the blue blog archives: can U R2?

You might recall that I have naked issues and am trying to come up with a way to use my R2 paper yarn without it being so naked. I decided to see if I could make another tiny tank. I figured that with the yarn doubled, I could get a relatively opaque fabric. So I brought it to Knitsmiths and recklessly cast on. Good news: no big holes and the stitch definition is great. Bad news: after knitting about eight inches of the back, I had to admit that the piece was not only too stiff and warm with the yarn doubled but too small (the thick stitches caused the piece to cinch in a bit). Well, that's what no planning will get you! Back to one strand and the drawing board for me.

PS - No pictures. In a fit of frustration, I immeditaly ripped and rewound, erasing all evidence of my embarrasing failure.

posted by alison at 7:16 am | in r2t2

Comments

Don't fret about it, we all have those "why the flip doesn't this work the way I want" moments that result in frantic frogging.

At least you gave it a try. Good luck finding a solution.

Posted by: Steph at July 22, 2004 8:14 AM

i'm sure you will come up with a way to work that yarn. you're really good at that. and that tiny tank it too cute. i am swatching for that right now too. hope i can get mine to fit that well.

Posted by: froggy at July 22, 2004 9:04 AM

I don't have any helpful suggestions for you on how to make the R2 less hole-y, but I can bring my R2 sweater this weekend so you can see if it is too naked for you. I knit mine with a US9 so that it would be a little less loose than what they called for. Good luck!

Posted by: Jenn at July 22, 2004 9:42 AM

I love your tiny tank. Very cute. Sorry it didn't work out for you with the R2.

Posted by: Eilene at July 22, 2004 9:58 AM

Hmmm, how about making some kind of little wrap / shawl typt thing with it, then it wouldn't matter about the nakedness? I'm not sure how far the 2 skeins would go but its pretty good yardage so you might get something interesting out if it. Shame about the tiny tank, I love that pattern and wore mine loads last year. Not so much this year though! :)

Posted by: kerrie at July 22, 2004 12:53 PM

In the summer 04' issue of Interweave, there is a sleeveless tank with a slit front that might be suitable for the R2 paper. Yarn Girl tanks, not the turtleneck one, the other one. I've seen the R2 paper on my many trips to John Lewis so I know what you're working with. The pattern in the magazine calls for Tahki Lily which is a cotton/acryllic blend & it looks like a ribbon yarn from what I can see online. I tried to check the guages between the R2 paper & the Lily but I didn't find much. Hope you find something to do with the R2 paper! I've also seen it machine stitched onto t shirts in flowery patterns too. Polly from alltangledup.com might be able to help you since she has worked with the R2 before I think.

Posted by: jillz at July 22, 2004 6:20 PM

Froggy, don't forget that the Copacabana yarn stretches out a bit when you wash it. So if you're using that yarn, wash a swatch and remeasure your gauge.

Jillz, thanks so much for the info. I loved seeing the embroidery stuff on Polly's site. Very cool!

Posted by: alison at July 26, 2004 10:44 PM