There are lots of silly things that one can do. Like,
1. knitting 2 right fronts, instead of a left and a right one. (Yes, been there, done that)
2. forgetting the buttonholes (haven't done this recently)
3. Knitting different sizes for the front and the back of a garment and then trying to figure out why they are different sizes. (did this once)
However, these things tend to happen accidentally, and you can't be blamed for a moment of inattentiveness.
This is silliness that is more akin to insanity.
I am unplying 540+yards of multi-stranded cashmere/merino lace, that I bought from School Products. So far, I have invested over 8 hours and am about 2/3 of the way complete. Why did I think that this was a good idea?
I love the is grey/brown shade and there was only 1 skein available, so I figured that with 1 skein, I wasn't going to be able to do much, a scarf or a hat, but if I unplied the 3 strands and knitted them doubled, I could make a much larger scarf or stole, so in my infinite wisdom stupidity, I started unplying.
The hubbler doesn't allow me to knit in the car, something about impaling myself on knitting needles, so I took this on a recent hiking trip. Rather than admire the countryside, I unplied my yarn... and the balls rolled off my lap and got tangled with the other ball that had rolled off a few minutes earlier... and I got car sick, because unplying yarn is like reading in a car.... and I had whopping big tangles and when I got out of the car at the rest stop, one of the balls got away and I had to chase it down.. thank goodness it did not roll under someone else's car.
Note to self... unplying a large ball of yarn is a bad idea. Unplying a large ball of yarn in a car is an even worse idea.
We passed some lovely scenery on our trip. I snapped this from a moving car.
We did some hiking here. Any guesses where we were?
Walking on windy clifftops is not really a good idea for me, as I suffer from vertigo. However, even chickens can be brave when there's some distance from the edge.
Okay, so I only have about 100 yards of Berroco Sensu unplyed so far and I figure I need about 250-300 more. I am crocheting a v-necked pullover sweater vest for my husband and am trying to work ribbing around the neckline and the arm holes. Double-ply was alright for the body and ribbing at the waistline, but too bulky for the neck and arms. I did not follow a pattern only the measurements from a store-bought one he has. I do not knit and the crochet patterns I found either call out knitting the ribbing or to just make a single crocheted edging - that vision is just all wrong. The patterns that do call for crocheted ribbing are for the cuffs or waistbands. Even when I go to some of the local specialty yarn shops, they give the same advise. I experimented with about 20 yards and that little bit took about an hour to unply, but it looked great! I am determined to get the professional look I am envisioning. So much of crochet just does not have the sophistication and refinement that knitting has. I was wondering if you have tried using a manual egg beater - I plan on giving it a spin. How long did it take you to finally finish all the yarn you needed? Your photos are wonderous!
Posted by: Laura at April 30, 2008 01:04 AMSomewhere in Dorset, maybe?
And I'm so sorry to hear you say that unplying the yarn strands is not working out well. I also have some of that School Products yarn in the stash, which I bought with the intention of separating the strands to knit lace...!
Posted by: Beth S. at April 8, 2008 09:39 PMBoy, that really does sound scary!!
Posted by: Rain at April 7, 2008 06:13 PMI'm guessing Cornwall too -- that scenery looks awfully familiar! Perhaps Land's End or the Lizard?
Posted by: Wendy at April 7, 2008 12:32 PMyou frolic so well here in knitted goods :)
we like it when you frolic! hehehe...
This isn't a hiking/walking trip. Its just an excuse to go to Get Knitted.
Posted by: Diane at April 6, 2008 11:56 AMYou are ambitious.
I am so prone to car sickness that knitting in a PARKED car (like when waiting for my daughter after school) can sometimes make me nauseated. Car + activity = YUCK. Can't seem to lose the automatic association.
I would love to drive by Stonehenge. You make it sound so casual. I hear they're excavating to determine what's going on with the previous blue stones that were there, how long ago they got there and all that. Very interesting to a Yankee.
Posted by: jessie at April 6, 2008 11:20 AMI once separated two balls of Misti Alpaca Lace that someone had wound together. I cannot imagine separating plies.
Posted by: Sarah at April 6, 2008 08:00 AMThe unplying is something I would do too - crazy, but good for a long car trip.
Re place - was it Lynton / Lynmouth? It is so long since I have been to the west country I have almost forgotten what it looks like!
I have had moments of silliness like that too! Hope the untangling is going too badly.
My guess is that you are on a road trip to Cornwall.
Posted by: Ling at April 4, 2008 10:47 PMAnother silly knitting related thing: unraveling your mattress stitch to readjust only to find out you're unraveling the edge of the knitted piece. Particularly raw that one, I did it tonight.
Yes, my guess would be you're on the north coast of Cornwall too.
Posted by: Mandella at April 4, 2008 10:22 PMUm.....you are (as Ali G once said) in The Wales?
Posted by: suzanne at April 4, 2008 01:11 PMTintagel, isn't it?
When I was little I got to actually walk around in Stonehenge -- must find those pictures...
And unplying -- just nuts!
Isn't there a way of doing this with a spinning wheel ? Not that you'll be trying it again in this lifetime.
xx T
Ah yes..hubris gets us all in the end, doesn't it?
Good luck!
Posted by: Lynn at April 4, 2008 01:33 AMOh my goodness - that is quite an eventful car trip. I do love driving holidays as I am able to knit in the car & luckily my husband doesn't mind as long as I am still giving him the directions.
Posted by: Ann at April 4, 2008 01:32 AMoh I've done that, trying to unply into 3 balls, my hint is separate into two balls first, one that's one strand the other 2 strands, and then separate that into two single strands, it's more time consuming but a little easier than juggling 4 balls of yarn
Posted by: Jen at April 3, 2008 11:39 PM