Wednesday, April 22, 2009

How To Use Up Yarn

Let me walk you through how to use up partial skeins of yarn.


First, the yarn - Blue Sky Organic Dyed Cotton.  Beautiful.  Springy.  You adore it and must do something with it.  There must be about half a skein left, enough for a little kimono for a dear little 2 month old.

Next, the pattern.  Fuss about which kimono pattern to use.  Decide a sweater would be better.  In fact, a sweater that she can wear in August when she's in Vermont.  Yes, perfect - a 3-6 month size of that very cute Debbie Bliss Garter Stitch Jacket.  How adorable!!  Simple, fast, and classic in an EZ-looking kind of way.  Cast on and start knitting immediately, late at night, while completely engrossed in the final episode of John Adams.  Give absolutely no thought during any of these deliberations to yardage requirements.

The next day, notice how very large the sweater is looking all of a sudden.  The pattern calls for a 22" chest circumference for the 3-6 month size.  Crazy!  Spend most of your available knitting time comparing patterns and 3-6 month old babies.  Decide to just go with it.  She'll wear it when it fits.  Once again, and this is very important, give absolutely no thought to yardage requirements.

Run out of yarn.  Buy another skein.  Grumble about how this was to just work up the partial skein.  Wonder what happened.  

Knit until just one side of the front is left.  Run out of yarn again.  Buy yet another skein.  Grumble.  Wonder.

Finish the sweater and see that you have the exact same amount of yarn leftover.  If not more.  Deep sigh.  Find beautiful, sweet buttons and forget all about feeling grumbly.



Hmm.  Now what can I do to work up that skein ...


10 comments:

Liz K. said...

make her a hat already!

Christie said...

Love, love, love those buttons. I agree with Liz. Hat. Or a ball? Or a bib? A wash cloth? A hanky?

Ann said...

I know, a hat, right? And those buttons are the best -- I bought them here at The Yarn Lounge. They have the coolest buttons!

Anonymous said...

Oh no...two new balls of yarn?! That is hilarious!! But the sweater is so cute!! Love it! And i say hat too

Robin said...

Love the sweater. Love the buttons. I vote for hat or bib, too. OR, what about a little pouch with a ribbon drawstring for Momma?

tiennie said...

That is such a sweet little sweater!

Could you use that yarn for a washcloth? Babies always need wash cloths right? I also like the idea of a hat. :)s

LaurieM said...

Yah! Hat!

Cute sweater, lucky kid.

Laurie (Moo!) said...

An adorable sweater and the telling is just too funny!

nova said...

It's the perfect shade of green!

monica said...

The sweater is adorable. I once bought 11 balls of yarn just to use up 1 leftover ball. It's a vicious circle.