2015

Crystal Palace Panda Silk

52% bamboo, 43% machine washable Merino wool, 5% combed silk

204 yds/50 gr.

Gauge (sts. / inch): 7

US Needle: 1

Fingering (27-32 sts/4 in)

Machine Wash

The bamboo gives a great feel and a luster, the wool gives a soft feeling core and the combed silk gives it sheen and strength.

http://www.straw.com/cpy/yarns/pandasilk-card.html

I like this yarn. 2 of the 3 fibers are very renewable. It’s got a nice soft feel and it’s a very smooth knit. I’m not very far into my first project with this yarn, but so far it’s been a good knit. There is no splitting in the yarn and it creates a nice flat fabric. I’m sure once I get further in the piece will have a lovely drape.

I am using one of the darker colors – Morgan Green. And I did notice that there was some dye on my fingers. So I would suggest care in wetting and washing as there will be some bleeding. And that is my only complaint.

image_medium2aCrystal Palace Panda Silk - Morgan Green — Crystal Palace Panda Silk – Morgan Green

I will use this yarn again.

I don’t know about you, but I really dislike weaving in ends. I’m lazy and when I’m finished knitting I really want to be done with a project. And also, I’m always afraid that my weaving in won’t be enough and the ends will come undone and my entire project will unravel.

What I do is probably – if I did my research – something common. Here is what I do, especially with the fluffier yarns. The join with the smooth yarns (especially bulky) is more noticeable. But depending on what you are knitting and where the join is, it might not make a difference.

When you are about 6 to 8 inches from the end of a skein, fold the yarn in half.

Take the new skein and do the same thing (fold in half) looping the new through the old.

Knit the folded yarn like you would any other yarn. Just be careful when you knit back over the join to pick up both strands as 1 stitch or you will increase accidentally! Or worse pick up an end which isn’t knit in and it will come undone creating a hole. So just watch then next row and you’ll be just fine!