sad summer sweater.....

An FO.  I know.  I can't believe it, either. 

Especially since it's knit with probably the worst fiber I've ever knit with. The end result....a sweater that I swore I was going to rip out at least two dozen times.

Let's talk fiber first.

Many (many many many) years ago a friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to a moving sale that one of our lowertown artists was having.  She had heard that there was yarn.

Sure.  (Just what I need.  More yarn, right?)

There wasn't anything I was interested in......this artist was a former weaver-turned-potter who had lots and lots of coarse, chunky fibers that she had used for utilitarian weaving projects.  Rugs, placemats. Bright colours.  Not me.  (This was back in my 'brown' days....which preceded the current grey phase.)  But stuffed in the way back of one of the closets, I spotted this lone cone of lace weight, sand coloured linen/rayon blend.  Yardage was a mystery, but it looked like a lot.  It was fifty cents.  Last of the big time spenders here.  It came home with me and got stuck in the back of another closet.

When my knitting mojo left, apparently so did my knitting common sense.  I resurrected this yarn, my tried and true featherweight cardigan pattern and decided that even though I didn't need a fourth featherweight cardigan....nor did I need a cardigan in this sandy-ivory colour, that this was just the perfect summer knitting project.  

Go figure.

Before I had knit two rows, this is what I was dealing with.

Seriously....and I do mean s-e-r-i-o-u-s-l-y......over spun yarn.  Kinky, twisty, awful.  I should have stopped immediately and tossed the cone in the trash.  But, because I'm me....I thought I'd knit just a bit more.  

Rarely, I'd come across a bit of yarn that was OK.  And then it crimped up again.  And again.  And of course, we all know what happens when you knit with over spun yarn, right?  No amount of blocking is ever going to get that biased business straightened out.  

I think if I had ANYTHING else I really wanted to be knitting on, this would have been trashed, but (sigh) it's such a good summer project....in spite of the fact that it is totally crappy yarn and (for me) an unwearable colour.  So I kept going. 

To the bitter end.

Biased?  Of course.

Look at those sleeves twist!

(Yes.  I know.  I should have photoshopped the wrinkles out of that shirt.  I certainly wasn't going to get the iron out!!!)

But overall, it's not awful for a fifty cent, throw-on summer sweater.

I just wish it was grey.

Comments

[laurie]

I think it looks great, I love the color and it goes beautiful with denim and the white tee, its something I would definitely wear but I can understand the frustration, I still knit despite my vision loss and at the moment I have a triangle scarf on the needles with yarn I bought on discount, its beautiful yarn but my gosh its so uneven in texture, the nature of it I know for this yarn but its really testing me,,
I think this yarn you used was well worth your frustrations and certainly worth 50 cents!!!!! Looks great!

[steph@woolythyme]

It WAS worth 50 cents!!!!

Sent from my iPhone

[Annie]

Overdye!
I think it looks light and lovely despite the flaws (which frankly are minor and of the sort only another maker would spot.). It’s the sort of basic I would scorn to make because it’s so boring to knit, but would wear all the time.

[steph@woolythyme]

you are so right!!!  i never considered overdyeing this, but that’s the perfect answer!!!!  Thanks!!

[Jane]

I am so glad you didn't get the iron out. I mean it is 94 degrees at 8:00 p.m. today. I can't imagine it is much cooler in your neck of the woods. The 50 cent sweater looks great on you. - Summer shabby/chic. Is that even a thing anymore? Once upon a time it was though, I swear it.

[Caroline]

It really suits you! I actually like the colour but a grey would go with so much more so yes, a dye job would do the trick. Did you mention the pattern? I must go look again.

[Eileen]

iron out wrinkles, oh, heaven NO! I didn't even see the wrinkle till you mentioned it. The sweater looks great and only 50 cents! great use it up, wear it out or do with out! Love it all.

[Tracy]

The cardi is LOVELY, Steph! Wow... such whisper-fine yarn. The color is nice, especially for summer, but grey would be super. Dye/overdye??!! Either way it looks great on you! :) For just 50 cents it's a wonderful thing! Happy Summer Days to you & yours ((HUGS))

[Iris K.-B.]

Overspun yarn is just awful, isn't it? I knitted an Owl Sweater in some no-name overspun yarn and no matter what I do it always twists a bit...

That said, the end product actually looks lovely! Can I ask what pattern it is you are using? I could really do with a lightweight summer cardi like that.

[steph@woolythyme]

It was the featherweight cardigan and I love it so much I’ve now knit it 4 times. It’s really the perfect summer cardi. 

Sent from my iPhone

[ellen]

I still need to knit one of those. Maybe next summer. I admit to giggling a bit when you began with the sad descriptions of the yarn. I know this blog and I said to myself she won't stop... hehe.

Still impressive. Next one in gray, right? LOL

[steph@woolythyme]

you got it….i’ve got one in black, teal, fuschia, and now this ivory….why not grey?!?  It’s a great pattern.  I highly recommend it.  (I hate I’m so predictable!!!!)

[Kelliinkc]

Still not to late for this to be gray....