Bad yarny karma
Okay…what IS IT with me and yarn just not working out this week? I’ve just started the raglan decreases for the back of the Chickami. You knit the back before the front, so I’m not all that close to done…and…I am very clearly running out of yarn. I may have enough to finish the back, but probably not enough to even get started on the front and certainly not enough to finish the whole tank. I bought the yarn from Elann and they are now out of it. A search online last night turned up Millefili Fine but not in the right colorway (Bronze Flames). I should probably start calling around to the LYSs, but I have a ton of work to do so I’m wondering if that two hours it would take to go pick it up (if anyone has it) would be worth the time, since I’ll probably not wear the damn thing much anyway. Sigh. Heavy sigh.
So now I’m thinking of finishing as much as I can with the yarn I have left and then finishing the front in a different yarn, so there would be a patch of another color for the front piece. That could be cool or it could be ridiculous. I’d have to find the right shade. Hmmm…
Of course, you know what I really want to do is frog it. It was rather freeing to rip out so very much knitting on Rosy the other day. After I ripped Rosy out, I went and frogged the completed Rogue sleeve that’s been lying around for months and months because I don’t see myself making Rogue anytime soon. I’m going to use the Rogue Cascade 220 to make Rosy, and if I want to make Rogue again down the line, well, I’ll just have to buy more yarn for it. What a shame, hmmm? Now every project that doesn’t work out seems like prime frogging material. I think the spirit of Greta has entered me, just a bit. (No worries. As you all know, Greta is a warm and loving spirit.) The first time I read on her blog that she was about to frog the projects that weren’t holding her interest, I was a bit awed. I realized that for some reason I felt obligated to finish (eventually) every project I started, even if I wasn’t into it anymore, even if I knew I wouldn’t like the resulting garment. Not Greta. Gives food for thought, no?
The fact that I’m so seriously entertaining frogging this tank probably tells me all I need to know about how much effort I should put into tracking down more yarn. I don’t know… What do you think?
Unless you’re COMPLETELY in love with this tank, I would totally frog it. It sounds like finding the right yarn would take oodles of effort, not to mention frustration (especially if you weren’t able to find it!)
Posted by: ms. amy
Lemme tell you, as soon as I was halfway through your first paragraph I thought, ‘Yup, this one’s a goner.’
You don’t love it, you won’t wear it, why knock yourself out over it? Frog away and use that yarn for something you’ll really enjoy!
Posted by: Mindy
Ditto. Why bother? It’s hard enough to do all the work to make something you love. Why spend your limited time on something that isn’t just what you want?
Posted by: Jessica
Frog it. Let your flaming yarn be free!
Recycle it and save it for a project that feels more exciting in the future.
I something similar happen to me last summer. I had some lovely Cotton Breeze in just right shade of red from eBay. Decided to double it and completed the back of a tank top that I was really liking. Realized I had enough yarn left from the doubling to do maybe one-third of the front. Yarn discontinued. One year later, the frogging felt great. I think I even have a new project for the yarn…
Posted by: Michelle
So THAT’s why I’ve been having the overwhelming urge to move to Canada….I’m being channelled by Ms Cari! Delighted, really, just wish my hair would suddenly go naturally curly and I could be a redhead for a few days 😉
Frog it and begin the seven projects from the new Interweave knits…Life is Too Short and precious to be wasted on things you don’t LOVE.
mwah!
oh, and while you’re chanelling me? Take me out to the designer who did your dress….LOVE those designs! xoxoxo
Posted by: greta
Unless you’re COMPLETELY in love with this tank, I would totally frog it. It sounds like finding the right yarn would take oodles of effort, not to mention frustration (especially if you weren’t able to find it!)
Posted by: ms. amy
Lemme tell you, as soon as I was halfway through your first paragraph I thought, ‘Yup, this one’s a goner.’
You don’t love it, you won’t wear it, why knock yourself out over it? Frog away and use that yarn for something you’ll really enjoy!
Posted by: Mindy
Ditto. Why bother? It’s hard enough to do all the work to make something you love. Why spend your limited time on something that isn’t just what you want?
Posted by: Jessica
Frog it. Let your flaming yarn be free!
Recycle it and save it for a project that feels more exciting in the future.
I something similar happen to me last summer. I had some lovely Cotton Breeze in just right shade of red from eBay. Decided to double it and completed the back of a tank top that I was really liking. Realized I had enough yarn left from the doubling to do maybe one-third of the front. Yarn discontinued. One year later, the frogging felt great. I think I even have a new project for the yarn…
Posted by: Michelle
So THAT’s why I’ve been having the overwhelming urge to move to Canada….I’m being channelled by Ms Cari! Delighted, really, just wish my hair would suddenly go naturally curly and I could be a redhead for a few days 😉
Frog it and begin the seven projects from the new Interweave knits…Life is Too Short and precious to be wasted on things you don’t LOVE.
mwah!
oh, and while you’re chanelling me? Take me out to the designer who did your dress….LOVE those designs! xoxoxo
Posted by: greta
i sez ribbit, ribbit. 🙂
Posted by: carolyn
Yes, I think you DO know: you’re going to rip it. Tank, schmank. It’s not like other projects aren’t calling to you, right?
Posted by: alison
I agree with everyone else – frog the sucker. I gave away some summer tweed last night that I did a swatch of and hated knitting with. I had a hard time with the wasted money idea at first, but I would have hated knitting with it for hours and hours even more. Not the same thing, but ah, sweet freedom.
Posted by: melanie
This is all fantastic advice. And think of how much fun it will be to come up with something new to do with that yarn, while you’re working on other things that you want to work on (and will actually wear). Let me know when you come up with something, because I bought the same amount of that Millefini, so now I know it’s not enough for a tank!
OK, but one last thing: remember that Elann also had solid colors in that line. Coordinating yarn like that really isn’t my thing, so I’m guessing it’s not really yours, either, but you *could* check out to see if there’s anything there. And, Elann also has that swap forum. Just, you know, to give you other options. I’m all for the frogging myself.
Posted by: Em
I’m thinking too that this tank is destined for the frog pile! I wonder if your yarn is trying to tell you it wants to be knitted single-strand?? My sport-weight (Elann Lara) tank has gone along pretty quickly, and I’m no speed knitter. It’s a very wearable weight for a tank top. And, it’ll come in just under 6 skeins . . . 🙂
The Cascade 220 sounds good for Rosy! Are you going to knit it at 5 sts/inch or 4.5?
Posted by: sharon
i sez ribbit, ribbit. 🙂
Posted by: carolyn
Yes, I think you DO know: you’re going to rip it. Tank, schmank. It’s not like other projects aren’t calling to you, right?
Posted by: alison
I agree with everyone else – frog the sucker. I gave away some summer tweed last night that I did a swatch of and hated knitting with. I had a hard time with the wasted money idea at first, but I would have hated knitting with it for hours and hours even more. Not the same thing, but ah, sweet freedom.
Posted by: melanie
This is all fantastic advice. And think of how much fun it will be to come up with something new to do with that yarn, while you’re working on other things that you want to work on (and will actually wear). Let me know when you come up with something, because I bought the same amount of that Millefini, so now I know it’s not enough for a tank!
OK, but one last thing: remember that Elann also had solid colors in that line. Coordinating yarn like that really isn’t my thing, so I’m guessing it’s not really yours, either, but you *could* check out to see if there’s anything there. And, Elann also has that swap forum. Just, you know, to give you other options. I’m all for the frogging myself.
Posted by: Em
I’m thinking too that this tank is destined for the frog pile! I wonder if your yarn is trying to tell you it wants to be knitted single-strand?? My sport-weight (Elann Lara) tank has gone along pretty quickly, and I’m no speed knitter. It’s a very wearable weight for a tank top. And, it’ll come in just under 6 skeins . . . 🙂
The Cascade 220 sounds good for Rosy! Are you going to knit it at 5 sts/inch or 4.5?
Posted by: sharon