Berroco Bonsai--How essential to get all balls in same dye lot?

General Knitting
1

So, I want to knit the Roundabout Leaf Tank from Knitting Nature. But the Berroco Denim Silk Yarn which the pattern calls for is discontinued. So, after much searching of Yarn Dex, I decided that Berroco Bonsai would probably give me a similar fabric, and I thought the “bamboo” effect would look nice with the whole leaf idea.

However, Yarn Market would only let me select 8 balls in any colorway, and according to the number of balls of Denim Silk called for in the pattern I calculated I’d need 10 balls of Bonsai to get the same yardage. So Yarn Market gives you the option to either ship the 8 balls now and send 2 more in a different dye lot later, or hold the order until 10 balls are availible in the same dye lot. I selected the wait option—but…

It’s been almost a month and my order still hasn’t shipped. And I’m getting a little antsy because I’m really itching to get started on that top so I can wear it once the weather is nice.

So I’m wondering–how big of a deal is it going to be to get yarn in non matching dye lots? I’ve only done this once before, which was on the first thing I knit which was a scarf, and I thought I could get away from one skein but it wasn’t enough and they didn’t have the same dye lot when I went back (you all know the story). Anyrate, that yarn was a pinky/orange handpaint, and the first skein I bought looked a lot pinker and the second a lot oranger, and, long story short, I ripped back about 10 inches and alternated the skeins to make the transition less abrubt, but I wasn’t really satisfied with this result, because I got a little selvedge along the part where I was alternating the skeins which looked different than the rest of the scarf, and the transiation, while better than if I just switched balls, was still pretty visible.

For those of you wondering how the heck my sad scarf story is relevent to the construction of a tank top, the Roundabout Leaf Tankis knit in a spiral about 8 inches wide and joined to itself as you work by picking up stitches along the edge, and I’m worried that that little selvedge made by alternating skeins would interfere with that.

But now, that I’ve been waiting almost a month, I’m thinking, maybe Yarn Market just never stocks 10 balls of Bonsai in the same dye lot? And I’m starting to wonder if when knitting with a yarn like Bonsai, which is semi solid, the difference in dye lot might not be that noticable? Or maybe if I alternated skeins in the middle of the top I could somehow hide that funky selvedge picking up the stitches?

Any thoughts? Also, is it just me or shouldn’t Yarn Market have sent me a message by now giving me the option to change my mind about the dye lots or cancel my order or something? I mean, come on, it’s been almost a month now.

2

Personally, I’d stick with the same dye lot. I’ve also made the mistake of hoping dye lots within the same project wouldn’t matter so much but it always does. Even with yarns that claim to be no dye lot, there can be a noticable difference. I would be looking for an alternative color/yarn. I wouldn’t think Yarn Market would notify you about something that hasn’t come in, only when it has. They probably aren’t going to order more until whatever they have from this dye lot is sold and you may be waiting so long the yarn will be discontinued!

3

I would absolutely stick with the same dye lot! You have the proof in your scarf how important it can be.

Have you looked at other online stores? Maybe they can get it quicker.

They also sell it here -
http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/Berroco/Bonsai.asp
http://www.yarncountry.com/Berroco-Bonsai-c346.aspx

I’ve bought from Yarn Country before and had good service. All that I bought was the same dye lot, but you would need to check any online stores to be sure.

4

They also sell it here
http://www.yarn.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/02AC21B4-AE19-4896-9562-69EC40F72FC5/productID/10C1AAC8-6AE1-403A-85C7-5B138FED8040/
I’ve ordered from Webs several times. Love em!

5

Point #1-- I would absolutely use only 1 dye lot.
Point #2-- I have found yarnmarket to be wonderful, and I would call them and ask what’s going on.

6

Oh please WAIT for all 10 in the same dyelot. Better safe than sorry, is the old saying! What a disaster if the 8 and 2 were different colors. Been there, done that. It’s awful.
Here is what can happen (photo below). These 4 skeins were from JOANN’S, and I bought them all at the same time…and I did believe they were the same dyelot, but, now I’m wondering:

See how it is darker for the first half (2 sk) and lighter at the top half (another 2 sk)? Don’t let this be you!

7

Definitely use same dye lot. You have to assume it will matter, or else the yarn wouldn’t have a dye lot number on it.

Definitely contact them, either call or email. I did the same thing with them for another yarn - needed more then they had in stock so told them to wait and ship all same dye lot. It was over 2 months later, still no yarn. I ‘replied’ with the email saying they would ship later when they had all the same dye lot asking how much longer they thought it might be as I was considering canceling the entire order. bingo, a week later I had all the yarn, same dye lot.

8

I was just checking to see if you can buy this anywhere in Europe, but nope. Ebay has some from USA sellers willing to sell to Europe but they don’t have all the colours.
I think Bonsai is a heavier weight yarn than the Denim Silk Yarn. Just in case you don’t have any luck getting enough of the Bonsai,
I looked up the pattern on Ravelry and people have substituted
Garnstudio DROPS Bomull-lin, Rowan Bamboo Tape, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK and some other yarns that you would also have to get from USA

9

Thanks so much you guys for all the feedback. I will wait for the same dyle lot but I’ll call Yarnmarket and see what’s up and if it doesn’t look like I can get my yarn pretty soon I’ll see if I can’t cancel my order and get the yarn somewhere else.

I mainly picked yarn market because they ship internationally, and the computer calculates a shipping quote without you having to go to USPS or write an email. But it looks like Jimmy Beans Wool and Yarn.com ship international as well.

It’s really tough buying yarn in Budapest, I know of only one shop which is actually a yarn store–mostly there are just sewing or craft stores with a small yarn section (i.e. one shelf). And even the yarn store has a pretty sad selection… sighs So thanks for the new online store links.

10

:doh: I didn’t even notice that you were not in the US. I’m sorry! I hope you get your yarn soon!

11

:woot: Hehe!

All of my carrying on and worrying and I got an email from Yarn Market today that my order has shipped!!. Just when I was finally going to call and ask what had happened.

I am so psyched! Though of course it is going to be another 2-3 weeks at least before the yarn is actually in my hands. :neutral:

But hey, at least I know it’s on the way… And it’s a big order too I got some stuff for a couple of projects because I figure if I’m going to pay for international shipping I might as well stock up.

In the meantime, I will continue to work on the never ending Point of the Wave Stole. I am trying to knit half a repeat a day on each pannel but sometimes lack the discipline.

12

:woohoo:
Enjoy your yarn!

13

Bonsai is physicaly heavier than Denim Silk (as in, the same yardage weighs more) but Yarndex listed them as almost the same guage. I did my guage swatch today for the Roundabout Leaf Tank and I’m bang on with a size 6 needle (pattern suggests 7) and the fabric is still drapy.

So, I’ll see how it goes…