In The Knitting Book (my review), I saw a nifty technique where you recycle yarn from an old sweater, cut it into lengths, then knot it together with other yarns to form a "new" variegated knotty yarn. I didn't have an old sweater (or other knitted item) to use, but I did figured I could try the same thing with leftover yarn from various other projects. I might have been able to make a few mittens/hats/scarves, but it's been sitting for over 20 years (labelled Eatons* and Baycrest, UGH!)...it was time to do something with it.
So this week, I've been sitting in front of the TV cutting up yarn into foot long lengths. I was hoping to make a afghan, but I'm not sure I have enough yarn. So far, I have about 11 ounces or just over 300 grams. I could go into my stash, pull out a few full skeins of yarn that hasn't been designated for anything else yet and cut them up, but I'm not sure I want to do that. It, too, has been sitting, but I'm hesitant to cut up a whole skein. I could either make a smaller item (pillow?) or I could still make an afghan, but in alternating stripes of solid colour and new knotty variegated yarn. I'll have to give it some thought this week.
Whatever I decide to do, it's going to be a very simple pattern because any fancy cables and such will likely be unrecognizable with the knotty yarn. I'm thinking all seed stitch because it's my favourite, but I might opt for garter stitch or stocking stitch. Also, the knots may irritate me so much that following a complicated pattern may make the project unbearable. I certainly don't need any more unfinished projects. ;)
Anyway, here's a photo of the cut up yarn I have so far:
Crappy shot, I know. I should have made the whole photo more in focus. Anyway, you can sort of tell that the colours (burgundy, pink, black, brown, cream, grey, blue, white/pink) don't exactly all go together. But, that's what I have and that's what I'm going to use.
*Eatons was a department store in Winnipeg that closed down many moons ago. I'm not sure about Baycrest, but the yarn I have is ancient.
Needlework Tuesday is hosted by Heather over at Books and Quilts.
I have a garbage bag full of old yarn from my grandmother. I would love an easy craft project that would use some of it up. I am The Queen of unfinished projects because I'm not a great knitter and I tend to give up when it doesn't look like the picture:( so sad.
ReplyDeleteI will be excited to see this finished afghan...
I finished the scarf for son and am now working on tiny knitting projects. Will post photos next week. I did a scrappy knotted project. I used short round needles, cast on 75 stitches and started knitting with yarns that had been knotted together. When it was finished and cast off, I flattened the tube by adding fringe to close the open ends.
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