wheatens...what works? and why?

I'm turning (albeit, briefly, I'm sure) to my unending (or so it seems!) UFO pile.  

Hello, again....Wheaten.  A lovely pattern by Anne Hanson, combining lace and cables, for an interesting, yet not too complicated design.  Another pattern I'm knitting twice, although not in the order it looks.

Brown wheaten, 1100 yards of yummy Brooklyn Tweed Loft, has been a winter joy for the past three winters.  It's wide, wooly, long, and cozily wraps two or three times for wintery warmth.  I love it and it is the scarf I turn to on blustery days.  (Can you tell I'm in a winter dreamin' mood?....will August ever end?  Oh, wait...it just began!)  It took less than two months to knit.

Now, consider purple/green/blue wheaten.  I'm sort of surprised that it's still a work in progress.  I've threatened to frog it more times than I can remember.  I tried giving it to my daughter to finish.  I secretly wished that the knitting fairies would come and finish it if I kept it in the UFO pile long enough. It's been on the needles since January 2014, a year longer than it's brown brother.  So, why?  What makes one project a 'can't put down' and the other 'can't stand to knit'....and it's the same darn project?

 

Jojoland Melody is a softer fiber than Loft, and as we all know, I'm quite partial to wooly-wools.  But it IS 100% wool, so that shouldn't be a show stopper.

The variegated yarn doesn't show off the pattern as well as the solid brown, but overall it's not awful.  Some people have declared it downright pretty.

Even though the ballbands (of which none still exist...having been devoured by 'you-know-who') indicated the balls were all the same dye lot (way back when, I checked, checked, and double-checked), one was definitely brighter than the others.  This really bothered me in the beginning, but once wrapped around a neck would most definitely NOT be noticed and isn't much of an issue for me now that I'm way passed the joining point.

3 1/2 balls are knit in....only 1 1/2 to go. 

I think I'll pretend it's grey....and finish it.

Comments

[Ann denton]

It's gorgeous!!

[D in NL]

The colours call out to me, I must admit. You could try wearing sunglasses while knitting it :)

[steph@woolythyme]

i like the sunglass idea!!

[Caffeine Girl]

In theory, I love wooly wools, but my neck and torso are very sensitive to wool, so I can only use them in hats, mittens and socks. Loft has great qualities and I wish I could wear it!
I like the brown one better, too. It does show the pattern better. And that pattern does not look easy!

[jane]

Both pieces are beautiful. Keep on knitting. Maybe the colored one could be a Christmas gift.

[Eileen]

Why are some knits soo painful, I have my UFO's that take me forever for no good reason(Bressay, yes, I am still knitting this dress) ugh....
I like the brown Wheaton better, only because I like brown and wooly wool and it does show the pattern beautifully. The sunglasses -are an option. I am sure though you will be happy with the end product of the colorful Wheaton.
I'm ready for some fall weather and then winter! Even though this week has been really cool, gray and wet, very unusual for us here on the Front Range in August.

[ellen]

The wheaten is a beautiful pattern. Lovely combination of textures!

[Laura]

Maybe the fact that each new colour comes up as you're trying to enjoy the cables makes you realize how "slow" you're knitting. I have a sock that is "slowly" changing colours as I'm knitting, and I just CAN'T WAIT to finish each colour, which means I'm not enjoying the colour I'm on...plus it's single ply. I'll get through it. The socks just won't be my favourite!

[tanna]

We seem to have no real rhyme or reason to our knitting fancies. But, I do know you tend to prefer the neutrals. ;) I have a stole I started with colors I'm not particularly fond of... it may never make it out of the UFO basket. LOL! It mostly comes down to color for me. ;) Go, Steph! Go! You can do it! blessings ~ tanna

[karen]

knowing you these projects will be done in no time! Do you like loft? isn't it 'breakable?" I have knit with jojoland melody and enjoyed the color changes and the wool!

[steph@woolythyme]

I like loft...although it's definitely not a spindrift (Jamieson yarn) which is my favorite.  

[Mary Lou]

I had an Anne Hanson sweater 3/4 done and ripped it out for the very same reason. I just wasn't happy with it. Now I have a bag full of lovely yarn that I may use for a Granito sweater. If I ever get time to knit someone else's work! Soon!