When the temperatures spike, wearing our hand-made projects can seem counterintuitive.
It's hot enough outside, and we typically associate knitting and crochet with warm woolly garments, so there's no need for extra layers of warmth! (All bets are off if you live somewhere that believes very strongly in air-conditioning—I started knitting when I lived in Florida so that I could stay warm in my office!)
But, as you know, projects can be made with many different fibers, including plant-based fibers such as cotton and rayon. Both of these fibers are known to help keep us cool, which is why we blended them perfectly to make Berroco Modern Cotton™ and Berroco Modern Cotton DK™.
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These yarns were the showcase of Berroco Portfolio Volume 3. Of the 14 patterns in the book, half of them are shawls, stoles, and wraps, perfect for summer.
Kirsten Kapur's Vinalhaven Wrap uses 5 hanks of Berroco Modern Cotton in a simple texture pattern inspired by bamboo shoots, combined with a lace pattern at the edges.
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Berroco Modern Cotton is not only great for knitting, but is also ideal for crochet. Ellen Mason's Caverly Shawl starts at the center bottom point before adding sweet shells outward to form a triangular shawl. You could easily adjust the pattern to make a larger wrap if you choose.
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Hilary Smith Callis contributed two pieces to the collection. The Triteia Cowl is shaped like a small crescent shawl, but joined in the back so it doesn't slip off your shoulders.
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Hilary's Delphin Shawl has been one of the most popular projects from this collection, using just two hanks of Modern Cotton DK to create a long, airy wrap for summer.
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Ann Weaver's Color Field Wrap combines three shades of Modern Cotton to play with texture and color in a rectangular stole. With 42 colors of Modern Cotton to choose from, you can truly customize this gorgeous shawl.
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For even more color play, Alexis Winslow's Rodinia Shawl uses four colors of Modern Cotton DK and modular knitting to create a show-stopper of a shawl.
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Finally, Emily Nora O'Neil's Island Wrap is a glorious nod to traditional square shawls. A center square of lace is surrounded by an open, airy eyelet pattern. Berroco Modern Cotton DK shows off just how great it is for lace knitting.
Find Berroco Modern Cotton and Berroco Modern Cotton DK at a yarn store near you.
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This week's free pattern is Marcy, a rectangular wrap worked in offset squares of textured stitches. The pattern calls for Berroco Comfort® DK, though you could also use any of the 24 shades of Berroco Modern Cotton DK to knit this piece.
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What do you like to make during the summer? Do you set aside your yarn crafts for other pursuits, or do you find the closest air-conditioning vent and knit or crochet away?
Happy knitting,
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