Sunday, January 11, 2009

The beginning of Lace......

Everyone claims that a new year is great for changes. Most usually set resolutions. They start and stop things in their life. Some may be small changes others may be life altering changes. This past week I've had a change. I have changed my knitting desires. This wasn't something that I had planned to do. It just happened. And all it took was one skein. One skein of Cascade's new Alpaca Lace Yarn. It is so yummy. The colors, the feel, the everything. Now I how I met my new love is quite the tale. I went to my LYS to grab a single skein of Cash Vero (yes I know it is generally just the intent to grab one skein) and there it was on the back table. I couldn't avoid color 1401. It was still in the plastic waiting it's turn to be put out with the rest of the lace. Jimalee, the owner, is always very good at showing and telling new yarns. So she popped opened a bag of 1401 (the blue one of course) and said here touch. And it was over. All over. I hurried and grabbed my one single skein of Cash Vero so that I wouldn't forget it. And turned to Jimalee with the alpaca in hand, "I must have this...we must find a pattern." I gave the details of what I wanted. A stole was my only requirement. So we happened upon Best of Interweave knits, Forest Path Stole. "Can I handle this? I explain. Having more faith in me that I did Jimalee assured me that yes I could. Yardage? How many did I need. We took a quick glance, 875 yards. So I grabbed 3 hanks and walked out the door smiley. I was immediately on the telephone with Pink-n-Sparkly telling her of my new found love and what I was going to do with it. By the end of the evening I had her casting on for the stole and she didn't even have the pattern in hand. Cast on 141 and do the moss stitch for so many rows. We will do a knit-a-long.... It was great. I went to sleep dreaming alpaca, leaves, and stoles in my head. The following day at work I showed Pink-n-Sparkly the pattern. I found out that last night she didn't remember the pattern (even though it was her book) and that she just trusted me. So at lunch we planned out our little knit-a-long. Oh it was going to be great fun. Pink-n-Sparkly already had a couple of rows done and I finished casting on in our 30 minute knit fix. That evening I jumped onto Ravelry. Checked to see the erattas and what everyone had to say about the pattern. I kept noticing that everyone's yarn requirements were around 2000-2500 yards. I just couldn't figure it out. So I joined the group and posted the question, "why does the pattern call for 875 yards but everyone is using 2000-2500 yards?" The following day I got my answer.... Are you ready for this one? Now I do have an education and I can read. But the pattern calls for THREE 875 yard skeins. Go figure. I was crushed. I loved the alpaca but could not and would not afford the total cost. I mean that would be $135. Yikes!

2 comments:

Heide said...

Holy mother of Jehosophat that would sure be one expensive stole. I'm sure that you'll find something just perfect to make with the wonderful yarn though.

Anonymous said...

LOL! This was so funny! I didn't even want to start any new projects until I caught up on what I already had going. So, here we are, on the phone. By the time I got to work I told Pennknits, "Damnit Woman! I can't believe you got me to cast on! And w/out even knowing what I'm making!!" When I saw the patter, I thought, Holy Hannah! WTF have I gotten into?!