Proceed with Caution
Well, with one sweater finished, I decided I needed to get focused on another one. I started my first ChicKnits design, the LoTech Sweat for my Dad during the middle of August. This is great, easy knitting. Given the color and yarn I chose, I am not sure that this project will make for exciting pictures, but I am enjoying it.
I do have one bold statement of the obvious to make however: Men are Big! There's a lot more knitting in man's size 44 than in my usual 34-36.
The title of this entry comes from something that will become obvious if you stare at the picture long enough -- a color change that would suggest to you that I grabbed this yarn from multiple dye lots.
But I didn't. I went back and checked all my ball bands and they all are the same color and dye lot shipped directly from Elann. Honestly, these skeins were all sitting in the same bag together and I couldn't see the differences between them. But now, knitted into the garment, it is as plain as day. I'm not terribly happy about that and I wanted to put the word out to anyone who may have bought the Merino Light from Schoeller Esslinger from Elann that this could be an issue.
It's not so much of a problem for me because the goal of this garment is really to keep my dad warm in the winter while he is out keeping his heart healthy. But I would be really bummed if this was a less formal garment. It makes me wonder if this is a problem for this yarn brand, or if this is the reason that Elann could pass on such a good deal. Otherwise, this yarn is soft and pillowy to knit with and makes a delightful fabric.
I'm thinking that I am going to start another project as well. Just not sure which yet. I'm deciding between the following:
- Bonkers Rainbow Dyed Pullover kit I bought at the fiber fest
- Neroli Sweater in Jaeger Chamonix
- the Simple and Sleeveless shell (top right corner) from The Purl Stitch in Colinette Giotto
- A Day in the Life of a Knitter's Cat sampler scarf in a Blackberry Ridge wool silk blend
- Shadow Boxes Cardigan which I ordered as a kit from Shelridge Farm and which mom picked out for her Christmas present. (It's not here yet, but it should be soon!)
I'll probably give myself a couple of days to decide and work on one of the sleeves for dad's cardigan (I want to work on another "big" part of the sweater before I tackle the fronts). At least 2 of these projects will require the size 8 Addis that are in that diagonal scarf -- so I definitely have to finish that before I can go too much farther...
for some reason i am digging the shadow boxes... :)
I have the yarn and pattern for Neroli, but I think I'm going to make the cardigan. Maybe we can have a knit-along someday.
Bubbeleh
I luff your stuff. Vhen de Yentala grows up she vants to knit like you. Is it okay dat de Yentala lists you as de BIOLOGY MAIVIN on de blogala roll? Y.
teresa, this is the merino light that i first tried making the magic shadow hat with. when washed the yarn stretched out so much, and fuzzed up. i machine washed and dried it. it was the garter ridges that did the most fuzzing, the stockinette part was ok, but anyway, did you check washing it before you got started?
Well, that's a bummer, for sure. (Can you tell I'm a 60s, 70s product?) I'm not at all familiar with that brand of yarn. I've only seen something like that unmatching dye lot once before.I forget what the brand of yarn was but it was a major company. If the same thing happens on the rest of the sweater it will be a very subtle design element. I didn't notice it in the photo until you pointed it out. Maybe other folks won't either. But either way it's still a bummer.
I'm thinking that the same thing will happen over the whole sweater. I started looking at the balls of yarn and for the life of me I can't see any that look different, so I am not going to be able to tell until it gets knit up. I figure if it is more or less random it might end up looking neat rather than odd.
I am going to go back and wash a swatch. I meant to do it... maybe this will be my wake up call to test wash yarn...I've never done it before even though I know I should!
This sweater is knit on size 8s this fabric is quite tight (it has a very spongy springy quality), so a little loosening probably won't hurt the overall project. I guess I should know how much to be prepared for though!
Theresa, that would bug me. A while back I got this shipment of super-discounted Aran weight yarn from elann that had a very light scent of cigars. It must have gone to a cigar smoking home and been returned to them but it was odd.
I agree about knitting for the masculine set. I once made a pair of socks for a guy with a size 12 foot. Yikes.
Theresa, I adore the Noro sweater. You look wonderful in it!
And I vote for the Bonkers Rainbow as the next project. Her stuff is so wonderful! You'll do whatever you want but that's my opinion...
I had the same experience with Tahki Cotton Classic and with K1C2 Frosting. Tahki responded to my letter with a "gee, that's never happened before." K1C2 responded by sending replacement yarn -- and letting me keep the old yarn, too!
I may send an email to Elann with the picture and ask what they recommend I do. I wonder if since they sell closeouts, whether they will be able to do anything.
It's worth a try. The worst that can happen is . . . nothing.