So the yarn arrived on Tuesday, and I've been knitting / mathing since then. (Damn problem sets due on Wednesday and Thursday.) Here's my take on it:
1. Dover This yarn is gorgeous and soft and nice and thick. I really want to make a blanket with it!!! I'd actually leave the color as is for that. It'd be really nice for scarves too. Beautiful. I think it's the best yarn we got.
2. 4/8 Worsted Ok, so I think wrapping the yarn on cones stretches them out, so they're thinner and less soft. Certainly seems slightly smaller than worsted. I'm hoping that the dying and drying process will fluff this yarn out a bit. If it doesn't, it seems like a good thickness for the Norsk Strikkedesign patterns. I'm excited to dye the yarn and see how that turns out.
3. Valley Cotton I like the colors! The Very Berry is more fuschia and less purple than it looks on my monitor though. Closer to a more saturated Azalea Pink. I think it'd make a great combo with the Ink Blue. Looks a bit thin (I'd knit it on size 6 or 7 needles, I think), but I haven't felt it because I haven't unwrapped the plastic.
4. Lambswool Alpaca Blend I'm very happy with the colors here, but the yarn is scratchy and thin and not at all fluffy. It's fine for the project I'm using it for (the embroidered jacket), but I probably wouldn't use it again. It's not at all soft the way I keep reading alpaca is supposed to be! I'm also double stranding it for extra thickness, but using size 5 needles to keep the gauge, so my knitting is coming out a bit stiff. That's not the yarn's fault. I think this would make a better weaving yarn.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the WEBS order. If all goes well with these projects, my next order might include:
1. More DOVER!!!
2. Some Lamb's Pride Worsted. Comparing it to other wools, I'm realizing I really like its softness, thickness, and colors. And with the cost comparison, I think it definitely tops most other yarns.
3. More of the 4/8 worsted if the dying goes well. Looks like a good standard wool for a very good price. And the added fun of dying!
