Reviews!

No pictures today because I don't want to spoil the final reveal of Killybegs who is all seamed up awaiting the application of a zipper, some buttons and a few strategically placed press studs. Hurrah! Instead I decided to do a few mini-reviews of recent knitting-related purchases since google tells me people have been finding their way over here looking for information which sadly I have failed to provide. So here goes...

Knit Picks Options.
Love. Love. Love. I know initially I wasn't too happy with my needles, but with extended use they have become the only needles I will use for anything bigger than socks. If you use the little key supplied the cables will not unscrew, on occasion I've not used the key when passing stitches onto another cable to try things on and have regretted it. The key, it would seem, is the key. The needles are pointy enough to hurt with my style of knitting (I push the stiches down while sticking the needle tip into the pad of my finger- dumb) but the callouses are worth it. They are lovely, light weight and produce the most even stitches of my short knitting career.

Kookaburra Wool Wash.
Once upon a time an ex-boyfriend bought me a dry clean only, lambswool sweater. Upon my first attempt at hand washing it, I turned it into something Barbie could have worn. Since then I've been a bit wary of hand washing my woolens although I know the importance of a dunk before seaming and the like. So I decided to give this wool wash a try and I am so glad I did, it has saved me a fortune! My sweater collection comprises of a surprisingly large assortment of cashmere sweaters, none of which I actually purchased and similarly were not were purchased by the giver. Once upon a time I used to be friends with someone who worked for some very high-end clothing companies and I was the recipient of bountiful design samples, but alas no more. Anyway, since purchasing the Kookaburra, washing sweaters has become a new favourite past time. I am constantly amazed at how much junk comes out of sweaters I have been diligently dry cleaning for the past three years and at how much softer and lighter they feel afterwards. At around $8 a bottle, this stuff is worth it's weight in gold.

Berroco Peruvia.
The link is just for your viewing pleasure, I actually bought my yarn from webs, taking full advantage of their discounts :) First things first, this yarn is sheepy. Very sheepy. What do I mean by that? It smells like sheep, it's a little greasy like sheep and very rarely, you'll find a bit of vegetable matter in with the fibres. I'm not sure why, but I expected a commerically available yarn to be a little less au naturel, but if you like that sort of thing I'm sure you'll be happy. Personally I could do with a little less lanolin (according to Clinique the lanolin is why I'm allergic to their DDML moisturiser although I had no major reaction here) but it does make for a pleasant knitting experience. As a single ply the yarn doesn't stand up too well to ripping (I'll tell you about that later), but I think it would probably be great for felting or steeking. Bare in mind I've tried neither, but the yarn is incredibly sticky once blocked and I can imagine it would hold up well to both techniques. I'll add in a wear report once I finally get Killybegs out of the WIP pile and on my back :)

Speaking of which, I might just run out to Tender Buttons to see if I can pick up some old school leather beauties to finish the sweater off. Toodles!!