Happy Earth Day! Recycle your yarn!

So what is this boring, unphotographable knit? Once upon a time it was this:


But after careful deliberation (aka, two years and two apartment moves while still a WIP) it became this:


And now, it's this:


I'm not going to deny that I really, really dislike this yarn. But I'm stash busting and that means knitting up or getting rid of the crappy yarns. Despite having been washed during the re-skeining, the yarn dyes my fingers and sheds what I can only imagine are guard hairs. Four washes during blocking (Kookaburra, plain water twice and then a rinse with hair conditioner) and there is still yellow, piss-coloured gak coming out of the yarn. I know I could do a vinegar rinse but I'm past caring. The conditioner at least adds a touch of softness. Meh.

So why am I knitting it if I don't like it? I'm the kind of girl who always reaches into her closet to grab a black cardigan despite the fact that I don't own one. My black hoodie is as close as it gets and I'm really trying to break out of my jeans, t-shirt and a hoodie rut. Hence a nicely fitted black cardigan is just what the "what not to wear" doctor ordered. The pattern itself is clever and I have high hopes for the finished article, I'm just relishing the process with this one.

In less-meh news, I won yarn!

I was the lucky winner of one of the door prizes at the Sit n Knit New York party last night. Yum! Almost, almost makes up for the $10 charge for a bottle of beer.... ;)