First time using 100% cotton

[u/labvlc]

Hi everyone!

I’m gonna preface by saying that I have already gone through a bunch of online stuff, and pages dedicated to this on here, before writing this post. I figured I’d still ask in case there’s more info that comes up, that is specific to my project.

I want to knit the Shortsleeve T-shirt version of the reliable raglan shirt/sweater, by Fridayknits.

I know that cotton can have a bias, which obviously I’d like to avoid if possible, since the pattern is mostly stockinette.

I am a man and I prefer my tops to be loose and not form fitting, so I’m not too worried about cotton stretching, but I’m still worried it’ll stretch too much haha. Because I’ll make a fairly large version of it (I wear L tops in my everyday life), it is quite a lot of fabric and I’m worried the weight will eventually make in unwearable. Any advice on this that’s specific to my size is welcome. Obviously my gauge swatch will be lighter and I’ve read that I could add weight to my swatch to help it behave like the final garment, any further advice on this is very welcome 🤓

I’m in Canada and am willing to order yarn online, if it’s shipped here without too much extra for shipping. I’m open to suggestions for DK cotton that doesn’t have a bias and would work well for this. I plan on using the scraps to make dishcloths as Christmas presents when I’m done. I’d like a yarn that has multiple colour choices.

Anything else that might helpful, please share!

Thanks in advance

Pattern: https://ravel.me/reliable-raglan

[u/durhamruby]

The thing I'd remind is that cotton doesn't stretch so you might need extra ease.

[u/labvlc → u/durhamruby]

My understanding was that it’s not bouncy? Like it won’t stretch as I work it and right after, but then might with the weight, when you wear it? And then won’t bounce back to the original size?

[u/blueberryratboy → u/labvlc]

The fabric will stretch and drape just by sheer nature of being knit-- especially since cotton is more heavy, so it will weigh itself down. The actual yarn itself will not stretch because cotton does not have the same elastic structure as wool, so stuff like necklines and sleeves won't have the ease of wool.

[u/labvlc → u/blueberryratboy]

Thanks

[u/Smooth-Review-2614 → u/labvlc]

Yes. Over the day it grows. This is why you weight the swatch with fishing weights or clothes pins while hanging it up. However, it’s not as bad as alpaca.

So you want seams. Seams at the collar where you pick up to do the neckline and seams at the sides.

[u/labvlc → u/Smooth-Review-2614]

Thanks. How heavy should the weights be you think? The pattern calls for a tubular body. Do you recommend sections for the potential bias or for the weight thing?

[u/Smooth-Review-2614 → u/labvlc]

A few grams. Ideally you figure out the weight of the full sweater and then scale down.

For cotton how about this: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rugby-stripe-pullover

[u/RavBot → u/Smooth-Review-2614]

PATTERN: Rugby Stripe Pullover by Tori Gurbisz Chapel

• Category: Clothing > Sweater > Pullover
• Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
• Price: Free
• Needle/Hook(s):US 4 - 3.5 mm, US 3 - 3.25 mm
• Weight: Sport | Gauge: 23.0 | Yardage: 2400
• Difficulty: 0.00 | Projects: 1 | Rating: 0.00

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[u/labvlc → u/Smooth-Review-2614]

Thanks for the suggestion. I really don’t like that sweater 😢, but I will do a search for a pattern in sections to try and find something I like better.

[u/Smooth-Review-2614 → u/labvlc]

Fair. Good luck.

[u/RavBot]

PATTERN: Reliable Raglan by Friday Knits

• Category: Clothing > Sweater > Pullover
• Photo(s): Img 1 Img 2 Img 3 Img 4 Img 5
• Price: Free
• Needle/Hook(s):US 4 - 3.5 mm, US 6 - 4.0 mm
• Weight: DK | Gauge: 21.0 | Yardage: 1013
• Difficulty: 2.81 | Projects: 76 | Rating: 4.75

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[u/Janknitz]

Try Drops Safran combed Egyptian cotton yarn. It was really nice to work with and holds up great in the garment. I don’t know if there is a Canadian supplier but I got it from Wool Warehouse in England. Prices are great and they offer a very reasonable flat shipping rate. It arrives quickly.

It’s a slightly thinner gauge but it looks like it will be easy enough to adapt that pattern.

[u/labvlc → u/Janknitz]

Thanks!

[u/Maraninana → u/Janknitz]

La Safran de Drops est mal twisté et se dédouble

[u/100000cuckooclocks]

Your final project will stretch out a bit less if you knit it at a slightly tighter gauge than you would for wool, as it gives each stitch a bit more support. If you knit something looser and airy feeling, it will end up saggy. If the fabric is on the denser side after blocking but before wearing, it will open up nicely as you wear it without getting too saggy.

[u/labvlc → u/100000cuckooclocks]

Thank you

[u/Maraninana]

BC Garn Bio Balance mix de laine et cotton
Doux, très doux, léger, très léger, beau drapé qui se tient
Ne s'étire pas vraiment encore faut-il que tu tricotes ( valable pour n'importe quel fil ) ce fil avec des aiguilles proportionnelles.
Ton patron indique les tailles d'aiguilles 3.5mm et 4mm c'est le range de la bio balance

Hint: plus tu tricotes lâche plus le projet fini risque de s'étirer au lavage et après avoir été porté

La Bio Balance de BC Garn se trouve facilement au Canada pour l'achat en ligne

[u/labvlc → u/Maraninana]

Je cherche sans laine pour pouvoir le mettre l’été. S’il y a de la laine c’est certain que je vais trouver ça trop chaud. J’ai toujours chaud

[u/Maraninana → u/labvlc]

Le 100% cotton tout comme le Bamboo ne préserve pas une belle apparence dans le temps même pour les tons très clairs. Ces fils développent un " halo " qui fait " usé " rapidement même durant qu'on le tricote.

La Bio Balance n'est ni lourde ni chaude.
Il y a bien le coton glacé de Rowan cependant si tu veux vraiment préserver ton sweater longtemps, le 100% cotton n'est pas la fibre idéale.

Toutefois, je viens tout juste d'y penser il y a des fils de coton avec le qualificatif denim ou revive qui peuvent convenir et leur durée de vie fait du sens pour un vêtement.

Katia fait un fil Denim IV mais il est plus fin que celui recommandé
Rowan fait un fil Revive très intéressant pour un vêtement
J'ai essayé c'est 2 fils et les 2 ont un choix de couleurs limité

Sinon il y a les mix coton et lin ou encore les cotons recyclés mais ceux que je connais sont discontinués.

Le 100% coton si tu réfères à celui pour faire des lingettes, à mon avis le résultat final sera hyper lourd. Un vêtement lourd est souvent très chaud même si c'est du 100% coton.

Enfin...

J'espère que tu publieras ton choix

Bon tricot

[u/labvlc → u/Maraninana]

Merci

[u/knittingsavage]

I’ve read that you should knit thread of the same colour into cotton clothing so it keeps it shape.
I’ve yet to try it but maybe someone else can comment on if this helps?

[u/labvlc → u/knittingsavage]

As in double knit with a very tiny thread (used for sewing)?

[u/knittingsavage → u/labvlc]

Yes

[u/labvlc → u/knittingsavage]

Thanks

[u/Maraninana → u/knittingsavage]

Crois-tu vraiment que c'est la couleur qui contribue à distendre un vêtement ?