What to knit with 700 yards of silk tape (US 4)?

September 1, 2018 4:25 PM

I’m trying to use up my yarn stash and I have 3 skeins of silk tape (236 yards each, so just over 700 yards in total). It says on the label that 6 sts = 1” on US size 4 needles. I have very basic knitting skills (can knit, purl, reduce, knit in the round but that’s about it). Thanks for any ideas!

I’ve never knit with a flat yarn like this so I’m not quite sure what to do with it! It also seems a bit fussy - I tried working with it a bit and it seems to split easily. Any ideas for something simple to make with this stuff? (It’s Alchemy Silken Straw if that matters.)

posted by bighappyhairydog to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

If you have a Ravelry account you can look up the yarn and see what other people have made with it. Someone made this scarf with that yarn, and it's very pretty. This would work very well with that yarn! Someone also made this shawl with the Silken Straw, and it's lovely.
posted by sarcasticah at 4:51 PM on September 1, 2018 [5 favorites]

The Seven Circles pattern by Kirsten Johnstone is so fun to make and looks lovely and you could make...5 or 6 of them as pocket/waiting room projects. Plus, gauge isn't a big deal and you can play with the pattern easily. People seriously freak out whenever I am wearing one.

Here are all the projects on Ravelry made with your amount of yarn. Search for "most favorites" and you might find some lovely inspiration.

Happy knitting!
posted by metasav at 4:55 PM on September 1, 2018

Best answer: First, make some swatches. Start with the needle size recommended by the manufacturer, unless you know you knit loosely or tightly enough to warrant starting with a different needle.

Wash your swatches. This step is critical because you’re going to wash your garment. Why make a thing if it’s not going to fit you after the first wash?

Compare your swatches. Not just in terms of ‘did you get gage?’ But more important, do you like the fabric. Maybe you prefer this yarn knitted at a ‘wrong’ gauge.

Take the gauge you like, and plug that into Ravelry’s advanced pattern search. I would also suggest looking for patterns in the fiber of your yarn (so in this case, silk) because different fibers have different behavior.

Additionally, check out the types of items made with your yarn in ravelry. I did and I’m seeing a lot of scarves, a few cowls, and a tee shirt that Purl Soho designed specifically for this yarn.

Read the pattern notes and the project notes and check the yardages and gauges.

Or just send me the yarn. I love that yarn :)
posted by bilabial at 4:48 AM on September 2, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks so much for the advice! I’ve signed up for Ravelry and have found some pretty options.
posted by bighappyhairydog at 7:48 AM on September 2, 2018