Summer is in full swing here in Washington, DC. You know what that means if you’ve ever experienced a DC summer… Dodging from shade patch to shade patch, constantly searching for your sunglasses, going through sunscreen like it’s going out of style, praying for lower humidity and trying to knit something that doesn’t make you sweat the second you touch it.
I’m a big fan of cotton. I wear it all year round and particularly like knitting with it. Cotton gets a bad rep and I hear a lot of “it hurts to knit with cotton,” or “my dry hands can’t handle it.” To those comments I say “heck no!” You’re not working with the right kind of cotton if you’re having those issues. Try Pima.
What is Pima Cotton you ask? According to an online source, it’s “also called extra long staple (ELS), is a type of cotton grown primarily in Peru, the southwestern United States and Australia. It is considered to be one of the superior blends of cotton and is extremely durable and absorbent. This type of cotton is named after the Pima, a group of American Indians who first cultivated the plant in the U.S.”
I especially like it in a yarn because you can throw it in the washing machine on a cool setting, then tumble dry it on low. This makes it particularly nice for children’s garments because at the end of the day both the child and the nice handknit sweater you made them are filthy.
Growing up on the ocean a smidge southeast of Boston, I’m no stranger to the sea and all things ocean-motif. My mom and I used to walk a lot on the beach in the evening, watching the fishermen haul in their daily catch and search for seashells. One of my oldest friends and I would carefully pick our way across the rocks to get to the end of the jetty and watch the lighthouses turn on as dusk fell and have a good talk. I’ve always had a particular fondness for anchors and blue and white. It reminds me of home, the smell of salt in the air and seagulls crying, searching for food.
Knit in Cascade’s Ultra Pima Fine, the short-sleeve Anchors Away Pullover knits up quickly on US 3 and 4s. A huge fan of the top-down raglan and Fair Isle, this is the perfect portable project to bring with you on your summer travels. Cascade’s Ultra Pima Fine comes in over 50 colors, making it incredibly easy to choose two colors that suit the wearer. Again with the amazing color selection! It’s very soft on your hands, does not pill and knits up nice and smooth. Yum! You only need 2 hanks of the MC and 1 of the CC. 3 hanks for a 12-month size pullover? Sign me up! This is one of my favorite Pima Cottons to knit with.
Download the free pattern here.
Ahoy!