CROCHET with COTTON

The phrase "crochet with cotton" has always conjured up visions of doilies, lace table cloths, and dainty crocheted tops and baby dresses, all from days gone by. But for me, today especially, "crochet with cotton" means so much more. The marketplace provides a huge selection of cotton fibers and cotton blends that the designer's imagination can utilize with endless creative possibilities.

Just look at all of the fabulous cotton choices that are currently available both online and off:

• Paton's Grace - a 100% mercerized cotton with a sheen and drape just right for crocheting garments. 20 great colors. DK weight.
• NY Yarn Co's NY Cotton - another 100% mercerized cotton great for fashion patterns. 12 wonderful colors. DK weight.
• Lion Brand's Lion Cotton - a fabulous worsted weight 100% cotton in a gorgeous array of 32 beautiful colors.
• Lion Brand's CottonEAse - a 50/50 blend of cotton and acrylic that combines beautifully with our Paper Raffia and also comes in a selection of 21 fabulous colors.
• Plymouth Yarn Co's Fantasy Naturale - A super 100% mercerized cotton in an unbelievable rainbow of 37 solid colors and 33 ombres.
• Berroco's Cotton Twist - 70% cotton, 30% rayon. A fabulous blend that has the look of silk, and comes in 35 luminous colors.
• Universal Yarn Co's Cotton Supreme - another fabulous cotton. 20 awesome colors and worsted weight.
• Fibra Natura's Cottonwood - an organic cotton in a surprising selection of 23 colors

If you're looking for organic cottons, all of the above listed yarn companies carry at least one line. You must visit each of their websites to keep track of all the fashionable, yet durable cottons, cotton blends, and organic cottons that are currently offered in the marketplace. And we haven't even mentioned the old standby cotton threads offered by Coats n Clark.

Plus. . . if you're looking for a more economical buy, try Bernat's Handicrafter Cotton (30 solid colors, 50 ombres), Lily's Sugar n Cream (21 solid colors, 41 ombres), or Coats n Clark's Creme de la Creme (very similar to Lily). Each of these is DK to worsted weight. And, besides being a great buy, the economical cottons still deliver a quality product in a myriad of marvelous colors.

As a crochet designer myself, I am very partial to natural fibers; but I also include some of the cotton blends in my designs. Cottons as well as cotton blends are no longer considered a "summer only" choice for garments. All of the offerings in this article's line-up provide unlimited design possibilities for all four seasons. I am personally a big fan of cotton sweaters worn all through the fall and winter months.

I have chosen to carry NY Cotton, Lion Brand CottonEase, and a wonderful, very colorful line of cotton produced in Mexico (Omega Otono) on my website http://www.crochetasylum.com/. I am adding a couple of combination patterns to the M.E. Nolfi Designs line of patterns that use both Paper Raffia and one or more of the cottons just mentioned (the two hats pictured above and other patterns). Look for the new patterns and the cotton yarns on my website sometime during April of this year.

Right now, my design attentions are also being funneled into a very enjoyable crochet book concept that will be available by March 2010. I'm putting all of my positive, passionate design energy into this book. I hope you'll be happily anticipating it's arrival. I'll keep you posted about the book's title and contents as it gets closer to the printing process and publication date. I'm so excited. And, of course, you will definitely see several scrumptious patterns included for "crochet with cotton" that are very special to me and (I hope) very worth the wait.

Just remember. . . since the current fiber market includes such a comprehensive selection of cottons and cotton blends, the phrase "crochet with cotton" has the potential to become a designer hot button phrase that should inspire crochet fanatics like us to grand heights of glorious creative design possibilities.