[blahdeblahblah]

Soooo...... I am so so happy to have a "surprise" knitting request for a niece of a friend who is expecting twin girls this summer, and I'm gearing up to try either some picky shorts or *possibly* skirties, paired with teeny little tank tops. Tiny girly knitting, I'm stoked!<br><br>
However, she's not going to cloth diaper (and I don't know her well enough to try and convince her, lol!), so I'd like to use a cotton or cotton blend instead. Does anyone have any reccomendations for a good yarn that is relatively inexpensive and readily available? I've been warned to steer clear from the Sugar & Cream yarn, I think, for whole garments, but I can't remember why. I have heard good things about Cotton-Ease, but I'd like a variegated yarn to kind of let the yarn add some visual interest, haha! Another mama here just posted an apron top in CottonTots yarn that I *loved* - does anyone know if this would have enough "give" to it for shorties even though it's 100%?<br><br>
Thanks bunches, knitting mamas!

 

[mamadaisy]

I have used Lion Cotton to make tank tops and they do not get too heavy as there is relatively little yarn used to make a tank top. It softens with washing. I had a similar surprise request from my dearest friend who has a little girl whom I knit for (she knows how long it takes me to knit given the available amount of time to knit with two young boys). I knit her a Katja from Knitty last year and she wants another one for this year. So, I will knit her another Katja, a sundress, and a pair of coordinating shorties (I tend to go overboard like that). I'd throw in matching hats but this little girl will have no part of a hat on her head.<br><br>
Anyway, all that to say you may not want to rule out Lion Cotton or Sugar n Cream altogether. The shorties I knit are out of 100% worsted cotton too (Cotton Ease new colors were not out yet). They are a bit heavy but they are big and have a ruffled cuff.<br><br>
Oh, and if you want something lighter you could see if you can find a cotton/microfiber blend. Also, if using Cotton Ease, you could add "interest" with solid colors by doing accents/edgings in accent colors (say knit the tank top in the rose color and edge it with lime ruffles and do the other one in reverse and same for the shorties).

 

[blahdeblahblah]

Ooh, thank you!!! That makes total sense, I think the weight was why I was advised against 100% cotton - I can't imagine that teensy newborn tank tops would use up very much yarn to get heavy! I LOVE that Katja pattern, it's been on my summer list for dd (uh... better get knitting, stat!), maybe I will make a couple of those. I love the idea of contrast colors reversed, to make matchy-not-matchy outfits! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> HATS - oh my, the gears are turning, I am a total overboard-er too, ha.<br><br>
I also have to say, I clicked on your sig link and I totally want to *squish* your boys, absolutely delicious! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue">

 

[mamadaisy]

Aww, thanks, mama! They are pretty squishable, that is, if you can pin the younger one down long enough to squish.<br><br>
Here are some pics of the Katja (made it longer) I made last year and the sundress from this year.<br><br><a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/khouma/spring041.jpg" target="_blank">Sundress</a> in Lion Cotton<br><br>
Last year's <a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/khouma/Summer2006073.jpg" target="_blank">Katja</a> (revised) in Lion Cotton<br><br>
I haven't woven in the ends on the shorties yet, but once I get the whole package together I will take some pictures and post them here.

 

[Marlet]

I adore Kramer Yarns Tatamy Tweed...cotton/acrylic blend. Lovely colors, super soft, and washable! It is thinner but they have a ton of yarn <a href="http://www.krameryarns.com" target="_blank">on their site.</a> I have the lime tweed and oatmeal colors. I like it since the cotton isn't rough in it like my S&C and the acrylic isn't sticky/squeaky like a regular acrylic. I love the colors they have in their naturally nazareth section.....<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/drool.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="drool">

 

[alaska]

Ditto the Kraemer yarns - I'm using the worsted wt pink tweed for DD's modified crumpet - it's really nice yarn!