What I know (or maybe don't know...) about Koigu PPPM and BMFA Socks that Rock

There was an inquery on Ravelry the other day asking for comparisons of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino and Socks that Rock. While I am sure I will be overlooking many of the different points, I thought I would do a visual side-by-side...

Here are thet two yarns: to the right, Socks that Rock in Kaw Kaw colorway; on the left is KPPPM (colorway is numbered and I don't think I kept that back!)...

So I guess that is one obvious difference! STR colorways are named, while KPPPM colorways are numbered! I don't know about you, but it is easier for me to remember the names, rather than the numbers! But ok, maybe no one cares, since this difference does NOT affect the knitted fabric! (Really, it doesn't..!)

And below, the strands shown side by side: top-STR, bottom-KPPPM...
Now I kinda did a 'wraps per inch' kinda test. Interesting to me is that I always believed STR is a bit 'thicker', meaning you'd get less WPI. Not so; in actuality, it almost seems like it is actually a bit 'thinner'!


Admittedly, I kinda don't recall what this next picture was supposed to illustrate. I think the same as above (but maybe I tried to get a better representation to illustrate the common WPI.)

Now in this picture, I pulled the ends taut; can you notice how the Koigu has thinned out but the STR has remained about the same tickness? It keeps its density. And another thing to note: they both seem to have an equal amount of stretch. Neither stretched considerably more or less.So that is all the insight I'm able to offer at this time, other than what all was posted at Ravelry.

OH! And a new, improved pic of me in my recently completed Ribby Pulli Scoop! I think I would have added some short-rowing (which I HAD considered but thought the ribbing would pull out enough...) to compensate for my bust and belly. Obviously, the ribbing was not enough, since the back hangs down a good 2-3 inches longer while the front tends to "scooch" up. But what can I say? I was in a 'press on in the round and get this finished' mood and wasn't about to stop to think about and calculate the short-row shaping! Really. I swear, if I had decided to do the short-rowing, it may have fit more excellently and my sweater design teacher would have been proud of me. But alas, you and I may not be seeing this completed item had I gone that route, either!