Cotton for Summer

There’s something about May that nudges me toward cotton. Maybe it’s the longer evenings, or the way the light is a little bit brighter. Maybe it’s simply the shift in the air - still cool, but with the promise of warmer days ahead. The kind of days where I still go out with my winter coat on and immediately regret it. Whatever it is, this is the month when I naturally reach for breathable fibres, soft colours, and projects that feel light and summery.

Cotton is the perfect companion for this in‑between season. It’s practical, washable, gentle on the skin, and endlessly versatile. 

Drapey Cotton: Shawls for Soft Spring Layers

I’ve been working on a cotton shawl for a little while now — that peach‑to‑pink gradient cake that I’m currently obsessed with. Cotton has such a lovely drape when it’s worked thin, a 3.75mm hook seems to be the sweet spot for the Cotton Kings Sultan yarn. It’s the kind of layer that works for early mornings, cool evenings, and those unpredictable spring days when the sun looks warm but the air hasn’t quite caught up.

I also have a shawl WIP from last year that’s been patiently waiting for its moment. Cotton shawls are slow makes for me — they need good daylight for photos, and I like to take my time letting the colours unfurl naturally. They’re meditative, rhythmic, and perfect for easing into the season.

Structured Cotton: Bucket Hats for Summer Days

At the other end of the cotton spectrum are my bucket hats - made with thicker, sturdier yarn that holds its shape well. They’re quick, cheerful projects, and they always feel like the start of summer to me.

I’ve been using Lily Sugar ’n Cream ombres for my bucket hats. I love the variety of bright, fun colours. Unfortunately, the ombres seem to have been discontinued, which means my future hats will be solid colours. I have a few single skeins left to use up though, but not enough for bigger projects like bags. So this summer will be all about solid colours, I’m thinking plenty of yellow and light blue.

Why Cotton Works So Well for Summer

Cotton is one of those fibres that quietly does everything you need it to:

• Breathable for warm days

• Washable for everyday wear

• Soft for shawls and scarves

• Structured for hats and bags

• Comfortable against the skin

• Reliable in both drapey and sturdy forms

It’s the fibre I reach for when the weather warms up, when my colour palette shifts lighter, and when I want projects that feel easy and enjoyable. Acrylic yarn feels a bit too thick and heavy for summer.

Slow Seasonal Making

May always feels like a transition month — not quite summer, not quite spring, but something gentle in between. Cotton fits that mood perfectly. Whether I’m adding a few more rows to a shawl, testing the crown of a bucket hat, or simply enjoying the colours and textures of the yarn itself, it all feels like part of the same slow, seasonal rhythm.

I’ll be adding a few cotton pieces to the shop over the coming months, each one made at the pace that handmade things tend to move. For now, I’m enjoying the softness, the colours, and the quiet shift into summer making.