Cool Cotton

I have 'stashed down' a bit, completing a top with cotton I bought in the 90s. I originally bought Patons Stonewash Cotton to make a cabled top to replace a bought top I had worn to death, but I never completed it because at the time I began I didn't like knitting with the cotton and although I was going to finally finish the pattern I decide that cabled 8ply would probably be too hot for an Australian summer anyway. I saw a Sian Brown pattern for a nautically inspired top in Knit Today and I loved the simple shaping. I only had navy cotton but I swapped a ball of kid mohair for a ball of white so I've ended up with a top which is very like the original pattern which is very unusual for me. Here's the result:

It's too darn hot

We've had a run of hot weather. It's been over 30 degrees for over a week. On Thursday it was the school swimming carnival. I was judging which meant standing at the end of the pool in the sun for all of my duty on a day which was over 40 degrees. But I am still knitting...and crocheting. I have taken up the hook for the first time to make a garment for over twenty years. In the mean time crochet has become more attractive (although some of the patterns I am itching to make are from back in the dim dark ages when I last crocheted to make something as opposed to teaching my daughter to crochet for her Textiles Major Project last year).

I have finished the funky baby blanket and I'm now working on a cotton top (knitted), a lacy coverup (crocheted) and a shawl (knitted). A top in a viscose/linen mix is taking a long time to decide on - thought I had the stitch sorted but after most of a ball's knitting it's back to the drawing board again. I'm desperate to get into something to finish quickly (I want something for me: NOW!). I think the knitted top or the crochet are the likeliest candidates.