We will now get to which yarn I *did* choose for the shawl. Surprisingly, it didn’t come from my yarn wall. I don’t keep cones on the wall! That’s just crazy talk!! It came from a yarn bin.
These are vintage wool yarns in what would probably be a 2 on the ball band in today’s times. Because they are vintage, I have no idea anything about the provenance of them. If I run out (I won’t), I won’t be able to get more. I am not positive of the care and feeding of these particular yarns, so a shawl is good because most people should assume you must be very delicate in the cleaning of those. As opposed to say…a hat.
I especially like the rustic look of these yarns, and think they will add a little something to the pattern. I am a big fan of dichotomy. It’s one of the things that I appreciate about the pattern. It mixes the simpleness of garter with lace inserts.
I am finding with the vintage yarns there’s some old wearing and the green keeps having weak spots that I choose to break and rejoin rather than have a weak spot in my work. I have looked carefully, and I don’t believe those spots are because of insects. Honestly, they may be from critters chewing (I think the yarns were stored in a barn). There is also a possibility that something in the dye is weakening the yarn. It’s not quite a poison green…but who knows what those dyes did to the yarn??
A less…stubborn (?) person would have scrapped it all and went with some other yarn. I am telling you, it is a pain to have to keep breaking and reattaching yarn. As I get further along in this cone, it’s having to happen less and less. I’m quite pleased with where I’m at with it now.
Would i do it the same knowing what I know now, though? I honestly don’t know. I can tell you that I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone else. Knitting isn’t supposed to be this much work. In every project, there is some aspect that’s not my favorite. But I don’t want it to be work. And like Judith McKenzie kept saying in our spinning class at Madrona “Life’s too short”.
My plan for next post is to discuss a bit about following directions. Where will I land on that one?
P.S. did you notice last week’s featured picture was the yarn I chose?
