This is the oldest yarn in my stash. Well, the oldest unknit lot of fiber that is. This was purchased for my intended second sweater.
A huge improvement in yarn choice than the first sweater. It is a 60% Merino Wool / 40% Acetate tape yarn, specifically Chai by Berroco in colorway #9331. The best way to describe the feel of it is … like a silky sweatshirt. More slippery than fleece, but there is some roughness to it as well.
Obviously, it was never used. This yarn taught me my first lesson about the quality of drape in a fiber. The gauge listed on the label is an exact match to the gauge required for the pattern. However, the yarn it was supposed to replace is Colinette’s Chrysalis. Attempting to use the Chai in its place resulted in a fabric that was more like cardboard than the drapey loose fabric shown in the picture.
It also taught me to never trust a yarn label. I achieved the listed gauge using the recommended needles. But, when or if I knit this up, I’ll use a needle one size larger. Sometimes the labels list a needle size that is intended to attract the largest possible group of consumers. Providing a gauge for a US size 13 needle might eliminate the lace weight crowd more quickly than a US size 8.
It remains unknit because of the color. There was a time when dark somber colors appealed to me, but not as much these days. I cannot remember the color choices available at the time of purchase. If then was now, I’m sure I would have chosen something much brighter. However, every time I pull it out and consider giving it a new home, the soft feel of it makes me put it back.
So, what lessons are hiding in your stash? Leave me a comment. Or post about it on your blog and tell all of us.
10 responses so far ↓
Romelda // Mar 26, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Cast the yarn away! Now! When I retired and went through my stashes, yes, stashes, and found ALL the projects I felt bogging me down and I made a choice. I either used it NOW or it went to a happier home. If there is something wrong I’ll bet chances are you will never use it. Sorry for the viewpoint. It has just been my exprience and the feeling that comes when you move the object is RELIEF!! Be happy!
KnittyOtter // Mar 26, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I bet that would make a nice soft cardi… but then again if you don’t like the colors it won’t fly. Do you know anyone who might like the colors that you could knit for? Or just give it to them if they are a knitter? If you don’t think you’ll use it then maybe you should pass it along and pick up something that you would like. :D
Any excuse to get new yarn right. *L*
My biggest lesson was to also make sure you get enough. Not having enough of a yummy yarn has actually helped me in deciding what yarns I really want to get. Not sure if this is making enough sense. *L* Anyway so now I decide what it will be, at least in general before I buy it. I have so many singles from when I first started knitting and I just don’t wear that many hats & scarves. Nice yarn that will be saved to be accents in a project I guess… we’ll see.
So whatcha working on these days? :D
When you moved your blog it threw me off as I forgot to change the link in my bloglines and I think I’ve missed a lot. Did you ever finish those socks? :D
*OtterHuggles*
DeeAnn // Mar 26, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Hmmm….every project I work on is a lesson :) The biggest one was finding a substitute yarn for a textured Starmore knit. The only old information I could find on this discontinued yarn was 125 yards to 2 ounces. I mistakenly associated this as being thinner than Cascade 220 so it must be DK. I knit my swatch in DK to gauge on the recommended needles and it looked fine. Turns out it was supposed to be Aran. Not knowing how pronounced the textured stitches were supposed to be, I had no idea that it was wrong.
I really like the olive-y yarn. Maybe using it combined with a brighter color could give it new life :)
Tina // Mar 27, 2007 at 7:09 am
My lesson is, don’t by on a whim. I tend to be a little impulsive and buy yarn that I think will work for a project before reading all the specs on the yarn. Twice now I have purchased yarn for a project only to find out it doesn’t have the fiber content that I expected or won’t work for the project I had intended. I have since learned my lesson and now try to buy only one skein of something to do a swatch before I buy 14 skeins only to find out that, oops it isn’t going to work. Unless I am looking to purchase the same yarn used by the designer, then I know I can’t go wrong.
Kim D. // Mar 28, 2007 at 10:26 am
Say goodbye to it! Give it a good home and move on. Some yarns and knitters just aren’t meant to be.
CORRIE // Mar 28, 2007 at 4:01 pm
I don’t want to think about my unfinished items! just leave them there and start a new one is my motto but this winter I actually need some so I better dig a few out!!!!!!!!!!!!do as I say not as I do…………..
Kate // Apr 1, 2007 at 2:34 am
I have leftovers from knitting my daughter a poncho, lovely mix of cream, pink, purple and tealy-green. The lesson I learned is to always consult the child when planning to knit for them - I don’t think S will ever wear this poncho, it’s just not _her_, so now I have these random balls of cheap (but not awful) wool yarn that do not meet my colour/drape/texture ideas of knitting for me, would be perfect, hard-wearing yarn for kidswear, and daughter#1 puts her nose in the air, and daughter #2 just dribbles over it. *sigh*
beth // Apr 2, 2007 at 7:38 am
I say if you like the feel of it then maybe you could try overdying it. Just a thought.
The lessons in my stash are that I have no self control.
Stephanie // Apr 3, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Lessons from your stash, I like it!
My lesson would be that a dye lot of variegated yarn can be VERY different from a picture on the net. There was an Opal sock yarn in fall colors that I saw on the net and loved! I bought it because it reminds me of fall when the leaves are changing with their breath-taking array of colors; it has red, yellow, and forest green. I was inspired to make a pair of socks from it with a lace pattern that reminded me of falling leaves.
However, the colors of the lot I got were much more red, and hardly any yellow. It just wasn’t as inspiring as I was thinking in person.
Who needs gauge?! » Stolen: Lessons from your stash // Apr 5, 2007 at 7:52 pm
[…] I read Some Knitting Required’s blog, and she was discussing her lessons learned from her stash, and I loved the idea so much I stand on the shoulders of greatness to share my lessons. […]
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