Unforeseen outcomes.

So this will shock you:  I'm going to talk about yarn.

I have these 3 skeins of cashmere lace-weight singles from Colourmart in tartan green that I bought in like, 2007. I've always been ambivalent about them - a very fine dark green single just never spoke to me for lace and I have SO MUCH of it (2300 yards x 3 cones).  What was I thinking?  I have no idea.  Which is unusual.  Usually I remember the emotional state that went along with the acquisition.  IN DETAIL.  It's part of the yarn romance.  

It looks like this, kinda.  But darker.   It has some weird photogenic issues with color saturation.  Or I do, as a photographer.

I tried to sell it during the stash sale.  I've offered it as a gift.  I took it to a yarn swap.  I listed it on my trade page on Rav.  

After the yarn swap I took a bunch of stuff to donate but I couldn't add this.  It's CASHMERE.  How can I give that away?  I love cashmere.

Earlier this summer I had a thought, sat down and spent two days watching dumb movies and plying it into a three ply.  It's a very fine lace-weight, so I knew I would get a fingering weight maybe.  It was boring, but at least then I might be able to get someone to take it off my hands.  

Result:

Still with the color saturation.  But you know, slightly improved, if still uninspiring.  About 2300 yards of green cashmere sock yarn basically.  It kicked around the house waiting for me to take a picture.  Well, waiting for it to stop raining AND be under 100 degrees so I COULD take a picture.  It's been approximately similar to a sweaty gym sock out there.

This is how much it has rained in the last few weeks.  And also that probably explains the 7 mosquito bites I got in 3 minutes yesterday - excuse me while I go dump that out.

(Oh how delightful, there were mosquito larvae SWIMMING in it.  West Nile on the hoof.  )

Last night I was tidying and I started to put it away finally and on a whim - the faint thought "industrial oil/yarn finishing" drifting out of the recesses of my brain - stuffed it in a lingerie bag and washed it on hot in the washer.   Nothing to lose when you don't really like it in the first place, right?  

 

Oh.  *exudes smugness*  Look at my beautiful new yarn.

 

Comments

[elisa]

Holy WOW. That's awesome.

[Charlene]

Oh I'd tap *that*! Yum!

[Faith]

Oh. My. I'll be in my bunk.

[Rabbitch]

I'd hit that :)

[Lynn in Tucson]

Lurvely! I did the same with a whole mess of black Baruffa Cashwool. I'm much more likely to use it now.

One of these days.

(If the color doesn't thrill you can always overdye.)

[Jocelyn]

Ooh. Now THAT turned out well! I bet you could give it away now ;)

[Natalie]

Too bad I didn't see this earlier. But then I've been trying to resist the lure of Colourmart cashmere for some time now. Perhaps resistance is futile?

[JudiP53]

I was raising my hand, too! Love the color and Colourmart cashmere is totally worth the effort. Don't be tempted to buy more and wash it after you knit - according to everything I read, to get the most cashmere-y goodness, you have to do the washing first. As you did. The knitting fates must love you - they protected you from yourself through thick and thin! :-)

[S.Kate]

Dark green with envy at the sight of so.much.cashmere.
- you could always overdye for a different shading.

[anj]

I've knit with that yarn. it is truly, truly delicious. I can't wait to see what you make out of it.

[Lynn]

Damn. I was hoping you still wouldn't like it and I could generously offer to take it off your hands. Damn.