So here I am with a sort of interim project also involved with using up some of my stash. I have 5 balls of OLD Trendsetter yarn. I bought it several years ago at a yard sale and it's old enough that Trendsetter doesn't even have it in their list of discontinued yarns. It's viscose knitted tape about 1/8" wide in a stunning green turquoise color, very shiny. It is only about 66 yds per ball. It is also VERY, VERY slippery. I've just about come to the conclusion that I either have not quite enough of it or possibly way too much. I tried it out on a lingerie style camisole with a lacy bottom on big needles but I wasn't really satisfied with that so now I'm thinking of incorporating it with some other more tractable yarns in a larger item. Anybody have any really creative ideas?

The yarn sounds so beautiful!
What if you incorporated it into a scarf? I'm thinking a ruffled edge, with the rest of the scarf a soft, maybe furry white. Not very creative, but it sounds really pretty.
Or, you could make it a ruffled edging around a dark brown suede coat.
About the slippery part, I think if you use wooden needles it will be easier to control.

Being 1/8" wide doesn't sound like much, does it? I'm not too sure what I would do with it. At approx. 66 yards each, you have 330 yards total, so...........hmm, maybe a fancy skinny boa scarf would work. Or maybe a frilly edge to the tops of socks. Or add to the wrist of a sweater. That's all that really comes to mind at the moment.

It sounds perfect for one of my favorite techniques: one row A, B, C stripes. Pick 2 other yarns (doesn't even matter if they are the same gauge, just colors and textures that you like) then cast on with A, drop and attach B, work across with B, drop and attach C and work across with C. A is waiting for you. A shiny ribbon like you describe worked with a matte yarn and perhaps a textured yarn would look fabulous, and it sounds like you will have plenty of yardage for a full sweater if the ribbon is only 1/3. The nice thing about this technique is that gauge differences are all evened out since each yarn appears for only one row. Think about it a little differently--you are making fabric that is shaped into whatever garment you decide you want. Pick a needle size that is good for the middle sized yarn.

Laura,
That sounds really cool. I'll have to try that technique sometime. Thanks!

That does sound like a great idea and I may actually do something like that. I found a pattern actually designed for this type of yarn in The Yarn Stash Workbook, sorry I don't have the author name the book is upstairs and I am down and too lazy. Anyway this is for a cape/poncho very lacy for dressing up a plainer outfit. I've started it over 3 times so far mostly because the yarn is sooo slippery that keeping track of YOs and stitch counts is nearly impossible and so is tinking. Any time a strand gets loose it runs to the bottom and retrieving it is not in it. I'm determined that something is going to result from this material!

Tinking? I should know, but sorry, KB...
An accent stripe (or several of them) of that might be gorgeous in a scarf or vest.

I have some slippery traintrack yarn like that that I've never worked with, in sort of sunrise colors... I'll probably use bamboo needles to keep the slipping at a minimum.

"Tink"-ing is "knit"-ing backwards.

A VERY SAD TALE! I had the capelet done, cast off and ready to do the crochet around the top edge. I tried it on, and it looked pretty good. I plan to wear it over a black silk turtleneck with black pants. Somewhere on one side there must have been a loose stitch because when I came back and looked at it several of the YO K2tog rows had run back. I don't think I know enough bad words for this situation! As Louise says, "If at first you don't succeed, frog it and start over." BLAST!!!

Eesh, sorry, KB! I'd be cranky, too.

Thanks, Bill.

I'd be tempted to make a capelet too, in stripes alternating with a contrasting yarn, but use feather-and-fan stitch so that the stripes are wavy.

Knit a swatch with the tape to find the best needles and choose a contrasting yarn that makes a similar texture on the same needles. Use the other yarn as the Main Colour and the tape as the contrast.

Measure loosely round the intended wearer over the arms and knit in one piece, beginning with the Main Colour, in the feather-and-fan until all the tape has been used, then shape the shoulders in the other yarn.

If you don't want to do it, I'd love to make it for you; no charge, just pay the postage!!!

ATB John

knitterb, take John's offer! Immediately! He is an expert knitter, his work is creative and immaculate - and he is a really nice guy also.

Strikker

I agree box up that yarn and send it off to him and you will be very happy!

I actually made the capelet, really a sort of poncho-like garment from the top down, a k2tog,yo type with regular increases on each side of the front and back. I had to start over 5 times because every time a stich got away from me, and the yarn was killer slippery it immediately ran down and was impossible to retrieve. The final blow was when it was finished except for a crocheted edge and I tried it on. I think one of the ends must have pulled back out because when I came back with a crochet hook a strip about four inches wide had unravelled and I had to start over. It is finished1! All the ends are sewn together with matching thread, and I have even worn it just to show that I won! It looks great and I got lots of compliments on it