Coconut Ice

My friend Julie came into work a few weeks back with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.  She had been having a clear out at home and in the deep dark recesses of a cupboard had come across some yarn.  She had no idea how long it had been there and although some garment was a third of the way through she couldn't remember what she was supposed to be doing with it.  She jubilantly thrust the bulging carrier bag into my hands.  Well I love donations of this sort but at that time I had no idea about the challenge which awaited me.
It was a navy fleck fluffy type of wool which was called coconut ice.  I did research it online and found that it had been discontinued ages ago and there was not a pattern for this type of yarn to be found anywhere.
I decided that it would make a lovely jumper or jacket for a child so out came my patterns and I started with great enthusiasm, however, attempt after attempt was pulled out, the tension wasn't right, I was getting more and more despondent.  the stuff was awful to knit with and because it was a dark shade I couldn't see the stitches either.  In sheer desperation I appealed to the ladies on loving hands, one of the ladies suggested I use one of her patterns because they worked with all types of yarn.  I did as she suggested and although I had to adapt it quite a bit I finally managed to make a little sweater.  It's lovely and soft and I hope it will keep some little child warm.

There are three balls of this stuff left and they can be found in the dark depths of one of my cupboards now, I will use them one day but just for now, I just want to forget about them.