocheted)
i remember them from when i was a kid.
the frame were adjustable, (thing of something like a canvas stretcher) and they had pins all round --think of frame made from something like carpet tack strips (the kind for wall to wall carpeting)
the lace got mounted on the frame, and then stretched taunt to dry (in the sun light sometimes! out on the street, or up on the roof top)
(thing have changed so much in the past 50 years!–its amazing what my childhood memories contain!)
Of Troy,
You’re right, of course–it would be blocked. If I did make such a thing, I would only use it on Christmas Day or some special time like that!
That was an interesting memory, too. 
If you don’t mind me asking, where did you grow up?
You are right about things changing. I was in elementary school in the 70s and even so, things have changed so much. I am not sure if the changes are all good or not. Here’s a story: my husband went out and bought a phone that just plugs into the jack and doesn’t run on electricity. We didn’t have one if the power went out! He had to go to 3-4 stores to find one.
I always wonder what would happen if there was a big disaster. I wouldn’t be able to do anything. The only thing I would have is hot water because we have a solar hot water heater.
OT: The university that my hubby and I work for is shutting off the phone jacks in the dorms to save money. The students aren’t even using phones that plug into the wall anymore.
i have 2 phone that are just plug (both use batteries) + i have in storage a old fashioned featureless phone…
(no screen for caller id, no memory, etc for blackouts )
anna, i grew up in NYC–both the Bronx and Queens (mostly the bronx)
i am um, 47 (a lie! Older than 50, younger than 60) and have the most wonder memories.
when i was a kid, there were still, in NYC, horse drawn vegetable wagon that came round in the summer, and the rag man (there was a man who recycled everything! rags, wood, metal, etc) who came round in a horse drawn wagon. (a scrap dealer)
the milk man (we never got milk delivered) had a truck, and so did the iceman, (everyone had fridges)–except the fish monger–he still bought ice, and the truck came round with big huge blocks of ice–the iceman would chunk it with a pick and then put it into an electric chopper to make the chips for the fishmonger. (and we kids would scamble round picking up chunks that fell to wipe off and eat. )
there were 2 kinds of hand laundries, chinese, and “parisian” the latter had the big frames for stretching lace–there were also laundramats, and LINES everyone had clothes lines, and you always hung clothes to dry on the line. --lots of people only had washing machines–when i married and bought my first house, it came with a dryer, and i was the first person i knew who owned a dryer!
every one knit–well most everyone. there were several LYS (in walking distance) plus Kress, Grants, and Woolworths all carried yarn. some only knit hats and mittens, --but my aunt (german) would knit herself suits --fullylined skirts and jacktes,–on size 1 needles!
My mother (5 kids) never knit table clothes or bedcovers, but i knew lots of families that had them. and used them on an almost daily basis!
i still knit potholder, and placemats, and last month, a bathmat (2 actually!)
i have hand knit lace edgeing on the shelf of my kitchen cabinets, (the shelf “paper” is vinyl, but the edging is cotton lace!) too.
Things have changed so much in my life!
(did anyone watch “West Side Story” (a movie special on some PBS stations, this past week? clothing (‘punks’ still dressed up for church and church dances with suit jackets and ties!) has changed so much…
girls don’t get dissed for wearing jeans, clothing is so much looser and unfitted compared to just 50 years ago! (no girdles, no garter belts, comfortable bra’s (bra and bathing suits used to be made out of WOVEN cotton–with just a little elastic… there was almost no stretch or ease in them at all! mens clothing is more casual too!
(me? i am moving with the times, hanging on a computer, writting (and reading) blogs, with all the modern conveniences of the day.
(personally i hate things in my ears,–i tried earplug long ago with my transister radio, and didn’t like them, and didnt like the improved ones on my walkman (cassette) or on my diskman, and just can imagine i would like them on an i-pod so i’ve passed on the i-pod. but my stereo system has a usb port and plays mp3’s. but as for other technology, i am all for it, --the only old lady fuddy duddy thing i do is knit, and nowdays, that not old and fuddy duddy–it’s young and hip!)
I’m just about to start making LOTS of cotton stuff to wear. Tee type shirts, tanks… a shrug. I got a bunch of different cotton yarns at various sales and they are SO PRETTY. I’m also buying this book, No Sheep For You which has some cotton patterns in it. I figure why pay $25-$45 for a little cotton sweater when I’ll have fun making it. and there’s a great pattern for a beautiful soft, polo shirt in Greetings From Knit Cafe (which I have from the library right now but I think I’ll buy it).
“of Troy” your stories about New York are just great. I live on the Upper West Side. I’m going to try a lacy curtain very soon, not sure what type yarn but cotton sounds good. And I really want to make a bath mat. Never thought of double knitted potholders, that’s a good idea. Do you have a pattern or picture of one you made?
Victoise, i have pictures and patterns for potholders on my blog. Several photos, several patterns… all are double knit, and i even have a YouTube video clip to learn 1 style of 2 color cast on for double knitting.
my bathmats are just garter… one is mostly ombre, (2 ridges of ombre, 1 ridge solid–the other is 2 rows (1 ridge) solid (cream/natural white) 1 ridge color–(with all the odd and ends of color yarns i had)–i left the tails from changing yarns long, and made them into a self fringe.
the bathmats were made from 2 strands held together, to make them thicker and bulkier.
i am still (it’s been a month now!) working in cotton, --i’ve made over a dozen potholders; some for me, some for gifts, some for swaps, and some to put aside for other gifts --and i’ve made a serious dent in my cotton stash!
but i’m beginning to be bored and want something completely different–so i’m thinking of, and looking at lace patterns.
Oh my gosh! That is a LOT of info you have on your blog!
(is of Troy mean your name is Helen??? :teehee: )
Thanks so much! I love those dishcloths. I’m obsessed with making myself some tanks out of cotton so I’ll put it on hold for a bit, but I’m definitely going to use your instructions and try and learn that fancy stuff! like the tick tack toe pot holder.
The video is excellent. Thanks again!
Of Troy,
Thank you so much for sharing your memories! (I have had a crazy week and haven’t been able to sit down and write anything.) I grew up in the south, and that is quite a different upbringing than in New York City. But my mother, who is in her sixties, grew up in a good-sized city and also remembers the iceman and the milkman, riding her bike to school. But in all the pictures from around the time I was born (1969), she is still wearing skirts and dresses, just occasionally cropped pants. I wouldn’t like that, though, to not be able to wear jeans all the time!
I just can’t help but think that one of the differentiating elements of when you grew up and when I did, is the absence of instant gratification. Now that I live in Greece, I don’t have a dryer. I could have one, but don’t. I enjoy the novelty of hanging out my clothes. I have to plan ahead if I want to wear something that needs washing, because I won’t be able to wear it until the next day if I have to wash it.
I enjoy going to the butcher’s, the bakery, and the vegetable market rather than the big grocery store. I didn’t have that growing up.
I try to use and do things that do make a difference in my time, like a washing machine. But I try not to have things just because they are there. I am currently battling my husband over my cell phone. I don’t want one, don’t think I need it, and he wants me to have it. This year I am trying to grow some medicinal herbs for minor ailments instead of running to the pharmacy. Next year I hope to have a little vegetable garden.
I often think about when things started getting somewhat destructive to the pace of life. I think it was probably the late 70s.
I do enjoy the internet, though. It helped me to learn to knit, allows me to order books in my language, keep up with what’s happening in the U.S., etc. I think I would have it a lot tougher and be more lonely here without it.
I would love to make some bathmats, but am not sure where to start. I have only been knitting since January. I love your potholders and yarn choices. I plan to sit and read through your blog very soon. It looks like you share a lot of great information!!