Cozy from Knitty...suggested yarn subs for Florida please

[gardenmommy]

Thinking about knitting Cozy (http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTcozy.html) for FIL's GF, and thankfully her birthday isn't until October. :D They live in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, so obviously I don't want anything too heavy/warm but it's often nice to have something on winter nights and when the A/C is blasting.

I really like the looks of the Reynolds Mandalay [100% silk; 98yds/88m per 50g skein]; color: #32 "oatfield"; 8 skeins that it calls, for but the price is a bit out of my budget (I think it runs about 10.00 a skein). I like the neutral color too.

So what would be a good substitute both price and fiber-wise. I saw the new KP worsted Shine and even the Main Line (75% Pima Cotton, 25% Merino Wool)...or would the wool blend be too warm for Florida? Even a less expensive 100% silk sounds would be okay, but I'm assuming silk is a bit tricker to work with, correct?

[Ingrid]

I used the Mandalay for my Cozy and it was no different than working with any non stretchy wool. Sort of like cotton, but not at all splitty like cotton would be. I thought it would be shiny like other silks I've seen, but it's not.

So a cotton probably would work for this, too. I don't think the merino in KP yarn would make it too warm, since it's an open weave, but I think it would make it softer and easier to work with than straight cotton. I think that would be a good choice, actually.

[gardenmommy]

And I looooove the understated colors the Main Line comes in...decisions decisions. Should probably choose Ivory though.

[Ingrid]

Ivory would be neutral. I made mine in a berry color and it looked very nice. I suspect that any of the colors would be versatile to wear--or maybe the Cozy would be nice enough for her to find clothing to match IT.

[knitncook]

As a Floridian, I can tell you that open worked wool will not be too warm for what you are intending this cozy to be. The people down here think that if it is 105° outside that it needs to be 32° inside. (and likewise if it is 32° outside it needs to be 105° inside). I always carry a shrug, shawl or lightweight sweater with me when I go anywhere all year long. Wool breathes so even in warmer weather it isn't going to make you terribly hot. Especially if you are sitting inside an air conditioned movie theater with your teeth chattering and know you are going to be hit with a blast of oven temperatures when you go outside! :rofling: