Back in 2012, I bought some yarn to make the “in” project of the moment, the Color Affection shawl by Veera Välimäki.

With hindsight, I now recognise that I had reservations about the colour choices and yarn composition from the outset, and I’d like to think that – with 5 years’ additional experience behind me – I would now resist the “enabling” from my fellow shoppers if I were faced with the situation again 😉 In reality, there’s a good chance I would still get swept along with the excitement and possibilities of all that wool but that’s another matter …

I was left with 3 disparate skeins that did not become a Color Affection shawl, and their presence in my stash seemed to bar me from making the shawl in other yarn. So, over time, I gifted one and made another into a shawlette, while the third skein is languishing – albeit prettily – in my stash. I’m beginning to acknowledge that laceweight may not be “my” thing.

Then recently, by chance, 2 random balls of yarn found themselves on the table at the same time and I realised that they had the potential to work together … Just that week I had given up on the shawl I was knitting, as I had lost the “yarn chicken” game, and the cream contrast yarn was fresh in my mind. Hmmm, I wonder if I’d have enough? The three together might just make that long-awaited Color Affection shawl …

Many, many garter stitches later, I cast off with just 3 grams of the cream wool left over … It was my turn to win at yarn chicken – yay!

The wool, in case you’re curious, was sock yarn – no laceweight to be seen. The turquoise was Time for Teal BFL and Bamboo, created by Lyn Roberts in support of  Target Ovarian Cancer. The variegated yarn was the Peacock colourway of West Yorkshire Spinners’ Signature 4 ply. The cream was Smoothie Sock by Juliet Brown.

A much better combination than the original yarn plan … and the curse of the Color Affection shawl has finally been broken!

Have you had any patterns or stash that have held you back for some reason? How did you tackle it? I’d love to hear about it!

🙂