I just finished my Soap Bubble Wrap (Ravelry link) in the Marshmallow color of Simply Cotton Worsted. It’s a pattern from the Spring 2009 issue of Interweave Knits. I liked that it was assymetrical with lace detail at one hip and also spreading out over the opposite shoulder.

The pattern construction was really interesting – you make the kimono-style sleeves by casting on stitches at the armscye until you have enough for the length of the sleeve, and then you keep knitting straight up. This, along with a few short rows, allows you to keep the lace pattern intact at the shoulder. When you finish knitting the fronts and back, you join the top sleeve seam using a three-needle bind off.

I really liked knitting with Simply Cotton – it’s a lot softer than a lot of cotton yarns I’ve worked with, and it has a kind of loft that I found unexpected and pleasant. The pattern suggests knitting it in a sport weight yarn at the same gauge for an airy wrap, and if I knit it again I might try Simply Cotton Sport for a different effect.

I usually wet block my sweaters, but for cotton I like to steam block the garment right on my dress form. The steam opened up the lace pattern and made the bottom hem lay flat, and it also evened out some of the stitches in the stockinette sections.

I did add three rows of single crochet to the bottom hem in order to give it a little more weight and to make it lay flat. I was worried that it flared out too much, but steam blocking transformed it into a gentle ruffle that I like a lot.

Pattern: Soap Bubble Wrap by Connie Change Chinchio (Ravelry link)
Yarn: Simply Cotton Worsted in Marshmallow, 9 balls (for finished 38″ bust)
Needles: Options Interchangeable Nickel Needles, US size 7 <