Breed: Blue Faced Leicester
Wool Category: Lustre
Brand: Unknown (bought from Hannalin Crafts)
Form: 100g skein
Preparation: Unknown, aran

What does the wool or fibre feel like?
The hand-squish-grab:
LUSTROUS! Very soft. Feels almost like a cloud. Very slight halo.
Initial thoughts on use:
Seems warm. Good for hats/gloves/scarves. Garments. Maybe socks but not sure on how well it sould last.

Cast on:
How many stitches:
32st on 5mm metal needles.
What does this yarn feel like to knit with?
Very soft and smooth. Quite slippery to knit with on metal needles.
Size of unwashed swatch:
7.5in x 7.5in
Describe the feel/observances of the unwashed swatch:
Extremely soft and lustrous. Very stretchy. Great stitch definition. Very smooshy and good squish. Bouncy and well defined garter ridges.

Washing & Blocking & Wearing –Test One:
How did you block it and to which dimensions?
Blocked in cold water without any soaks or washes so I could see how the yarn itself acts without anything else affecting it. Blocked at 7.5in x 7.5in.
How has the swatch shrunk or changed/observances after test one?
The yarn hasn’t shrunk. It has bloomed slightly. Still exceedingly soft with great stitch definition in both the garter and stockinette. Still quite bouncy.
What is the feel and look of the washed blocked square?
Super soft. Slight halo. Great stitch definition. Bouncy. Lustrous. No coarse fibres.
Wear test for a day:
Extremely soft. Feels soothing against the skin. Perfect for wearing against the skin and just all round feels wonderful to wear.

Washing & Blocking & Wearing –Test two:
How did you block it and to which dimensions?
Blocked to same dimensions using eucalan soak.
How has the swatch shrunk or changed/observances after test one?
Slightly more bloom.
What is the feel and look of the washed blocked square?
Buttery soft. Like first test.
Wear test for a day:
Same as first test.

Rubbing against itself vigorously – has it piled, felted or changed?
A little fuzzier but not much else.

Final and Overall Assessment:
Describe the swatch and fabric now: include size of swatch
8in x 7.5in. Buttery soft and warm and an absolute joy.
Thoughts on the life, longevity and uses of this wool:
Do these differ from your initial thoughts? Same as initial thought - brilliant for almost everything but not sure if hardy enough for socks by itself.
Would you consider using this breed wool again?
YES YES YES!
What else have you learned or observed from this test drive?
Same as the other swatches. Don’t trust the grab! Yarns can change in major or more subtle ways :)