Hive mind you were no help and other disappointments...

[hlmauera]

Well, either only three people ever read my LJ or people are short on opinions these days. I had no luck getting opinions about which shawl I should knit next. Trudi suggested the worsted weight shawl might be something to get done BEFORE winter weather so it's ready to be used but that was the only real opinion voiced (experience was voiced but not opinion). She might have the right idea so tonight after making the jelly, I tried to wind up the two 8 oz skeins into cakes so they would be ready to use. Only these skeins which were purchased at Egils off a vendor's back table and are supposed to be 8 oz of indigo dyed wool/silk, became a large (and expensive) disappointment. Instead of two large cakes from which I could do contiguous knitting, I have, well, This:


Each skein had at least one knot and one place where the yarn was sliced. In addition, in several places it looks like moths had gotten to the yarn because the plies were broken and unravelled. Hopefully I can still use it but it won't be as much fun to use because of all the ends I'll have to weave in. It was not cheap yarn but I don't know who the vendor was and there is nothing notated on the tag (although if you know, based on the tag, let me know). I am really disappointed and I'm not sure whether to try to knit Amethyst out of it or not.

I don't think I'll buy yarn in this kind of situation again. So one vendor may have ruined my experience with all of them. *sigh*

Comments

[elfie-chan.livejournal.com]

Not encouraging at all, at all. It's also possible that the yarn is older than it looks, or that the dye process messed with the plies. (I hope it wasn't moths!)

I went and bought the last skein of that after seeing yours. Maybe I should wind it up quite soon...at least it's quarantined in case it has moths. :( (I haven't seen any in my skein.) I don't know what the merchant's name was, but I know he was also carrying Brizio's buttons, if that helps.

I'd recommend putting this yarn aside for now (in a Ziploc bag, if you can) and starting Suki. The yarn's already wound, it's ready to go, and the beginning of it is very relaxing. If you have enough yarn, knit the large size. I've been wearing mine as a decorative layer against the arctic AC in some buildings, and they also work beautifully as scarves with a winter coat.

[dragonflymn.livejournal.com]

Did they have roving and knitted items as well? I almost bought some stuff from them and ended up spending most of my money on the leather merchant. I have no opinion on the particular pattern since I don't knit but I would vote for anything that you have ready to go just to know there wouldn't be a similar issue.