Yarn shortage = knit faster

A knitters worst nightmare is to run out of yarn before a project is finished.

It's even worse when a project is being knit from stash, with a yarn that is no longer being made.

Yes, that is happening to my knitting.

I started to knit Claude with my 10 balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora.

The pattern states I need 9 balls to knit my size.

As i have 10 balls I feel good about starting this project.

I changed the pattern a little bit, I am knitting the body in one piece to safe on sewing.

It's a lovely yarn to knit with and the project is going well.

That is until I reach the two fronts and realise that I am left with just about 3 balls of yarn for the sleeves, collar and button bands.

Help, what went wrong?

I went back to revelry to check out all the projects knit with the same yarn.

I found the explanation on some projects.

It looks like the yarn was made in two versions with different meterage. Of course I happen to have the shorter one and the pattern was done with the longer one.

I have finished the body with all the trimmings and have started to knit the sleeves from the top down. I am knitting one sleeve using up one ball, I will then do the same for the second ball with the second sleeve. Once both have reached the same length I will use the half ball to knit the cuffs at the same time.

My sleeves will be a lot shorter. My only other option would be to frog the whole thing and knit something else.

To keep me going I have already looked at the next project. Miss T wants me to knit something for her. I have 6 balls of Kashmir DK and want to knit a tunic for her. She loves how soft the yarn is and likes to drape the balls all over herself.

A new beginning

Autum is the time for new beginnings.

From now it's going to be me and the cat again - during the day.

Hopefully I will be able to sneak a little more knitting and blogging into my day.

School has started, both girls are back in full time school.

The teenager is already in year 9 or Removes as it is called in her school.

Miss T has started Reception.

She was not happy, she wanted to go back to Nursery.

But now, after the first three days, she is very happy and has settled well into her new routine.

I am lucky to have a huge extended family and don't have to take the teenager to school. I can just walk Miss T to school. We enjoy our morning walk together.

About two months ago, I bought another maxi dress. But it has no sleeves. I needed a little something to cover up my arms. Otherwise I can't ever be seen by my extended family.

One option is to wrap a scarf around myself, the other option of course is: knit something.
I visited my local yarn store and had a look at patterns and yarn. I knew I wanted to knit with a summery yarn and maybe a lace pattern.

I found both in the Rowan Purelife, recycled collection.

I bought 8 balls of Revive in the Quartz colour way and started knitting Shallot.

Yes, I have not knit any of my project for 12in2012.

On the other hand, I have not bought a lot of yarn this year at all and I have not up a lot more stash yarn.

My latest project is again something for 12in2012.

This time something that uses stocking stitch.

Shallot was a nice knit, put to knit p4tog for an entire garment and every 3rd row has taken a lot longer than I would have liked.

When I checked out the pattern, my main concern was p through back loop. That is something I am staying away from!

Sadly summer is almost over. I am sure I will get a lot of wear from Shallot and not only with the maxi dress.