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Blanket Yarn Bothers

Last month I had two stuffed toy patterns I wanted to try, one for a one-skein rabbit and the other for a cat made from blanket yarn, and I opted first for the latter because I have a lot of this yarn in my stash, and I've yet to figure out what to do with it.

This was only the second time I tried to use blanket yarn for a toy. Although I like many of Bernat's yarns, their baby blanket polyester is not my favorite. I have to say upfront that it is very soft, doesn't shed and works up quickly. I made the cat in one night.

Things that bother me about the yarn: the heavy chenille feel, the awkwardness of working with it and the requisite big hook, and lack of stitch definition. My lack of experience with blanket yarns in general contributes, but so does my maker's pride.

Blanket yarn is a shortcut for anyone wanting to make projects very fast, which is a plus for anyone looking to sell their work. Yet the end result isn't as impressive as something made of a lighter weight, less bulky yarn.

The big white cat I made turned out okay, but I'm thinking this yarn is just not for me. I'll probably try a couple more projects to use what I have in my stash just to give it a fair go.

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