Why I cannot keep aran in its proper place on the wool-weight spectrum will perhaps remain a mystery for the ages.
It has something to do, I think, with the fact that, in my mind, I associate “aran” with a traditional sweater, one of those knit on tiny needles using tiny wool for burly fisherman who might be swept out to sea and a watery grave and thus have their initials knit into the fabric. You know, Kleider machen Leute taken to its logical extreme. And which wikipedia says isn’t even true.
Anyway, I didn’t want a fisherman’s sweater — traditional, for identification (apocryphal), or otherwise — but a lovely shawl: namely, Aestlight. Inspired by coughcopiedfromcough two test-kint versions already finished, I started troweling for tweedy wool.
And that’s where I made my mistake. My head was turned by the superior yardage of the Rowan Scottish Tweed Aran and without thinking, I placed my order. Only to be confronted a few days later with some very chunky wool. Which is now becoming a very chunky shawl.
I am resigned and stoic about my fate. In the end, and come winter,* I think the shawl will serve its chunky purpose. I’ve also ordered some 4-ply wool, just in case.
* There is winter in Nashville, right? I’m betting a lot on this season actually existing.
4 Comments
July 1, 2009 at 2:24 pm
4-ply is the equivalent of DK weight? You are not alone in confusion over yarn weights and the different names for each one. Love the blue & orange together.
July 1, 2009 at 8:07 pm
That blue is a lovely, comforting color and just looks like it *should* be warm. You know, even if it was thin yarn, the color just feels cozy.
And yep, they do get a winter. Last winter, my friend L sent me photos a few times with snow and/or ice. -Aside from last year, we don’t seem to get much of that do we? Unless you’re in a higher elevation I guess but I’m not.
July 2, 2009 at 12:18 am
Oh no! That must have been quite the surprise. The bulky shawl looks lovely, though, esp. in that gorgeous shade of blue.
July 3, 2009 at 8:02 am
Well, sometimes it is nice to have a nice thick shawl – love the blue!