third times a charm

At least its true in this case...... 

I have 2 wound balls of Mountain Colors Winter Lace yarn that have been sitting on my desk for more than a year.  Each hank has 1200 yards or 2400 yards of a  constant reminder.  They have turned into more of torment than anything else.

Repeatedly, I have wanted to use them in one project or another, but has never seemed quite right for any of the projects that I would swatch.  And now with all this swatching, you might guess that these hanks have been had a bit of wear & tear, but holding up well.

So where am I going with this?......

Well......I am liking how my  "to be named" red lace wrap is knitting up so much that I thought, just maybe,  I finally could use the forsaken 2 hanks of Mountain Colors Winter Lace into the larger wrap size of this pattern.....there is so much yardage here, that I should have no worries about running short of yarn for this project. 

So I jumped right in..... casting on 135 stitches with a US #4, because a US#4 is my go to size 99.9% of the time when working with a laceweight yarn.   And after working about 12 rows, I convinced myself that I just hated how it looked. I really should have taken a picture before ripping it out, but it was pretty dreadful. 

OK, right right....it occurred to me that I am using a US #3 on my "to be named" red lace wrap......SO, it must be this pattern that is dictating the smaller size needle.  

Convinced that I finally have a solution for this yarn, I cast on 135 stitches again, now with a US #3 needle, I knit 9 rows only to be completely disgusted by how this yarn is knitting up and the fabric it made.  Again.... I wish I would have taken a picture before ripping it out......Trust me it was pretty bad. 

Now I find myself in a mode, that I will not  be beaten by this yarn. Primarily becasue I have 2400 yards haunting me every day (so dramatic, right?) and decided to try it with a US #2.  This now required a needle purchase, because I don't own a lacepoint needle in a US #2. Irritating right?

With a US#2, I cast on 135 stitches and knit 8 rows and its GLORIOUS.  I feel like I have finally broken the curse of this yarn...... Must celebrate!!!!! ...... Margarita anyone? 

Moral of this story......

• third time is a charm, definitely in this case, keep trying, .....but more so
• change needles until you get to a knitted fabric that you like.

Some lessons are harder than others.  This definitely makes swatching a more desirable option. 

Happy Knitting!!!

 

Comments

[Evelyn]

I think I have two hanks of the same yarn in the same color, also cast on for a lace project, also abandoned (and about to be frogged). I still love the yarn though!

[my paris hotel]

I think I have two hanks of the same yarn in the same color, also cast on for a lace project, also abandoned (and about to be frogged). I still love the yarn though!
+1