Knitters Review of O Balance Yarn

I love [tag]Knitters Review[/tag] yarn profiles. The reviews always tell me what I want to know about a yarn without prejudice. This time the review is written about [tag]O Balance Yarn[/tag] from [tag]Vermont Organic Fiber Company[/tag].

Vermont Organic Fiber Company has been supplying organic materials to the textiles industry since 2000 with clients that include retailers [tag]Patagonia[/tag] and [tag]Sahalie[/tag]. Just a few years ago, the company decided to launch a line of yarns for handknitters. After finding quick success with its [tag]O-Wool Classic[/tag] 100% wool yarn, this spring the company introduced O-Wool Balance, a three-ply blend of 50% organic Merino and 50% organic cotton.

This review states a few of the reasons why organic is a better way to grow and process fibers. Now the push is also on to be “green” with fiber producing animals as well. Vermont Organic Fiber Company follows the [tag]Organic Trade Association’s North American Organic Fiber Standards[/tag] in processing its wool.

While all of the above information is commendable, the yarn is according to Knitters Review, actually pretty decent. It does pill but not as fast as some blended yarns and took awhile for wear to show.

The only drawback is that it is not machine washable. The reviewer states that a sweater for a medium sized woman would be about $80. She suggests small, baby garments – “While I’d still use it selectively for babies of knitters who aren’t afraid to handwash, I’d stick to smaller items of clothingâ€”friends don’t make friends wash blankets by hand.”

I agree – hand washing is not something anyone, especially a new Mom, has time to do!

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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