Or, the most generous people I know are knitters!
This a long story of frogging, re knitting and running out of yarn. It wasn't a difficult pattern. However, it was a nightmare knit for me.
I purchased the green merino years ago. It had aged in stash for years. I had Jannette, (4 to 4 on eBay), in the UK send me two bags - 20 balls of Jaguar Extra Fine Merino DK. First time I had seen this particular yarn. Lovely stuff. A shame that Coats and Clark discontinued the Jaeger line. (I heard C&C bought Rowan out a few years ago. Feel free to correct that if it is wrong).
I realized I might run out of yarn when the front and back were done. I decided to take out two chart C cables on each sleeve and knit the textured stitch and one 15 stitch cable pattern. By the time 1 sleeve was 1/2 done, I knew I needed at least 2 balls of yarn or, Duxbury would probably get thrown in a corner or be torn apart and be a vest.
I sent a note to KBTH and asked for help without much hope of anyone having this yarn. I didn't care much about dye lot. One of our KBTH members wrote and steered me to a Ravelry member that lives in the UK. I wrote to her and she said she would be glad to send that yarn to me if she hadn't thrown it away! I held my breath for several days and didn't hear from her. However, the mailman arrived that week with the yarn and a lovely card. Two and 1/2 balls of the SAME dye lot. Hard to believe my good fortune.
If I had done the cable sets the pattern called for on the sleeves, I would have needed at least 25 balls of yarn. Below are the 'left-overs' from my friend in the UK. Hopefully, she will see this post and be glad she took all that time to dig that yarn out and send it to a woman she never heard of.
A huge collection (stash to me) of yarn that is discontinued by the time we knit it up, ( 20 + years worth of yarns), is both good and bad. Good for these hard times, or retirement. I have found I just can't count on the given yardage in any pattern being correct for my particular style of knitting, and substituting yarns can be tricky.
I was so thrilled to have this done, I threw it on the floor and took the picture to prove it was actually done. I see I don't have it really laid out right but I will do another picture with a clean, blocked Aran. Knitting onward...
Terrible picture but stay tuned for my next adventure
Thanks again to the knitter in the UK that was willing to go through her huge stash to find those balls of yarn for a knitter in need. I hope no one runs out of yarn, but if you do, check with me. If it's old enough perhaps I can return the favor to someone else.
junieann
PS: 11 people left comments on this post - and mysteriously, they all disappeared. However, I want you all to know, that I really appreciated the comments. I have no idea what happened to my post. The unfathomable Internet!!!
A beautiful sweater and you will look stunning in it! Such good fortune. And you next knit is?
Posted by: Nancy | 01/11/2009 at 02:53 PM
The sweater is lovely. Some day I hope to knit as beautifully as you do.
Posted by: Ahrisha | 01/12/2009 at 06:11 AM
Knitters really are amazing aren't they?? I continue to be surprised and delighted with them. Now with your Duxbury sweater,it is beautiful! I'm so glad it all worked out in the end. You may have inspired me to add it to my queue ;-)
Posted by: DeeAnn | 01/13/2009 at 09:52 PM
Junie, it looks beautiful. Well worth the effort! Enjoy every second of wearing it!
Andrea, in MD
Posted by: Andrea | 01/15/2009 at 07:56 AM
Junie- Despite all your trials and tribulations, you have a lovely sweater to be proud of. Wear it in good health.
Posted by: Lorraine | 01/27/2009 at 06:14 PM
I think the picture is good, really shows us exactly what this is. I love it. Colour and pattern. This is the type of knitting that gets my juices flowing.
Posted by: knitman | 02/05/2009 at 01:36 PM
It is just lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us. Your beautiful work is always an inspiration.
Posted by: Donna | 03/30/2009 at 05:26 AM