Yarn Review: You and Me!

Hey everybody! 

What an epic year we've had! Life regularly seems close to normal here in Australia, but we are still having outbreaks and mini lockdowns.

In between work and Rotary and now chasing two tiny humans around, I've had some time to try out Stylecraft's (now not all that new) yarn, You and Me. 

In short, I LOVE IT - and definitely not because they sent the first ball to me for free. As proof, I've been back to one of the big online retailers and bought more for myself to make jumpers for the kids. 

I made one of my Impossible Hexagon Sweaters for Allie first, and it came up so rich and warm and sturdy, I can't imagine she will ever be able to wear it out. 

The yarn is an acrylic and cashmere-effect polyamide blend - it feels like it has the strength and stitch definition of cotton, but the warmth of acrylic and just so ridiculously soft and silky. 

I wanted to branch out this year to some different cardigan and jumper designs, and my eyes just about jumped out of my head when I spotted the Jasmine Sweater by Mon Petit Violon... yes yes yes yes yes!

It's taken weeks of scraping out a few minutes here and there, but finally I finished it last night, and couldn't wait to share it here! 

(Please excuse the grubbiness of the model - she had an excellent play with her new textas *eyeroll*) 

I love how the self-striping yarn worked in with the pattern. Often I find that highly textured designs lose all their effect when worked with other than a plain coloured yarn, but this worked really well -  I think it looks a bit like a Monet?

It's so cosy warm too which is fortunate, because it looks like Sydney is in for a very cold and dry winter. 

Check that stitch definition! I did have to fiddle with the pattern a bit to get the sleeves to fit, but I do have a very long skinny bean to clothe. Her little brother seems to be going the same way, although already much bigger than she was at this age. 

Do you have any other toddler/preschooler jumper or cardigan patterns you can suggest for me to try crocheting for this monkey? I'd love to hear your suggestions! 

Yarn Review: Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny (from American Yarns)

Hi everyone!

I was recently given the opportunity by a yarn retailer in Melbourne, American Yarns, to try out some of their brands and write about it here. Well, who am I to say no to free yarn, and also, a lot of the American yarn brands are actually quite difficult and expensive to get hold of here in Australia! But where to start!? So many beautiful squishies, from Bernat to Caron to Lily Sugar'n'Cream, and some new Red Heart lines I haven't seen before... 

I've been admiring the Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny chenille yarns for ages to make some little animal friends. What better opportunity to try some, and also make some baby things for my own little one! American Yarns kindly sent me some in the Wildflower and Hush Pink colourways. 

The postage was very quick (fortunately, because I am very impatient) and then I had to decide what to make. This gave me time for some very enjoyable squishing and cuddling of the yarn - it is so soft and snuggly!

My first thought was to make one of Anne's gorgeous little Cross Your Heart Teddies as a cosy little friend for my tiny human, but then I thought I better find a bigger project first, as the teddies don't need all that much yarn and I didn't want to run out on making a blanket!

After perusing the Ravelry Projects Gallery for the yarn, I started with a Corner to Corner blanket, thinking that it would show off the colour changes without looking too mind bendy. However I discovered very quickly that because the lovely squishy chenille yarn has almost no stitch definition, it was very difficult to work into chains. So, that half a ball of blanket is sitting here now waiting for me to be inspired to either finish it and make a lovey, or undo it and repurpose the yarn. The outcome is extremely warm, soft and beautiful to touch and hold, just the crocheting was not a lot of fun. 

Do you have any suggestions on blanket patterns that require minimal working into chains? 

So on to the teddy. Oh my goodness, it worked up so well with a 3.5mm hook, and it is just so soft (I need to find another word for soft). My husband Kiah nearly claimed it for his own, and spent quite a lot of time the evening I finished it with it tucked between his neck and shoulder, just enjoying the cuddles. I am going to make a few more so that as they need washing or the chenille wears a bit thin, the wee flea can still have its snuggly toy! 

It's been heaps of fun trying out this yarn. If you're in Australia and looking to buy American branded yarns, have a look at American Yarns! I'm excited to dive in further and try more, but they might have to wait until after I get used to having a small baby in the house!