For many knitters, nothing is more cozy than settling into their favorite chair with warm yarn and favored needles and working on a project in front of a fireplace. This is a perfect wintertime scenario, but what do you do in the summer? Or if you live in a tropical climate?

Wool is no longer the only yarn fiber widely available, to the delight of knitters who are allergic to wool or simply think it's too hot. So even in the heat of summer, knitters can continue to partake of their favorite hobby with cotton yarns, silk, hemp, rayon, and acrylic. These fibers come in a wide variety of combinations and blends as well, so cotton can be paired with wool or silk; rayon with cotton; silk with wool. The possibilities are many.

Knitters have so many patterns to choose from that there's simply not enough years to get through them all. No longer relegated to knitting cardigans or pullovers, knitters can knit hot-weather items such as tank tops, shorts, lacy tops, even bikinis. Plus, if you're the type to plan ahead, you can still satisfy cold-weather knitting without having a pile of wool on your lap. Knit something small like socks or get a head start for the fall by knitting hats. Of course, if you absolutely have to knit up a sweater, that's what air-conditioning is for. Turn up the cool air and you won't be bothered by a warm pile of yarn covering your legs.

Say you don't live in Hawaii, but you want to knit for someone who does. It wouldn't be practical to make them a chunky Aran sweater, but a lacy silk scarf would be a nice accessory. The flip side is for those knitters who live in warm climates who don't need chunky hats in the winter; they can always knit for friends and family who do live in frigid areas, especially when they see a lovely pattern they're dying to try, but the bulk of it is impractical for themselves.

But who says you can only knit cotton in the summer and only wool in the winter? You should be able to knit whatever you like, whenever you want. It's your hobby; enjoy it. Besides, that beautiful Fair Isle sweater that's in the fall issue of your favorite knitting magazine may take a while for you to knit up; if you start in late summer, you just may finish in time for the cold weather, so there's something to be said for starting early or before the season.

No matter what time of year it is, there's a project (or projects) perfect for you to satisfy your knitting urges.