We've had a couple of calls about a typo in Simply Knitting issue 54, in the Berry Ripple pattern by Kirstie McLeod.

As you may have noticed, there's no row 5! This is a typo: there's no missing row – just continue from Row 4 to Row 6 (which should have been labelled Row 5) and on through the pattern.

More importantly, where the pattern says to 'Repeat these 13 rows' it should say 'Repeat Rows 6-13'.

We apologise for the mistake, and hope you enjoy knitting the scarf.

We've got a guest post for you this week, by knitter and first-time Wonderwool Wales visitor Helen Haysom You'll find more of her thoughts and purchases at her blog, KnitCave.


Important photo opportunity – after all I have knitted a few raglans in my time!

Does Wonderwool Wales live up to the hype?

Well, yes I think it does!

As a knitter who enjoys crochet and spinning, it was lovely to attend a show specifically aimed at my hobbies. The show comprises over 100 stands covering a range of crafty goodness for knitters, crocheters and spinners. 

Independent dyers were well represented providing a scrumptious range of hand dyed yarn (ideal for a small project).


Yarn from Krafty Koala, project bags from NicsKnots. Photo Helen Haysom.

Several companies also bought examples of their fibre on the hoof or paw. It was delightful to see angora rabbits, Teeswater and Wensleydale sheep and alpacas in full coat and compare them with the lovely yarns available for purchase. 


Wensleydale sheep. Photo Pete Gettins.

If animal fibre is not your thing, there were plenty of plant fibre yarns such as bamboo, cotton, hemp and linen.

Other knitting essentials were also available: beautiful hand-made project bags, stitch markers and  a wide range of notions... 


Buttons from Injabulo. Photo by Pete Gettins.

There was also a lot that might tempt you to try another craft.

I found the displays from Prudence Mapstone ...


Freeform crochet by Prudence Mapstone. Photo by Helen Haysom.

... and Oliver Twists inspirational.


'Jewels' by Oliver Twists. Photo by Helen Haysom.

For me this show ticked all the boxes and I shall definitely be back next year – even travelling to the show is enjoyable as it necessitates a drive through the Brecon Beacons with stunning views at every turn!

If you want to find out what I purchased at Wonderwool then drop by my blog, KnitCave. I’d love to hear what you thought of the show.

Test your reaction times with this cute Sheep Dash game from the BBC.



It's in their "Sleep" section and is supposed to let you test your reaction speed at different times – when you're tired, for example, or before and after a cup of coffee.

Really quick to play, it's very cute and rather amusing. As all you have to do is click the "tranquillize" button whenever you see a sheep, it's really simple to get the hang of and keeping watch for escaping sheep will jolt you out of that 3pm snooze zone!

Like a numpty, I missed the contact details for Wild Fire Fibres off the Suppliers page last issue. If you want to knit Kirstie's lovely scarf or anything else in the Bambino yarn shown in the magazine, you can buy Wild Fire Fibres yarns online at their Etsy shop, or via Pure Purl or Brownberry Yarns. If you want Sorbet, the colour we used, it's available through the Etsy shop, but the other retailers stock other lovely yarns and colours from Wild Fire Fibres.

I had a great time. After realising I still haven't knit up all the gorgeous yarn I bought there last year (oops!) I was determined to stick to things I really, really can't live without.

It wasn't a sensible shopping list.

My goal (said out loud to reasure my boyfriend before leaving) was to find buttons for the two cardigans I've finished recently (a February Lady Sweater and a Nautical Cardigan from Rowan All Seasons At the Mill) and the one I've got on the needles (Cream Caramel, the cover project from issue 42) I did hit that target – and then run past it a bit!

In theory, I could swap the buttons round every so often to make the most of my fab finds from The Button Lady, but I don't think I'd get round to it! I think I'll just have to cast on another cardi – I rather fancy the hoodie from More Big Girl Knits...

Of course, my shopping (and browsing!) didn't stop at buttons and we'll have more updates about the show later in the week. In the meantime, we want to know:

Did you go to Wonderwool? Any hot shopping tips for readers who couldn't make it?

The One Pattern, Three Looks fingerless gloves by Carole Meldrum in issue 53 has a mistake.

In Row 57, after you've increased for the thumb, you continue across the row in the stitch pattern as set.

Thus, second half of the row should read:

... K9, m1, K1, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K3, sl 2, K1, p2sso, K3, yfwd, K1, yfwd, K3, sl 2, K1, p2sso, K3, yfwd, K2.

The K3 in bold has been omitted from the pattern in error. We apologise for this mistake – although it doesn't seem to have slowed most of you down!

We all had a fab time at Wonderwool on Saturday. I took my husband and his camera, and we kept bumping into Elizabeth and Helen as we went round. I'd been a little worried about how much Pete would enjoy it – he views my yarn stash with some suspicion, as though it's slowly consuming things and growing, rather like the alien in 1950s b-movie The Blob. (It is growing, but it doesn't eat things. Stash is a very benign lifeform.) Anyway, he had a thoroughly good day, which just goes to prove you don't have to be a knitter to enjoy a fibre festival.

I must admit, I spent less than last year because I've signed up to The Natural Dye Studio/ Fyberspates' Unicorn yarn club and a friend has launched her own sock yarn company, Laughing Yaffle, and between them they've eaten my yarn budget for the year. Still, I came away with some lovely Incomparable buttons from Injabulo, a Natural Dye Studio sock pattern and these cute little stitch markers from Atomic Knitting. I saw the markers early on, and there was one set of sheep remaining when we were about to go home so my husband bought them for me.

The most important thing that I left with – and that, hopefully, all attendees left with – was inspiration. My knitting has felt a bit bogged down lately, like a bit of a grind. (I've been finishing my first design for the magazine, and if you think 'second sock syndrome' is bad, wait until you've knitted four socks and then have to do the size variations!) Seeing all those sheep, bunnies and alpacas, gorgeous yarns and the skills of the spinners and dyers brought the reality of knitting home to me: that the craft we share is one of creating practical, beautiful things. If we have a bad day, we can go home and create a little bit of loveliness. If someone we love is having a terrible time, a hand-knitted shawl, socks or gloves says, 'I love you' better than words. That's so inspiring - and it's the real wonder of wool!

There's a mistake in the Spring Bloom pattern by Marie Wallin in issue 54 of Simply Knitting.

An eagle-eyed reader has just called to point out that inches and centimetres are not the same! On page 26, in the "back" section an instruction tells you to "work in st st until back meas 22(22: 21: 24: 23: 25)in, 22(22: 21: 24: 23: 25)cm". The centimetres are correct.

The inches should read: 8 3/4 (8 3/4: 8 1/4: 9 1/2: 9: 9 3/4)in.

Apologies for this typo!

Are you off to Wonderwool Wales tomorrow? Elizabeth and I are both going, but we'll be wandering around separately, so if you see one or the other of us, please do say hi! (Don't worry, this isn't the sign of some falling-out in the SK office; Elizabeth is going with a group of friends and I'm dragging my husband and his camera around.)

I really loved last year's Wonderwool. I'm no natural fibre purist – one of the things I've enjoyed knitting with most recently is Wendy Cupcake, which is 50% acrylic and 50% nylon – but got all fired up the passion that the exhibitors showed for their animals, spinning and dyeing. When people are that determined to produce something high-quality, you really do see amazing results, and many of the things being displayed or sold are unique, beautiful and even manage to support small businesses and communities, whether it's sheep farmers here in the UK or disadvantaged women in Africa (Injabulo will be there with fab Incomparable buttons from South Africa).

I'm probably going to be subjected to a few Paddington Hard Stares from the husband if I buy anything – the poor, deluded chap thinks I have 'too much yarn' already – but I know the stalls will be tempting! Aaaah, wool!

If you've got a taste for luxurious knitting, you'll probably already know and love Robynn Weldon's shop, Purlescence – but have you seen her blog?

Purlescence Café is a great mix of personal projects, new aquisitions for the shop and longer themed posts exploring a fibre or knitting technique.

2009 is the International Year of Natural Fibers and Robynn is working on a series of posts helping you get the most out of the natural fibres she knows and loves. She's already done wool and – her own favourite – cotton and we love the mix of personal and objective in her reviews.

As well as all the knitting, Robynn's juggling a new, very engaging work-in-progress: her daughter, Claudia is just over a month old. We're thrilled to send our congratulations to Robynn and best wishes to the whole family, and it seems appropriate to round off this post with one more of Robynn's photos – yep, it's baby in hand knits!

Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here next Friday. 

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Noro Kureyon Sock

Yarn Facts Ball weight: 100g Ball length: 420m Yarn content: 70% wool and 30% nylon Knits as 4ply RRP £10.25 Rec needle size 3¼mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

This fun sock yarn takes popular and quirky Kureyon colourways and then turns them into a bright and cheerful treat for your feet!

Noro’s unique colour palette works well as a sock yarn and looks particularly striking on plain socks or as a contrasting colour for Fair Isle work. The self-striping yarn is enjoyable to knit with and forms a firm, stretchy fabric.

The yarn varies in thickness a little, which gives your socks a bit of extra texture. The socks are designed to be very strong and hard-wearing, and have a high nylon content.

Hand wash in cool water and dry flat. The yarn blooms when washed, so the more you wear and wash them the cosier they will get.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 2.5 mm needles.

The knitters said: "Awesome!" -- Elle "Much softer when knit. Typical Noro colours – lovely. Love the numbs and blending." -- Helen "Textured with sunset colouring. A little rough." -- Elizabeth "Scratchy and ever-so-slightly blue. Spark if you ran across a nylon carpet. 2/10" -- Jess The team said: "This is a typical Noro yarn and the colours are gorgeous and would make amazing socks. I think I'd wait and see how this wears over a few washes before committing myself to a second pair." -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Lovely colours. I didn't enjoy casting on with this – it's not a smooth yarn – but once I started knitting with it I liked it more. Not my first choice though." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? The colours are amazing but the base yarn isn't.

Have you used Noro Kureyon Sock yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of Noro Kureyon Sock so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Knitting Goddess 4ply alpaca & merino

Yarn Facts Ball weight: 100g Ball length: 300m Yarn content: 50% suri alpaca and 50% merino wool Knits as 4ply RRP £10.00 Rec needle size 3½mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

Hand-dyed in small batches, each skein of Knitting Goddess yarn is completely unique, so make sure you buy enough to complete your project in one go!

A new addition to the range, this alpaca/merino blend makes deliciously cosy socks – and as it’s slightly thicker than a typical 4ply, you can use thicker needles, making it quick to knit up.

Simple stitches show off the beautiful colourways well, and with the range changing every dye day, you’ll be sure to find one you love.

Each 100g skein contains enough yarn to make a pair of socks, gloves or a hat – or even a lacy scarf. Hand wash only to keep your socks looking their best.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 3.5 mm needles.

The knitters said: "Soft and very pretty." -- Elle "Thick and warm." -- Elizabeth "Yum – but ever so slightly scratchy. 10/10" -- Jess "My fave – I love this! A mat yarn with good stitch definition and the lovely bloom of alpaca. I love the colours which are unusual." -- Helen The team said: "I usually insist all my socks are machine washable, but this is scrummy – well worth the extra effort!" -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Would make gorgeous house socks to lounge around in feeling comfy." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? A soft, thick sock yarn, great for cosy feet!

Have you used The Knitting Goddess 4ply alpaca & merino yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of The Knitting Goddess4ply alpaca & merino so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.

The May issue of Simply Knitting hits the shelves in shops around the UK today – and it contains part two of Alan Dart's Medieval Mice. The basic mouse pattern will not be printed in this issue so make sure you get a copy of issue 53 too if you want to knit the mice.


Click for a larger image.

With the warm weather well on its way we've got a great collection of spring and summer knits for you. As well as the gorgeous yellow cardigan by top Rowan designer Marie Wallin, shown on the cover, we've got a casual tunic top for every day and a smart lace cardigan.

We've also got a pretty one-skein summer scarf and two fab knits for little ones: an adorable baby papoose and a crochet baby blanket – perfect for new arrivals!

Issue 54 includes the second part of Alan Dart's Medieval Mice.

PLEASE NOTE: The basic mouse pattern was printed in issue 53 and is not in issue 54. If you missed issue 53, please visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk or call 0844 848 1602 to order a back issue. Pattern only available while stocks last.


Click for a larger image.

Part one gave you the instructions for the royal family, and you can now complete the rest of their court – including ladies in waiting, knights and even a jester!

We've got two great gifts for you this month: a pair of bamboo bag handles and a bonus pattern which is a chic summer top from Bergere de France.

So you can get started straight away, we've got four designs for you to use your bamboo bag handles with, from simple stocking stitch to complex Fair Isle. We've also got great ways to finish your bags, giving you even more choices.



Other great things to look out for in issue 54 include:   

• Find out how we got on at the Stitch & Craft show.
  
• Spinner Mary Brown follows in her ancestors footsteps.
• Tina Manscuso tells us all about crocheting her own wedding dress.
  

And don't miss any of your usual favourites: we've rounded up great events from around the country, top new yarns and hot summer patterns for you to explore.

As we said in issue 48, we've got so many clubs on our list that we couldn't fit them all in the magazine! We'd like to put them all up on the blog, but we won't put your details up unless you contact us and say that's OK.

We know a lot of people use their personal email address or mobile number as the contact for their group and may have concerns about having those details up on the internet. Don't forget: there are lots of free email services online, so you can start a new email address for your knitting group. We like gmail.com (run by Google) but there are lots of others.

We're getting in touch with all the groups, and messages are coming back in slowly. If you'd like to see your group here, please email us or leave a comment on this post with the following information (we'll delete the comments as we add the information to the list, to make it easier to search and keep current):

1. Yes, I am happy for these details to be posted online.
2. My knitting group is called ____
3. I am the organizer. My name is ____
4. Knitters can contact me by (either/both) phone/email at ____
5. We meet in ____ town in ____shire in the North East/North West/Midlands and East/South East/South West/London/Channel Islands/Isle of Wight/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland/Other
Optionally, you can tell us a bit more about the club, give us the URL for your website or if you're happy for people to just turn up tell us when and where your club meets (e.g. "Jen's Cafe, 13 Market Street, Anytown, Someshire, 7-9pm every first and third Tuesday").
To keep the list manageable, we may not post all the information you give us.

Wales

Abakhan Knitting Group - Mostyn, Flintshire
Call the shop 01745 562 100 or visit www.abakhan.co.uk for details.
More info: First Tuesday of every month, 10-12. Free of charge.
Added 22/04/09

Northern Ireland

Knitty Gritty Belfast - Belfast, Ulster
1.Yes, I am happy for these details to be posted online.
2. My knitting group is called "Finish my Row"
3. I am the organizer. My name is Nikki
4. Knitters can contact me by email at ropeadope_ie@yahoo.com
5. We meet in Belfast, Castlecourt Starbucks every Wednesday from 4.30 onwards.Contact Kate Moore by email at knittygrittybelfast@gmail.com
More info: We meet in Starbucks, Elmwood Avenue (beside Fat Buddha) at 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month.
Added 22/04/09

Finish My Row - Belfast, Ulster
Contact Nikki at ropeadope_ie@yahoo.com for more information.
More info: We meet in Castlecourt Starbucks every Wednesday from 4:30pm onwards.
Added 22/04/09

Scotland

Kirkcaldy KnitClub - Kirkcaldy, Fife
Kirkcaldy KnitClub
Meets every Monday 7-9 pm at the Victoria Hospital Staff Room
Email us at knitclub@aol.com or visit http://knitclub.freeforums.org for more details.
More info: Meets every Monday, 7-9pm at the Victoria Hospital Staff Room.
Added 22/04/09

North West

Bolton Knitting Noras - Bolton, Lancashire
Contact Bev Adam by email at bevboots_2000@yahoo.com or phone on 07795 160897.
More info: We meet in in Costa Coffee on the precinct from 1pm on the last Sunday of the month.
Added 22/04/09

South East

Knuttyknitchix - Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Contact Charlotte on 07957 488 398 or at charlotte@knuttyknitchix.org.uk or Julia at Julia@knuttyknitchix.org.uk
More info: We meet at each other's homes on a Saturday afternoon approx every 3 weeks.
Added 9/12/08

Oxford Kntiters - Oxford, Oxfordshire
Contact Sally Jones by email  at oxford.knitters@gmail.com
More info: We meet every Saturday from 11-1 in the cafe in Borders bookshop, Magdalen Street, Oxford.
Added 22/04/08

In the meantime, if you'd like the full list we used to print in the magazine, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Club Directory, Simply Knitting, Future, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW.

If you'd like to update a group listing, please email us.

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus

Yarn Facts Ball weight: 113g Ball length: 342m Yarn content: 100% superwash merino Knits as 4ply RRP £15.00 Rec needle size 3¼mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

Hand dyed – but not hand spun – Soft Spun Plus is a lovely soft (of course) and smooth yarn from Brooklyn Handspun.

Each colourway is made up of tones and shades of one or more colours, giving your knitting a depth and richness, and ensuring that no two socks are ever alike.

If you prefer a more subtle look to the rapidly changing hues of Aquatic (shown), you’ll love the collection of semi-solid colourways – they’re perfect for lace work or cables.

The yarn is lovely to knit with and each skein contains enough for a pair of socks or a scarf. There are some nice blokey colours to choose from and the colour changes make each stitch interesting – great for jazzing up a plain pair of socks. Hand wash and dry flat.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 2.5 mm needles.

The knitters said: "Nice and soft." -- Elle "Soft and bouncy. Earth tones." -- Elizabeth "Lovely colourway. Soft with a great stretch. Great stitch definition – nice lustre." -- Helen "Double-yum. Perfect colours for me though so I am biased! Very soft. 10/10" -- Jess "Lovely fun spin of colour." -- Jaquiline The team said: "This is a great example of how sock yarns can be amazing and tricky to work with at the same time. The colours work well together and add a lot of life to  stocking stitch but might overwhelm a lace or cable pattern." -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Soft but feels like it's going to wear well. I like the way the colour is pooling." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? We love the colour and softness: yum!

Have you used Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus sock yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Regia Design Line – Exotic Colour

Yarn Facts Ball weight: 50g Ball length: 100m Yarn content: 75% new wool and 25% nylon Knits as 4ply RRP £4.10 Rec needle size 3mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

Regia has recently added six more dramatic colourways to its Kaffe Fassett Design Line sock yarn, giving you over 20 vibrant and lively shades to choose from.

Designed exclusively for Regia by the man himself, the Kaffe Fassett colourways range from the pretty spring colours pictured here to bold autumnal hues.

The yarn is a joy to knit with and  is not your typical self-striping yarn: the colours blend together as you knit to give you a unique wave effect.

The 25% nylon content makes for hard-wearing socks. Machine wash and dry flat. You will need two balls to make a pair of adult socks.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 2.5 mm needles.

The knitters said: Regia Design Line – Exotic Colour "Fabulous colours. Nice and soft." -- Elle "Vibrant. Cool stripes." -- Elizabeth "Love this! Squishy loveliness – and wonderful colours! AND is that a wave I see? 11/10" -- Jess "Soft but not as soft as other Regia yarns. Shame patterning not properly shown in magazine as it looks as though the yarn flashes!" -- Helen "Nice and soft." The team said: "Love the waves – they add that special touch to the colour palette you'd expect from expert Kaffe Fassett." -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Nice to knit with. Not especially drapy but that means socks will stay up well. Feels hardwearing." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? The unique wave effect is a hit!

Have you used Regia Design Line sock yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of Regia Design Line sock yarn so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.

Simply Knitting's regular columnist, knitter and artist Rachael Matthews, has a big project under way. She'll be talking about it in issue 55 of Simply Knitting, but as she's looking for helpful knitters and there's a May 29 deadline I thought I'd mention it to you now on the blog. Some knitters may be dedicated enough to complete a UFO in the time between issue 55 going on sale and the deadline, but I know I need a lot more time and you might want it too!

Put simply, Rachael's been selected as one of the participants in this year's Jerwood Contemporary Makers Exhibition, and for her exhibit she's been collecting UFOs - the dreaded 'unfinished object' all knitters have hidden away somewhere - and getting people to complete them however they see fit. If you go to the project's dedicated website you can see the UFOs (click here) and get in touch with Rachael to claim the one you wish to complete. On the other hand, if you have a UFO of your own, you can send it to her and she will find someone to turn it into a finished knit which will then be shown in the exhibition.

I've got the St Anne's school jumper segment. I'm not going to complete it as a jumper; it never got finished in the first place because the girl it was started for switched schools. The fragment has a story behind it, and I'm hoping that my finished knit will reflect chunks of the story. I'm going to turn it into a bag – far more useful to the original owner than the jumper – and, if I can buy enough in charity shops, line it with school ties. It's fun to take a piece of knitting and think, "What could this be? How can I make this forgotten knitting into something new?" It's liberating, because instead of following a pattern you are using your skills to create something unique. If you'd like to join in, do look at the blog and volunteer. UFOs need love too!

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Wendy Happy 4ply

Yarn Facts Ball weight 100g Ball length 420m Yarn content 75%     bamboo & 25% nylon Knits as 4ply RRP £5.50 Rec needle size 3¾mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

A soft, silky bamboo and nylon blend, Wendy Happy is great for socks, baby garments and even cool summer tops.

The eight self-striping colourways include Pisces, with its no-effort Fair Isle effect, and also Aquarius, which has variegations within the stripes. With shades ranging from the pretty pinks of Capricorn and Leo (shown) to masculine browns, greens, blues and greys of Scorpio and Taurus, there’s a colour for everyone. Wendy is expanding its collection of supporting patterns, so look out for more cute knits for kids and adults over the coming months.

It knits up best on metal rather than wooden/bamboo needles. Machine wash on a mild setting with a short spin. Can be tumble dried on a cool setting.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 2.75 mm needles.

The knitters said: "Lovely lustre. Great stripe balance. Quite moochy so would be good for slouch socks. I would knit it on smaller needles than recommended." -- Helen "So soft!" -- Elle "Silky smooth with a nice finish." -- Elizabeth "Amazing quality for the price – definitely sleuthing this out! 10/10" -- Jess The team said: "This yarn produces a gorgeous finished fabric, but I found it tricky to knit with. It's a bit splitty and quite sticky – I used wooden needles, but I'd recommend metal." -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Slightly splitty but knits up into a lovely smooth fabric. I'm a slow knitter and tend to look at my knitting but the multi-strand construction might annoy someone who likes to knit and look at other things." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? Soft and pretty but a bit tricky to work with.

Have you used Wendy Happy 4ply yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of Wendy Happy 4ply so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.

Do you combine your hobbies? Maybe you knit while you watch cricket, crochet while you enjoy a fine wine or bring home yarn as souvenirs from trips – but the bloggers at Killer Hobbies have taken it a step further: they've each combined two hobbies and turned it into a career!

Killer Hobbies is a group blog written by six mystery authors. Each woman updates once a week, giving you an insight into the writing process, her crafty pursuits and life in general, depending on the author and her mood. If you're a keen writer, love cosy mysteries or follow one of their hobbies, this is a great blog to check out. You might find out what your favourite author does in her spare time or perhaps discover a new passion!

Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here next Friday. 

Simply Knitting issue 54 hits the shops on Thursday 23 April. Enter our great giveaways and competitions by using the links below.

Wendy Cupcake yarn and pattern giveaway, page 6
Craft Factory kits giveaway, page 10
Colinette Zanziba yarn giveaway, page 12
Prize crossword, page 94
NEW! Prize sudoku, page 94