I guess this is a lesson learned...

I love knitting socks. I taught myself to make cuff-up socks on four DPNs, using the indescribably helpful Silver's Sock Class. After happily churning out cuff-ups for a couple of years, I finally decided it was time try a toe-first pattern. I had two small hanks of handpainted merino sock yarn in my stash which I pulled out to make my first toe-up socks. Purchased via mail order more than two years ago, I'd simply tossed these hanks into my stash drawers, thinking all was well.

I balled one hank and got to work. The first toe-up sock went well, after some initial missteps and ripping back. I then went to ball the second hank. About 1/3rd of the way through - I found a break. Then another break, and then another and another. The final 1/3 of the yarn was pretty much unusable, with breaks every few inches.

@#$%^&!!!!

And at this point, what can I do? I bought it more than two years back, but hadn't discovered the problem because I hadn't tried to wind it. I guess today's lesson is to ball purchased hanks within a month or two. That way, if there is a problem, I have a chance to get an exchange or return.


Too annoyed to work out a solution right now (I have one lovely, striped, but mateless toe-up sock...), I instead cast on another pair of socks entirely.
Here's my start on Cookie A's Pomatomus Socks, using Zitron Trekking in the "Brazil" colorway:


So far, so good. The chart is excellent. You can see the upper half of the first round of "scales" taking shape.