Thursday 10 May 2012

The Yarn Is Butt Ugly - What Can I Do?

You know how it is, you have this ball of beautiful yarn in your stash, you have stroked it, held it up to the light, imagined what you could make from it.
And then you start the knitting, but slowly the realisation dawns... it's really bally awful.

I spent forever on Ravelry going through sock patterns and could not find anything that I liked, undeterred, I started to make up my own.  A simple but effective textured diamond pattern, with an eye of partridge heel and a double rib to hold it tight and keep the sock up... it had everything going for it, it really did.
And then I started knitting it, it was not too bad to start with, it had potential... but Dear God, then the next colour and the rot set in... ghastly is not close.  The pattern worked fine, so fine I could sit on the train dreaming up another half a dozen socks... and then I looked down.  What on earth was I thinking... it looked like, well let's be honest, back in my student days it was called a technicolour yawn.

So now I have a dilemma, do I finish it... and then force myself to knit its mate because frankly it is too horrid to even contemplate a giveaway.  Or do I rip it back, ball it up and leave it in my stash as a scary reminder of how bad my taste can be... and the scary thing is I have another ball in other colours, I wonder if this will be the same when knitted?

I think I may have to remove it from the needles, just in case they get tainted by the yarn... I think it is a wise precaution until I decide what to do...

Whatever was I thinking... Sighs deeply :(

9 comments:

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

A sad yarn (oops sorry). Best thing is to undo it, roll it up and put it away. On days when you think life is grim, nothing seems to be going right, get 'that' ball of wool out and realise it could be worse, much worse.

French Nanny said...

I thought it looked rather nice...

Dawn Ruth said...

This post made me chuckle. I suggest you knit squares and donate them to a charity to make blankets. If you're cold I think bad yarn choice is the least of your worries

Lyn said...

It looks so pretty in its ball!

I'm with Dawn Ruth on this one. But if you don't fancy squares, how about knitting vests for children (my aunt got a pattern from Oxfam a few years back and the only yarn not acceptable is white because that's for funerals).

I did a similar thing with some yummy looking, variegated plum/purple wool tops - when I'd finished felting it looked like road-kill.

sue said...

I would either do as suggested make squares with it, or use it in a larger project where you require thin stripes. I don't think it looks as bad as you think it does though

KC'sCourt! said...

I think it looks OK, but as a few have said make squares for a blanket but start with one stitch and keep increasing until you say about 50 stitches then decrease down to one stitch, it will give a different look.......
Julie xxxx

Fiddly Fingers said...

What a shame? and it looked so promising! I think perhps on a larger project it would look better and maybe the other coloured ball will be an improvement!

Helen said...

Its not that bad! Why not cmplete a sock and see how you like it?
If you decide you definitely can't bear it then frog it and make squares! Knit a Square are always looking for squares for their blankets!

daisymarmalade said...

If you have some, team it up with a cobalt blue or even teal. I think you will find the colours complement and bring each other to life. Just get a few strands, wrap a swatch card and see what you think :)