Nothing like a HATED yarn to bring me back to blogging...

I've been thinking about returning...
Changed jobs (from horrific to awesome)…
Knitted the whole time...
Too busy to blog (yes, but everyone is)

AND THEN THIS YARN! 

http://www.lionbrand.com/touch-of-alpaca.html

GRRRRRRRR---no es bueno---however you want to say it---I'm not a fan.

So it brought me back here to whine a little.

The project was https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sydanmaa-mittens.  I highly recommend this pattern (pattern = awesome made yarn = stinky a tolerable experience).

The only modification to the pattern is that I knitted a 1x1 ribbed liner to make them thick, extra warm, and a little more poufy.

What was the problem?
The yarn splits and splits and splits.  It's just soooo splitty.  I used NICE DPNs and was very careful...and had to pull out numerous times where a split had been missed only to pop up to be noticed later.  IN A CHARTED PATTERN.  I caught the splits lots of times as soon as the stitch was knitted,  and I know it happens, but this was ridiculous.

Needless to say, I'm not anxious to toss this into another project, especially a big one.  Thank goodness it was only a pair of mittens.

The good side is that these were nice when finally completed.  I'm praying they wear well for their new owner.

This yarn isn't even truly CHEAP at ~$6/ball.  :-(  and I know it gets decent Ravelry reviews, so there is a chance it was just one dye lot with an issue.

Happy Accident Homespun Hoodie

My new FAVORITE.  Now...to figure out why blogger won't allow me to type where I want to... a big : ( for that.  No ability to turn off the automatic centering of the text either.  Apparently--I need to go knit something.

Hopefully, you can deal with the tech issues (I'm sure it's operator error) and check out this pattern at <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/amanda-b-stewart-designs/317236">buy now</a>

I LOVE THIS SWEATER.  It is absolutely perfect for the random, never ending temp changes at work.  It's easy to put on and take off without flashing anyone (note the oversized arm holes for this very reason), and the hood really adds additional warmth when down without making me want to pass out.  Seriously, the folks at work need to consider these temp changes--from 90 to 50, depending on location. 

For this very reason, this sweater was created.  I'll make a sleeved version and post that as soon as it is complete.

Why "Happy Accident"?  BECAUSE...me successfully matching stripes is like lightening hitting the exact same spot twice.  I'm sure it happens--somewhere sometime.  The back is different than the front, which didn't concern me very much--but, AH, the fronts match!  I actually danced. 

The yarn is Lion Brand Homespun in Parfait.  I'll probably make the sleeved version out of one of the solids.  Homespun was the yarn I used for my first "real" sweater.   NOT a beginner yarn because I didn't know not to split that tiny shiny strand away from the main yarn.  If you do that, it looks like an afro gone bad--it pokes out and just looks horrible.  Fast-forward to now, and I can say with 100% certainty that it was ME and not the yarn.  It knits up quite easily by hand (now that I have a general clue) and is a pretty easy yarn to handle using every other needle on a GOOD knitting machine.  I love my simple Bond USM--it got me started.  However, this yarn makes the USM/ISM very angry, even when using every other needle.  My Brother KH-260 said "bring it on!" and had zero difficulties (setting #8 with no tension on the yarn mast).

So, I'm wondering--how many identical sweaters can I make before it's just too weird?

Easiest V-neck EVER!

See the easiest V-neck ever!  I've uploaded the pattern as machine knit...but if there is interest, I'll make up one as a handknit version.




http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-fold-over-v-neck




NO SHAPING is needed to make the V.  It is so comfortable!

Bernat Super Value

Caron 1 Pound