Erica’s Blog

Tidying up a bit ago, I found this WIP I accidentally left out of last week’s WIP Roundup.  The yarn is “souvenir yarn” I purchased when we were in Florence, Italy in July of 2006.  I absolutely LOVED how the yarn looked in the ball.  The colors of it reminded me both of the hills of Tuscany AND the hills of California.  I loved it.  I wanted it.  I had to have it.  I bought two balls of it (about 500 yards).  I hung onto it for two and a half years, waiting for juuuust the right project for it, never even removing the ball bands, much less letting needles come near it.

The week of Stitches, I decided I absolutely HAD to have something new to wear.  I needed something simple and quick that I could finish in time.  I cast on.  I frogged.  I cast on again.  I frogged.  I cast on again, giving up on having it ready in time to wear, but bringing it with me as my simple, take-along knitting.  I even knit on it during my ergonomics class. No matter what size needles I used or whether I used a YO or a KFB for my increases, I didn’t like it.  I set it aside after that weekend to marinate with the other WIPs.  I pulled it out today, and there’s just no way around it:  I HATE THE WAY THIS YARN LOOKS KNIT UP.  There, I said it.  I feel disloyal.  I feel like I’ve betrayed the yarn and my fabulous trip in some way, but I just can’t stand how it looks.

Thing One, my “I love camo and tie dye and peace signs and hippie stuff” girl, likes it.  I tried to talk her into a shrug so I could use up most of the yarn.  She doesn’t want one.  At most, she wants mittens and a hat.  I suspect that I will end up giving away the other ball.  I’m really sad about this.  I did, however, screw up my courage and…frog it all AGAIN.  Sigh.  I guess this relationship just wasn’t meant to be.