Comments on: Cotton Yarn Experiment

By: Maggi

Maggi — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:05:22 +0000

I love using cotton yarn, even though I have to buy it from USA. I make doshcloths and scarved and also baby shawls and blankets that are to go to one of the African charities. They are so much easier to wash than wool.
However….I now have to pay rather a lot of customs tax for cotton, so I won’t be buying it by mail any more,SO if any of you Crochetspotters are coming to Scotland?????

By: otherkate

otherkate — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:27:36 +0000

I have been using cotton for years. I make dishcloths and washcloths mostly, but I have started to branch out into other things. I have family members make requests for my little cloths pretty much every Christmas. There are two great thing about cotton: one reason is that cotton doesn’t damage anything you might need to clean and the second reason is that cotton is actually stronger when wet which is why it makes awesome dishcloths. My sisters use them until they are little itty bitty scraps–and even then they use them to dust the furniture and clean absolutely anything. The only downside to using cotton is that cotton fades.

If anyone is interested, I have found that there is a point where the cloth gets too big to be really convenient; currently my foundation chains number between 18-22 and those cloths seem to be a good size (assuming the border is SC or Hdcr). Bobble and puff stitch make really good pseudo scrubbers, and alternating the stitches and/or rows make the cloths more flexible. Double crochet on a hook larger than about U.S. size E makes the cloth really loose and almost too flexible; lots of holes when wet. Ick. The single most beneficial thing for me? I use making the cloths a learning experience. I learn any and all (except mesh-I’m going to branch out into making bags for learning mesh) new stitches while creating the cloths. Once I’m done, I make little notes in the margins of the books or on the patterns to notate if they work out or not and how well. This learning of stitches and combination of various stitches helps me see if the pattern would would work out better in something larger. I actually had my niece ask me for a scarf and hat set based on one of the stitches I used in a cloth. Anyway, YMMV. I do love this site!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:59:40 +0000

I’m so glad I saw this article about the bath puff! I made one about 2 years ago (with a very pretty verigated cotton yarn) and was sooo excited to use it for the first time. But when I did, all it did was suck in the soap and water and didn’t lather or clean at all. I wondered what I did wrong but now see that bath puffs are meant to be made from scratchy nylon, not soft cotton. Oh well, at least I can show it off!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:18:51 +0000

Love cotton yard, and make diagonal potholders by the dozen. I have never used it for anything but bath and kitchen accessories, but see I need to broaden my horizons.

By: Lila

Lila — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:28:33 +0000

Bath Puffs and discloths are fun and easy to make (thanks for the patterns, btw), but I am also a baker so I love using cotton yarn to make holders and oven mittens! I found that acrylic tends to felt (“?!” Did I discover an easier way to felt? haha), sometimes it sticks to the pan, and the heat goes through really easily, so you still get burned a bit. Cotton helps protect you and doesnt felt or stick. The other things I use it for are slippers, they are soooo soft!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:44:45 +0000

Odette, stretching is natural. So you didn’t do anything wrong. It stretches even more when you hang them to dry, rather than laying them flat.

By: odette

odette — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:49:54 +0000

Rachel I have made the dishclothes and they are great but they stretch and become large.
I make them single or double crochet. What am I doing wrong?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:02:22 +0000

Hi Anna, make sure that you do 6 double crochets in each double crochet around for rounds 2 – 3. That is what makes it so fluffy. To attach the strap you can tie it to the center of the bath puff with a knot.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:43:39 +0000

I made the puff. Not exactly sure of what I’m doing yet, I’ve only been crocheting for 1.5 months. It did not exactly turn out like yours though. Its close but missing something. It has a big hole in the center and does not stand as together and fluffy as yours does. Its kind of limp and I was not sure on how to attach the strap nice and neat. My sister-in- law and I are learning togther and I told her about your site. We will me checking in time and again.
Sorry to hear that someone was nasty, I’m still going to try the puff again! I guess after reading your post about it I’ll look for a lighter cotton yarn. I realy love cotton yarns though and the Lily , sugar and cream are my favorite, Lily “stripes” are great for wash clothes!
Thanks Rachel

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:56:10 +0000

I have also used cotton yarn for several years now. I’ve made TONS of washcloths and mini-washcloths (that’s how I distinguish the bath from the kitchen clothes – the mini’s are for my face and body). I have also made a mesh market bag which turned out AWESOME and holds a ton of stuff and I have made several little girls hats (skull caps) out of cotton yarn which are perfect for summer since your head can still “breathe”. Please don’t be afraid to use the cloths you make! They only take about an hour to make – I make mine large (about 10 inches) because they do shrink up, but they stretch again in water. And yes, they will fade over time. But think about it this way – it’s like the lady who had a ton of gorgeous china, but kept it in a cabinet and never used it before passing away. Why even have it if you aren’t going to use it? It does us no good to make beautiful things and let them sit in a drawer – they are made to be used and loved. So, if you aren’t using your cloths because it takes too long to make one, then find a pattern that works up fast such as a granny square or something loose – less food gets stuck in the looser cloths anyway. Thanks for your site – very cute.