theraineysisters knitting and so much more

December 10, 2018

From Susan — Disappointing

Filed under: Updates — lv2knit @ 10:48 am

If you have been reading The Rainey Sisters for any length of time, you know we try not to trash others.  And I am not trying to trash anyone, but rather write an honest review about the kit I received to knit this: Little Long Johns by Susan B. Anderson.  The pattern is fine – nothing wrong there.  Very cute!

I ordered a kit from Barrett Wool ($15) as soon as I saw it.  The kit arrived and was packaged beautifully — really cute.

But, notice how the pictures show THREE little pairs of long johns lined up adorably on a clothes line?  Read the fine print, People!  The kit has enough supplies for ONE set of long johns (what the heck are you going to do with one??).  To make three, you have to buy yarn, beads, mini clothes pins, and twine.  If I needed to buy all that, I should have just bought the pattern on Ravelry and gone shopping for the rest!!  Which is what I am going to do.  Which also means that I cannot use the yarn included in the kit or my long johns won’t match.  🙁

So, that was on me, but please don’t fall into their adorable trap!!  Or at least go in with your eyes open!!

NOT disappointing is the hat I made for DD’s boyfriend:

Pattern: Girder

I added a repeat and changed the crown shaping quite a bit.  Added a small leather patch!

9 Comments »

  1. I did see that the kit only included enough to make one little ornament, which I thought was surprising. I think Susan’s patterns are adorable, but this one should have been packaged to allow for more units, especially because all the pics show multiple little long johns. Nonetheless, yours is too cute!

    Comment by Samina — December 10, 2018 @ 12:27 pm

  2. I looked at that kit several times, and wanted to buy it as soon as it was restocked. For some reason (because I don’t always) I read the “included” section. When I saw “enough wool for one pair,” two clothespins, etc., I changed my mind. I may get the pattern only for next year. (I don’t have time to track down all the “ingredients” now. Disappointing. I do like many of her patterns.

    Like that hat!

    Comment by annie — December 10, 2018 @ 12:29 pm

  3. Could you go shopping in your remnants-stash to make several sets of long johns in varying shades of red and different sizes (from different gauges of yarn)? Then the line-up would look more like a real family’s worth of long john laundry. Or, instead of just long johns, the line could have little sweaters and mittens and hats to use more colors out of your stash . . . whew, I’m getting carried away here. That’s more work than I might want to do for a garland!

    Comment by Gretchen (aka stashdragon) — December 10, 2018 @ 1:16 pm

  4. And if you’d bought three k7ts, you’d have paid for 3 patterns.

    The hat for DD is great.

    Comment by Susan — December 10, 2018 @ 3:49 pm

  5. Please elaborate on your changes to the crown shaping? I did not see those detailed on your Ravelry project page. Thank you.

    Comment by Nancy — December 10, 2018 @ 5:51 pm

  6. Those little longjohns are just adorable — but . . . yeah. That’s unfortunate “packaging!.” Love the hat. I think it would be perfect for my dad. Can you elaborate on the changes to the crown shaping? Thanks!

    Comment by Kym — December 10, 2018 @ 6:54 pm

  7. I always read kit descriptions carefully after similarly disappointing myself some time back because I didn’t read one thoroughly. Really, who packages a kit for a small stuffed animal without the stuffing?

    I figured the long johns ornament would be one that I’d just buy the pattern for anyway and make out of sock yarn scraps. As cute as red longies are, I think it would be adorable to have a string of multi-colored coordinating longies, rather than ones that were all matchy-matchy. I think it would be especially cute to match up sock leftovers to children in the family.

    I adore the hat you made for your DD’s boyfriend. I’ve tagged that one in my wish list for a dear friend who I think would love it.

    Comment by Sabrina — December 10, 2018 @ 9:33 pm

  8. Bummer about the kit. Been there done that. Love the leather patch on your gorgeous hat. It sets off the beautiful knitting creating a beautiful DESIGN. Not always necessary but sometimes just the thing. Chloe

    Comment by Chloe — December 11, 2018 @ 8:03 am

  9. Susan may be one of the overalls is from last year and faded (too much moonlight) or is darker 🙂 hang it on the line with the brand new ones awaiting Christmas 2018 moonlight 🙂 Santa, just like me, loves recycling and never throws away overalls that can still be worn even if the color is not the same 🙂
    Just joking !

    Comment by Danièle — December 12, 2018 @ 5:14 am

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