An admission and a frog.
I am finally, finally ready to admit that I am not a Lorna's Lace-aholic. I wanted desperately to love it, and I tried desperately to love it. So much so that I even tried to knit two different sock patterns out of it.
I fully recognize all of it's great qualities: it's soft to the touch, it's strong (nylon blends are so good!), it comes in an array of glorious solid colors (but yet still handpainted!), it's affordable, and it's easy to come by (who *doesn't* sell Lorna's Laces?). What's not to love?? Apparently, there are things not to love. Apparently, I do *not* love knitting with size 0 DPNs. I hate it. Too many teensy stitches. And the patterns I've attempted to knit with Lorna's all come out either too loose when I used size 1 DPNs, or too small for my feet when I use size 0 DPNs. Sigh. I've even tried adding more pattern repeats when knitting with size 0 DPNs, and, well, I'm just not happy with any of these adaptations to the yarn.
I'd rather just admit that I like a more substantial sock yarn, as hard as it is to frog these two nearly finished socks. Especially because I am so in love with both of these colorways. And I am fully aware that I am in the extreme minority with this most recent discovery. Likely a veritable blasphemer of the knitblog community. They don't call me a Philistine for nothing. Looks like I'll be reverting back to my staple sock yarn.
And a special thanks goes out to pamela wynne: this was what finally enabled me to frog such seemingly pretty almost-finished knits. It was hard to admit, but it had to be done. I'm glad there are others making such decisive sock-killing decisions and taking some of the sting out of mine.
Labels: when knitting goes awry
posted by knittingphilistine at 11:59 AM
35 Comments:
Megan,
Please bring them to me when you visit if you don't get an even trade from someone else.
I love that yarn!!
Makes perfect Jaywalkers.
I'll GLADLY work out a deal too good to pass up!!
XOXOX
I feel the same way about Lorna's. I like my sock yarn to have some attitude. I do like working with 0s, but by choice, because I love my socks to tightly embrace my feet. The beautiful skein of Lorna's I recently won will be used for something else.
It's hard to accept that something is not going to work when you've put so much effort into it. The only reason I kept going with my Lucys is because of the incredible STR base yarn.
Good for you for not being afraid of frogging. I'm sure some Sundara will heal all your wounds.
After working with LL for the first time, I can honestly say I agree with you. I'm making Waving Lace socks from Favorite Socks using US #1 needles (AKA US #1.5), and am knitting at an uncomfortably tight gauge. Otherwise, I think my socks will slouch. I'll finish them, since I'm enjoying the pattern. But from now on, I think I'll stick with the Gems Pearl-based yarns.
I feel similarly about LL until I discovered the Sport line. Make socks with Shepherd Sport. Requires the same # of skeins for a pair, you can knit it up on 2s and it feels just as nice!
I have two pairs from Lornas and I used #1's. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a tight knitter or not, but the fabric is pretty nice. I'm not a Lornas addict, but I do like the semi-solidness of the colors and the softness. They also hold up very well. Hopefully you can find someone to trade! I'm on holdout until after MD S&W. If you are still looking to get rid of them next week, let me know.
Right there with you babe! Not a fan of LL. Too thin for me.
I haven't worked with it, but I can completely understand your feelings: I draw the line at gauge with size 1s. My feet are too damn big to knit socks with size 0. :)
Ummm... so do you want to trade for that purple Koigu??? :)
Oh, I frogged an almost-finished Jaywalker (in LL, no less), so I feel your pain! It's no use knitting with something you won't be truly happy with. And you wouldn't have known that unless you'd tried it.
I have yet to knit with LL yet. And now I am nervouse about it. We will see how it goes though... Better to frog and be done with it rather than slog through to finish when you know it won't work, right?
Well, Sundara is a fantastic staple sock yarn to have as your go-to!
I am starting to feel about Opal how you feel about LL. It just seems ok to me now, not outstanding...
As we knit, so shall we frog.
I think you have just given me the courage to frog my one embossed leave sock. Thank you!
It's not you, it's me. Seriously. I just need some time to figure out what I really want.
Yup. Thin. Makes great baby socks, though. And your frogging photos are beautiful. Almost makes the pain go away.
Go, babe!!
I came here thinking I'd see some finished socks. Instead, I was left with my mouth wide open which prompted Mr BDK to ask if I'm ok.
I feel the same way about Trekking. I don't quite understand how I can knit happily on US1s, no complaints, but a size 0 just sends me over the edge. I have knit LL on size 1s with success, but we all knit differently.
Have a good weekend.
Knitting is nothing without frogging. I have a sickness when it comes to The Frogging, you know... once, twice, three, four times... whatever it takes to get it just right. What's worse - continuing to knit knowing that it's not right, or frogging?
And, oh, no problem about the Lorna's - I know someone who loves that stuff (me*cough*me) and is happy to adopt all unwanted skeins.
There's nothing wrong with not liking a particular yarn! That's why there are so many sock yarn choices available.
I have some LL in the stash, but I haven't yet knit with it. Maybe I should dig it out and see if I like it. If I don't like it, maybe I'll have to send it to your mom. ;)
I tried a pair of socks in a multi-colored LL and hated it because the colors were doing nasty things, but it did make a beautiful lace scarf. I've been hesitant to try LL again for socks, but if I can do it on 1s, I'll go for it. Life is too short for size 0 needles.
You need to knit happy socks at this time of the academic year. Let your Mom do the frogging!
Have a good weekend!
i really struggle with frogging. it's hard to let go after investing so much time in something, but if it results in a near perfect knitted item in the end, it really is worth it.
still, i'm crying over the yellow sock. killer.
okay now...what'cha'll doin' with the Lorna's in the frog pond?? Inquiring sick-o peeps who groove on size 0s want to know!
What a pain to frog all your work. I'm about to do that too but can't bring myself to yet.
My problem is I'm such a loose knitter that size 1s are too big for all the sock yarns I've used, including Koigu! There's something wrong with me, isn't there? I also don't like Lorna's, actually, I found it quite splitty, somehow.
Now all this talk of frogging has made me want to frog my almost-finished Jaywalker. I don't know what it is, I just don't like knitting that pattern, gorgeous as the finished look is. It's all Pamela's fault.
glad to see that someone else shares the same feelings toward that yarn. Even though i do love my jaywalkers which are knit in LL, i am definately not a fan of the thin-ness of it and it's not 'sproingy' (um, is that even a word?) enough for me. I love my koigu. love.
and they say that frogging is cleansing for the soul. um, no one actually says that but it sounds pretty good! ;0)
Yes, I second trying LL Shepherd Sport. Just a tad thicker, 200 yards per skein and will solve that pesky thinness problem.
I am soooo glad to find out that others are having to use freakishly small needle sizes with the Lorna's Laces! I am currently knitting my first pair of socks with them and was horrified at how huge and slouchy the socks were on size 1s. I thought maybe something had gone weirdly awry with my knitting, but it looks like this is standard for LL. Thanks for this - I feel better now!
Just chiming in to say "me too." I knit some Dublin Bays out of LL last month on size 1s--too big. Fortunately they fit my MIL so I didn't have to frog, but it still stunk because I really loved the colors.
I also agree with a previous poster, that your semi-solid purple would look gorgeous as a scarf! No gauge necessary.
I'm still exploring which sock yarns I like. I've only used Lorna's once, but I kind of agree about the "substantial" statement. It hasn't grabbed onto me the way some other yarns have.
Ugh, I HATE size 0 needles too! Just can't knit with them. But those Lorna's colors really are exceptional. Too bad they didn't work out.
I'm seconding Elinor's suggestion to give the Shepherd Sport a try. i luuuurve it.
I'm with you. No size 0's for me.
I think you were right to frog. It's not always an easy thing to do but at least your Mom is going to make some great Jay's from it!
Oh No! They did look great, but I totally agree, size 0s = no way.
I agree--shepherd sport works nicely for socks. (I'm also really enjoying the Tess's Yarns sock yarn I'm currently knitting with, if you're looking for other suggestions.)
While I'm commenting--I like your cemetery pictures, especially the bending gravestone.
I completely agree with you on LL. Not a big fan. It actually took me forever to knit a pair of plain socks in the Hawaii colourway because I disliked knitting them so much. I do love Fleece Artist and Koigu though and have yet to use STR.
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