bought the wrong yarn - is this correctable?

[lilyofforce]

Oops -

I was buying yarn to make the felted yoga mat bag from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" - the bulk of the bag is pink, but there are two large blocks of color in the middle. The Manos del Uruguay yarn was pretty expensive, so I asked the store employees and was told I could sub in Araucania's Nature Wool for the bulk of the bag. So I have 3 skeins of the Nature Wool and one of the Manos. Except when I get home, I notice that they call for different needle sizes (4-7 and 8-10, respectively) and that they knit up totally differently. The pattern calls for a 10.5 needle, and the gauge checks out with the Manos, but not the Nature Wool (WAY too small).

Can I save this project without having to go out and buy more wool? I thought of either using a bigger needle for the Nature Wool and then switching, or doubling the Nature yarn? Would either of those work??

:wall:
Karen

[Jan in CA]

That's a pretty big difference in gauge. What you can do is knit up a swatch with both yarns and the called for needle size then felt it and see how looks. Or you could try returning the yarn and getting something else.

[lilyofforce]

eh poop.

The store won't take the yarn back b/c I bought it during a store-wide sale -
it was worth a shot, though. Thanks for your help!

I guess I'm off to the yarn store...

[redwitch]

You might know someone else who'll buy it off you? Normally I would say double the thinner wool if it will get you similar gauge. However, for felting, it's generally a good idea for every colour to be the same line from the same maker/brand. It MAY work, but the only way to tell is to knit a swatch, felt it, and see if it works. You don't want to knit a whole bag and just hope it works out... but you also may not want to bother with felting the swatch. If you really don't want to spend the extra money/ have the other wool go to waste, it may be worth felting.

Sarah