of seduction and regret

There was laceweight, and School Products. And then there was the yarn I didn't blog about at all.

Its funny sometimes, because I really don't walk around thinking "this is bloggable", often until days after the fact when I need something to say and I dredge my memory for something to work into a post. Which is, by the way, one of the reasons I never seem to pull out my camera when I should.

There was some laceweight Italian merino that came home with me from School Products last week. I got it home, and I hated the color, so I never mentioned it. Why is it that when I make a mistake, I often feel like I don't want to say anything about it? So the other day, I blogged the mohair/cashmere and the silk laceweights I bought. But didn't take a picture of the merino [it was a washed out, grayed teal, in case you want to know] because I figured right away that I'd exchange it for a different color.

There's a little bit of a funny story in the buying of that merino. In School Products with two yarn crazed friends, I saw the merino and picked up a skein. Then I turned around and saw cones of the same merino. I said "Ohhhh [imagine low moan] I need a cone of that." And one of my yarn-crazy friends said - and I kid you not, I really should have been worried - "No, you don't need a cone. That's too much."

Of course I collapsed into fits of giggles and asked if she remembered the name of my blog. But I was being all sheeplike that day and so thought that maybe "too much" was the voice of reason, so I settled for two (measly) skeins.

Okay, so this knitter walks into a bar School Products the other day to exchange the merino for a different color. Knowing full well that she's going to get a cone, because dammitalltohell there's no one there to stop her this time. You have to understand, that Not-Kerry Not-blue shawl totally warped my mind. Big, square, a gazillion stitches with not one iota of information on yarn requirements to be found, and a coned yarn gave me the freedom to knit blissfully unworried that I'd run out. I love coned yarn.

So, I found the ochre-y color of the merino I knew I wanted. In a cone (nyah nyah) and was happy. And then I started looking around. Who walks into a yarn store and doesn't look around, even if they were there last week? So of course something else walked home with me.

The merino laceweight is on the right, the other yarn is on the left. The other yarn (if yarn it can be called) is a 50/50 silk and linen blend. Its the thickness of thread - thinner than some threads I've seen. In fact, I'm sitting here thinking that there may be a point at which something sold in a "yarn" store really is thread and not yarn. Its fine. Super, super fine. And considering the fiber content, there probably is no chance at all that it will bloom, fluff, or otherwise change its nature. I think its about the thickness of the thread in the middle of Kidsilk Haze.

So, I get this ersatz yarn home and wonder (yet again) what in the world I was thinking.
But as we all know, the cure for all indecision and regret is swatching. Its a make or break sort of solution, but it works.

So, I kind of have ..... knitted thread. Actually, I love it. It drapes, its soft, it has a very subtle and seductive sheen. I swatched it on size 8/5mm needles to give it some openness because I know this baby ain't gonna block for nothin'. I think that somewhere in the back of my mind, I was wondering if it would be possible to substitute this for cobweb weight wool. I know you can steam and iron linen and silk, which might substitute for the effects of blocking wool. Any opinions?

And in sock pattern news -

Its going. I'm knitting the second sock now. I realized that if this was just something I was knitting and was going to show you finished, I'd blow through it much faster. But this is something that someone else might conceivably want to knit. Which means that there are no secrets. If I'm not thrilled with something, I need to work it out. Normally, I'd just bury any glitches in silence, and no one would ever know the difference. But this figuring out and writing down and thinking of all the ways it could be better is slow. Patience, please.

Comments

[Jessica]

Those yarn colors are so subtle yet so lovely - I don't think there is ever "too much" when it comes to yarn. I'm in love with cones too!

[Ellen]

I would think it would look more finished if you blocked it open to open up the pattern,and either steamed or ironed it. Ironing it will flatten the thread (This will result in a what I call "crispier" hand), whereas steaming will set it without flattening. Do a swatch to try both techniques to see which one you like best. I also buy the whole cone--I'd rather have extra than the torment of wondering "do I have enough" the whole time I'm working on a project.

[margene]

Lace weight yarn is seductive. Now I think I need a cone, too.

[Norma]

I love cones. And no ends to weave in. But they're terribly heavy and ungainly, don't you find?

[Miriam]

You could try doubling the thready yarn. It might work. And if you steam or iron a silk/linen blend it should block out well.

[liz]

I bought a bunch of Habu yarns recently and most of them are more thread-like than the thread in my sewing box. And don't forget the easy trick to using cones: get a short dowel to put in the middle of the cone, cut a notch in each end of a shoe box (longways), and put the dowel in it and it'll turn on it's own when you pull the yarn, I mean thread.

[Carole]

At least when you have a cone-full you don't have to worry about running out.

[erin]

oh that's pretty. i love laceweight. unfortunately when i knit with it everyone likes to pick up and fondle my wip and tangle it all to hell.

[Martha]

As a scale reference, what size needles are those in the bottom picture?

[Martha]

Sorry, my bad.

[Jody]

Who needs sock news when there's lace to be had?

I don't have much knowledge or advice to offer about the linen/silk blend, but I know that Sharon Miller designs for non-wool "thread" so it's gotta be good. Did you buy the Wedding Ring Shawl - you could have a viable canidate on your hands?

[Rachel H]

You're dangerous. I like that about you. And I'm happy to be patient for the sock pattern. I'm thinking of using it for my first attempt and anything other than a plain sock, and these days I seem to be just slightly above the level of 'functioning idiot', so I like it that you're being so picky about working out before writing down. My small brain thanks you.

[Annie]

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished socks, and of course the pattern, because then I can go feed my addiction...sock yarn! But I will be patient! (If only we could get sock yarn by the cone!)

[Cordelia]

Clearly I have to either get to Schoolhouse as soon as possible, or avoid it like the plague.

Your swatch is utterly, fantastically gorgeous.

[Jinxsa]

I sell a line of linen clothing every summer (it sells in humid places but here...not so much..) steaming is the best alternative. No matter what linen absolutely shrinks in upon itself the minute it hits water. I think it's from embrassment for how wrinkly it gets...Ironing , is ironing, who wants to do that?

[JoVE]

I would think that maybe those patterns you got from Heirloom knitting might need to be examined in relation to that silk-linen yarn/thread. And I am of the opinion that both silk and linen are washable (even machine washable though some might consider that heresy). They both shrink but if you take that into account somewhat you might end up with a really beautiful washable shawl....

I also agree that too often a couple of skeins just isn't enough for a decent sized shawl though I assume it was the shorter of your companions who thought it might be.

[Sylvia]

I have a lot of superfine "yarn" that was leftovers from a machine knitting studio (a friend of a friend...). Some I knit as lace-lace, some I ply. I don't like splitting so rarely carry two strands together, and since I have an electric, massive plying jobs are a breeze.

You could always use sizing. Or, knit a pattern with faggotting to give the lace some directional drape. Clots like Kinzel's tiny k3tog bits in a field will make a jumpy fabric; adding something heavier around the edge stabilizes it and can give a flow to, say, a lace overskirt. Play with it and have fun.

[julia fc]

Same exact thing happened to me at Halcyon, maybe even the same crazed knitting friends? Except the part about me going back.
I wonder if they have a plan.

[Juno]

I'm sorry, did you say silk/linen? (cleans ears)
No wool? Really? And this after the linen handtowel?
Are you well?

If all else fails you can always use it on the loom....but it looks very, very good.

[--Deb]

Lace yarn? Did somebody say lace-weight yarn??

[susoolu]

Silk and Linen? Pretty, yes (well, of course), but clearly one yarn with absolutely no I'll forgive you when you block me just isn't enough for you.

[Laurie]

Oh, that thread and what you are doing with it! That's yarn porn. Thread porn? Whatever. Makes me want some.

[Imbrium]

Wait...they talked you out of a cone? Really? Hrm...glad you overcame that little piece of bad advice. ;)

[Valerie]

re: the silk/linen yarn. FWIW, the yarn samples included w/ Sharon Miller's wedding ring shawl include a very fine cotton and a very fine silk yarn. Considering you're purchasing this ultra fine yarn, are you still steeling yourself on wandering into the Heirloom Knitting camp? (yes, I do like to 'poke the bear'..ggg)

[Janice in GA]

Does that yarn have a -- cripes, I've forgotten the proper term for it, call it weight number? Like 8/2 cotton or 20/2 silk? I'm currently experimenting with a 30/2 tencel (12,600 ypp). My sample is on size 000 needles, I think, but I suspect I may need to go up a bit in needle size. Probably not to size 8, though.