Yaaay!
The package was crumpled. The package was late (it had weird redirect sorting stickers on it – I think it got temporarily lost). But now it is here, and the yarn is fine. So all is well! Here we have my recent Knitpicks ‘sample’ order. I placed it over two weeks ago during the summer yarn sale. I’ve been meaning to test-drive some of their yarns, and since they were reduced, I decided to give this particular set of yarns a try.
Here are closeups and some first impressions of these fiiine fibers (sorry about the dark and vaguely blurry pics). First, Spinnaker (100% Pima Cotton)!
I drastically changed my opinion about this yarn once I got my hands on it (the only real surprise in the package). I have to admit, I thought it was an ugly yarn. I mean really – look at this. Or this. Please don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing the matter with the designs. I just feel that the texture of the yarn is ill-suited to these garments. Or perhaps, any garments. However, I laid my eyes on a skein of it and realized that this is an oddly attractive, tactiley appealing yarn. The cotton is very soft, and the bumpiness is pleasing (when it’s not being strangled into a sweater), both to the eyes and the touch. I’m not sure what it wants to be – I’ll have to play with it – but I think…I like it.
Oh, and I’ve heard people say it’s ridiculously expensive for a KP yarn (I thought it myself), but perhaps they didn’t realize that one skein is 200 grams. Most other yarns from Knitpicks are sold in 50 gram skeins. The price (per 50 grams) is comparable to other yarns that they carry. Moving on, though!
The Main Line feels lovely.
75% Pima Cotton, 25% Merino Wool, it has a lovely twist to it. Unlike the shiny-ness and smoothness of the Shine, it’s just a wee bit fuzzy. You can’t really see it, but you can feel it on the strand. And, while it isn’t shiny, it does have a lovely sheen. I can’t wait to get my hands in this stuff. I may actually start stashing this yarn just to have it, something I have never actually done. Knitpicks, you are daaangerous.
Next we have the Shine Sport –
and the Shine Worsted.
This is also a lovely yarn, 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal. Smooth, shiny, very soft. I like! I’m sooo pleased with the pliability of the yarn. I don’t have a clue what Modal is, I don’t know why Pima Cotton is special, but it doesn’t compare in the slightest with the cotton yarns I’m familiar with (Peaches & Creme, Sugar’n Cream, etc). I like it, it’s awesome, I could totally see using this yarn for a garment. The sport is eminently suitable for baby items, and unfortunately I can see myself dropping quite a bit of the yarn budget in that department, as well.
Once I get these worked up I’ll post further reviews on them, but I’ve got quite a few things up in the air that (sadly) push these yarns down the list of crafting priorities.
I have always been happy with Knit Picks yarn and their prices. Compared to “cheaper” brands (ie Lion), they’re a bargain and decent quality. Never have I hit a knot in the middle of the skein in any of them (and then been told-that’s normal). I am thrifty (and I am being polite with myself here) and because of that, love Knit Picks.
I just made my first purchase from Knitpicks as well – I got some Wool of the Andes to make the Viveka Sweater from the new Knitty.com. Main line was a very close second though – I can’t wait to read what you think of it because I may end up making a second Viveka in the main line if I like how the pattern works up – – I was even thinking of using those same ccolors you got there – the chocolate with the antique rose for trim.