Eco - rehash

Oh man, I am so tired, but such are the trials and tribulations of parenthood (especially with a baby). Regardless, I have been working on my goal of trying to match patterns to yarn (both already owned - or in the case of patterns, if not owned then at least free or available from the library). Let me tell you, it has been HARD!! I am very much a person who loves organization and planning. Have I ever told you that I'm a teacher? Well, I am (though currently on maternity leave) and in my job if you're not organized, you will SINK... big time! I'm always making myself lists (and including things I've already done on them; a great little trick if you ever feel oppressed by a mountain of things to get done). But, I digress.

Back to the point! It has been difficult linking the yarn I own to patterns I would like to knit, and I think I know why. Knitting isn't just something to get done, it's a creative process! And part of that creative process is the yarn in and of itself. I truly feel that every yarn has a pattern that is just meant for it, and that pairing can't be forced. I'm sure that anyone who's ever created something can say the same, sometimes a certain medium is meant for a particular project. So, needless to say, to attempt to pair ALL (or even a great deal) of my yarn with the RIGHT projects is a great task! But, the process hasn't been in vain. I've decided to just come up with a few yarn-project pairings at a time, and to be flexible in changing them if the fit doesn't seem right.

First up on my list of yarns is Cascade Eco Wool. At a hefty 478yds per skein, this yarn is an economical choice for projects requiring a lot of yardage, and with a variety of subtle natural shades, it's a really nice yarn to work with. Now for something a little different: I plan to turn these

back into these

I know this seems like reverse logic, but a few weeks ago when I was trying to keep myself from going to the latest Beehive sale, I started thinking about any knitwear I might have that just doesn't get worn, and these were the two that I came up with. The Aran sweater that I made for my hubby is just an overall horrible design. Even though I did a gauge swatch, it still turned out way too large, and the shaping of this sweater is just non-existent. It reminds me of those boxy sweaters guys used to wear in the 80's... blah! As for the sweater/jacket that I'm wearing, it is a GREAT piece. I actually really love it, but the fact remains, I never wear it! I think it's a combination of our rainy climate in Victoria, BC, and the fact that I held the yarn doubled when I knit it. I know, DOUBLED! Anyone who's ever worked with Eco wool knows that it can be used as a bulky weight yarn, but at the time when I started the project, I was a fairly fresh knitter and was advised by the lovely staff at my LYS that it was a lighter weight and hence should be held doubled. This resulted in a really stiff fabric which I attribute as one of the reasons why I never wear it.

However, now both these yardage eaters will be my gain as I reclaim the wool. In the mocha (brown) I have 2390 yds, and in the natural (white) I have 1912 yds... that's a LOT of wool! I have been hunting around for projects I thought would suit, and this is what I've come up with:

Hooded Sweater with Lace Pattern (Rebecca Magazine #32)

via

Eco Vest (Katie Himmelberg)

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Owls (Kate Davies)

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Aidez (Cirilia Rose)

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possibly for Max: Woven Bands Pullover (Hana Jason)

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Well, what do you think? I still need to decide which colours to use for which projects. Suddenly, I'm really excited!

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