Project: Nightsongs
Pattern: Nightsongs by MaweLucky/Jane Araujo, Ravelry free download
Yarn: Ellen's Half Pint Farm 100% Merino Sock
Yardage: 500 yards
Needles: Size 7
Cast on: June 20 2012
Last year I started Nightsongs, I knitted and knitted, and I ran out of yarn with less than 10 rows to go. I wrote to Ellen, she told me to send her a stretch of yarn and she'd see about dyeing a few more yards for me. I sent her the yarn, and after awhile pretty much forgot about the whole thing. The almost finished shawl quietly marinated in the back of my closet, didn't bother anyone.
Then comes Stitches. I knew Ellen would be there, so I brought her the shawl, tinked back another row, and she wrote down a bunch of notes to dye a little more yarn for me. Unfortunately this is an older sock yarn that has been discontinued, so I'd be lucky if the new yarn would match completely.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the package today from Vermont! She was able to find the same yarn, dyed the same colorway, and there is probably more than 100 yards in the skein, plenty enough to finish the shawl.
Now if I can just figure out where I left off in the pattern ...
If you have a weak stomach about frogging you probably want to get up and take a deep breath before continue to the next part.
A few years ago I knitted Gartered Stripes, also in Ellen's yarns.
Pattern: Stripe up the Band, by Candace Eisner Strick
Yarn: Ellen's half pint merino wool (varigated and lavender), Misty Alpaca (purple)
Needles: Size 6
Buttons: Hand crafted glass buttons from Knitting Arts in Saratoga
Started: September 2006
Finished: September 2007
Progress pictures: Waist band, Body, Almost finished, Button band
Total cost: $120
Over the years I wore this sweater quite a bit and the body and sleeves stretched a lot, thanks to all the garter stitch. A lesson learned. The sweater no longer fits, but I still love the yarn. What to do? When I was a little girl, when I first learned playing with yarn crafts in China, my mom knitted all of my sweaters. When I outgrew an old sweater, I'd help her rip it, wind the yarn into skeins, wash the yarn, and wind it back into balls so she could use it for my next sweater. That was my first lessons working with yarn. To this day I still hand wind all of my skeined yarns.
So the answer is obvious, rip the sweater and reuse the yarn. So far I have ripped one sleeve and just moving onto the second.
Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, and leave me a comment!
12 comments:
Lucky you to get that matching skein, I wondered what happened to your Nightson ;) Ah yes I too remember the frogging, winding and re-winding, amazing how much we have in common! :)
Well, I'm thrilled you'll be able to finish that awesome Nightsong - what a great colorway.
Additionally, I love your frogging that older sweater. Not only is that a great way to reuse perfectly good yarn, but also a great way to update your wardrobe. What plans do you have for the yarn?
And that should be you're, not your. gah. :)
WOW, love that color for your Nightingale, which is an all time favorite pattern...I need to get out the pattern and try again! And recycling your yarn inspires me to fo the same. I have a sweater jacket I knit years ago, which I never wear, time for the yarn to find new life. Thanks Vivian, great post!
What a great idea! I have a sweater I am contemplating what to do with. I just might have the answer. Another I don't wear anymore is going to be felted to make a pillow! I love the color work, so why not.
Great news about the new yarn and I'm sure your new/revised garment is going to be great. :-)
The frogging process is always a pain, but knowing you, you will transform that yarn into something even more wonderful that you'll be able to use better. Your Nightingale is going to be satisfying to block.
Aggggh! Thank you for the frogging warning ;-) You amaze me! Your mother amazes me! I wish I had a mother who wanted to teach me all of these skills.
Your shawl is going to be fabulous and I can't wait to see what you knit with your recycled yarn.
Yikes!! I guess I do have a weak stomach for it! XO-
I'm all for ripping out projects that are no longer being used. Are you going to make the same sweater or something new?
There are many things about you that I admire and your ability to recycle is just one of them. That shawl is going to rock!
Audry, it's a very small chance I'd knit the same sweater again since I now know how the garter stitch would grow and grow. It's two different yarns, and I'd have to guess-timate the yardage. They'd probably sit around for awhile until the idea hits.
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