Yarn economy ... or knitting the yarn from both ends!

When I started planning Julian's Christmas sweater, the defining design factor was a lesson in yarn economy! You see, I only had 6 balls of the Knit Picks Andean Treasure I wanted to use. So I went to great lengths to try to anticipate yardage on this project: I knit a big swatch (a really big one) totally ripped it out, measured the yardage used to knit it, and plugged the info into my Knitware software* to see if I would have enough to knit a hoodie for Julian. It estimated that it would be close, but possible. And it was both!

I did everything I could to ecconomise yarn on this project, from knitting hems closed rather than sewing them in later, to keeping the pattern as simple as possible with a single cable, and changing balls mid-row as required (oh, my!) rather than doing so at the beginning or end of a row... you know, like you are supposed to *wink, *wink ;0)

Every inch counts, you know! In fact, it got too close for comfort and I started knitting the icord button loops from the other end of the sixth and final ball to make sure I would have enough yarn to knit the 4 required loops before grafting the hood shut (just in case it became necessary to unravel a few rows of the hood...) And it looks like I'm going to make it. Yay! Plus, no leftovers! The no leftover thing is actually kinda disappointing though because as I was knitting the hood I started getting my hopes up about making a matching Korknisse ornament as a prezzie for Jujube. Seriously, checkout the ones Elliphantom knit. I'll wait. Go, on...

How freakin' cute are those?! I'm so collecting bottle corks this holiday season and since I can't enjoy any libations of my own, I'll have to make sure everyone else (who's not driving of course) has a merry 'ole time! Top up anyone? Anyone ;0)

Okay, back to knitting business, here's my sad progress on my advent calendar this week. It's ornament number 5! Out of 24 people!!! Shameful, I know. Well there's alway's next year, right? Here's my poor lonely tangerine! Sigh.

Good-luck to all of you who will be burning the midnight oil these next few nights in hopes of finishing all those gifted knits. I'll be making little wishes for all of you to finish with every eyeleash I blow in the wind, curly chip I crunch, wishbone I crack, train tracks I lift my feet up for as we drive past, or candles that I extinguish. Yup, I'll be thinking of you ;0)

Happy knitting ;0)

*I tried to find a link for you but it seems their site www.knitware.ca no longer exists...hmmm?