What a Life!

I’ve had this yarn in my stash for what seems like forever. Malabrigo Yarn Sock, color Rayon Vert. I purchased it at Personal Threads at the end of 2010 in our annual trip there for the year-end sale. I liked it so much, I bought three skeins of it, thinking I would make a shawl or stole that took up to 1200 yards.

It was not to be.

The first project was Aria Delicato by Anne Hanson of Knitspot. Very pretty. Took only about 240 yards. Lots of yarn leftover.

The next project was Pemberly Socks by Theresa Belville of Little Turtle Knits. Toe up socks in a great stitch pattern. Loved every minute of knitting these.

My mistake? I used up the rest of the first skein and then started in on the second. Even though the dye lots were the same, the yarn is kettle-dyed and the amount of dye in each pot varies, so there was a clear line where the first skein ended and the second began.

That disaster along with a couple holes due to moth damage spelled disaster for that project.

My next project with this yarn was Shaelyn by Leila Raabe [Ravelry link]. This time I was smart – I worked two rows from each ball of yarn so no dye lot issues would arise. The plan was to keep going until I ran out of yarn.

Then the moth damage issue resurfaced. I began having to splice yarn every couple of rows. After a couple of inches like that, I frogged the entire thing and swore I would get rid of the yarn.

But I didn’t. I kept it. Somehow I just couldn’t let go of it.

Yet it was still there, haunting me in my stash. I started Evelyn’s Flower Basket shawl with it, but didn’t get far enough to hardly call it a project. I was tired of the yarn. I even gave Aria Delecato to a new yarn store – Yarn Charm – to use as a store sample. I was so tired of looking at that yarn.

Then last weekend something got into me, and I picked it up again. I wanted that yarn out of my stash once and for all. Enter: Hitchhiker.

It begins with only 2 sts, but a net of 4 sts are added after every tooth, making it a great project to work until you run out of yarn. Worked on 2.5 mm needles (US 2) – the same size needles one would use for a sock project – the project would be tedious if it were not for miles and miles of garter stitch. Worked to Ravel’s Bolero, it’s a great knit.

What’s even better? The project is finished, and the yarn is no longer in my stash. It’s gone, baby! And I have a new scarf to wear. Perfect for spring weather. Love it!