Thursday, May 23, 2013

Be Sweet; A Review and Tasting

A short while ago I was contacted by the folks at Be Sweet yarns. I'm always keen to try new yarns, so jumped on the opportunity to review a couple of their line and let ya'll know what I think.

First, here's some more about  Be Sweet:

"Be Sweet was founded on the principle of being kind to others. Nadine Curtis created Be Sweet in 2003 while living in Cape Town, South Africa.
Be Sweet’s mission; to bring socially and environmentally friendly products to fashionable consumers that evoke an individual style and help support community development around the world." (read more here).

See their yarns here.
On to the review!

I was sent three different yarns to test: Whipped Cream, Satisfaction, and Bamboo Taffy.

Swatch Whipped Cream
45% kid mohair, 45% wool, 10% silk
made in south africa
colour moss
50 g, 82 y / 75 m
4 sts/1" on 6 mm (US 10)
1 ply

My thoughts:
This is a good quality yarn. The fibres shine wonderfully, the stitches come out well defined, and the colour (and their colour range in general) is very pleasant. 
If I had to list a negative, it would be the pure fact that mohair sheds. This is nothing wrong with the yarn, just a reality of working with mohair (though I might add that the Whipped Cream yarn, with its higher mohair content than Satisfaction, did indeed shed significantly more).

Also: I gave my remainder of the moss Whipped Cream to a knitter friend. Her review was equally positive, possibly even more so, as she has nothing at all against mohair.

Pattern I think would look great in this yarn: Rikke Hat. Keep you warm, but avoid any delicate skin that would be easily irritated by mohair.


Swatch Satisfaction
60% wool, 20% kid mohair, 20% superfine alpaca
made in south africa
colour bubblegum
50 g, 115 y / 105 m
5 sts/1" on 3.75 mm (US 5)
plied

My thoughts:
This is a good solid yarn. Nice hand, again, even stitches. The fibre quality is good, and the colours available are great.
I liked this yarn so much that I kept the remainder. Didn't share. Nope.

Pattern I think would look great in this yarn: Bumble. How cute would that be in Winter White, Marigold, and Espresso?


Swatch Bambino Taffy
70% organically grown cotton, 30% bamboo
made in south africa
colour french revolution
50 g, 100 y / 91 m
4.5 sts/1" on 4 mm (US 6)

My thoughts:
This one was my favourite. A wonderfully smooth and soft bamboo yarn, with pleasingly saturated colours. I enjoy the combinations they've put together. Here you see my little Bambino Taffy pouch. A joy to knit with. Great hand and fibre quality. The only negative? I don't know why, but I just assumed the colours would jump from one to the other. I was a bit surprised to find each colour knotted to the next (so, that is, five knots in the skein). That said, it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the finished knit.
I think Elbie likes it too!

And now, you can enter to win a wee tasting of Be Sweet for yourself!

Some of the Be Sweet Yarn.

You get:
Satisfaction
60% wool, 20% kid mohair, 20% superfine alpaca
made in south africa
colour: peacock
50 g, 115 y / 105 m
5 sts/1" on 3.75 mm (US 5)
plied

Whipped Cream
45% kid mohair, 45% wool, 10% silk
made in south africa
colour: grape
50 g, 82 y / 75 m
4 sts/1" on 6 mm (US 10)
1 ply

Bambino Taffy
70% organically grown cotton, 30% bamboo
made in south africa
colour: licorice
50 g, 100 y / 91 m
4.5 sts/1" on 4 mm (US 6) 
Be Sweet package of goodies you can win!
plied

Magic Ball
Mixed fibers including baby mohair, merino wool, ribbon, and more
50g, 9095 yards /87 m
3.5 sts/1" on 5.5 mm (US 9)

Pattern Booklet

Just comment on this post, letting me know what you think you'd knit with one hank of any of the yarns you'll win in the package!

Commenting will be open until May 31.
Winner will be announced June 4.


25 comments:

Bridget said...

Pretty yarns - and I always love it when there's a bird picture as well!

I am lately on a hat and cowl kick, so that would be likely to be the first thing I'd think of making with the yarns.

Julie said...

I think I'd go with a cowl or mitts. Those are always my go to's for single skeins of pretty yarns.

ChrisC said...

I've been wondering about Be Sweet Yarns. Thanks for the review. I'm about to move across the country from sunny and warm California to the bitter winters of Maine, so I suspect that I'll be knitting a LOT of hats for this winter! The mohair in a couple of the blends sounds like it'd make for a nice warm and fuzzy hat :-)

Kangath said...

I would design a hat with the yarns. Be Sweet is one brand I haven't yet tried, but I've been eyeing them for some time!

Sheila said...

I'd probably make mitts, given the small quantities. But sometimes yarn speaks to you when you have it in your hand and tells you what it wants to be, so I might change my mind.

Tricia said...

A gorgeous scarf for sure!

Eileen said...

I've been meaning to make a pair of fingerless gloves for a while. But I agree with Sheila, the yarn can change my mind.

flossieKNITS said...

I LOVE bambino taffy—I've seen it in store before and it has such a beautiful sheen and delicate drape. I think I would have to make some warm weather fingerless gloves!

Josiphine said...

I really want to make a pullover with the bambino taffy. Something cozy to wear on dreary days.

Sheila Wujek said...

I would probably knit some hand warmers for my daughters and myself and/or hats. Hats always come in handy around here.

Sarah said...

I've been looking for an excuse to make that Rikke hat!

Erin Heather said...

I'd make a nice warm cowl or mitts with one of these yarns. I love trying new yarn!

ekittie said...

Mitts, for sure!
Thanks for the reviews!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the opportunity to try a new yarn. I too would use the yarn for fingerless gloves.rav id busymom07755

MrsZuvers said...

I'd probably save bambino taffy for a baby knit. I wonder if that's what they had in mind...

Oh and the bird,very photogenic. Has he considered modeling?

lubitel said...

I haven't tried this brand yet, but I'm liking the bambino taffy for some type of striped baby beanie.

Barbara said...

I'd love to make a cute pair of mitts - lovely yarn and colors!

ikkinlala said...

I'd make a hat with the Satisfaction - maybe one of Hunter Hammersen's patterns.

KnittingViolets said...

I love fingerless mitts and would definitely make a pair or two with Be Sweet yarn.

asteride said...

I would knit a mohair cowl, a shawl, a small cardi for a newborn (little garter card from Raggaknits) and fingerless mitts....just to start.
asteride on Ravelry

Meredith MC said...

I would knit your "Corn Moon" mitts with the satisfaction.Such a cool idea! Or the "For Candles" cowl with the Bamboo Taffy yarn.
Thanks for having the contest!

Amanda said...

Probably a hat. I'm on a major hat kick this year. :)

Elena Knits said...

I would knit a hat or a cowl with that nice yarn.

Jo said...

Beautiful yarn! I'd knit some pretty mitts using a yarn that had kid mohair in, so soft and warm :)

Anonymous said...

I would knit something airy with big, big needle just in time for summer....
patmom on Ravelry

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