Bernat Blanket Ogo is the same size as Bernat Blanket yarns that are out there. Yarnspirations also take a considerable risk to appease crocheters and knitters by wrapping the yarn differently so that we can start without digging into the centre of a skein to find the end.
This change required Yarnspirations to update its equipment to create the long cylinder shape. Because of the shape change, people assumed they were getting less yarn without looking at the yardage or weight. Some harsh reviews on YouTube and blogs swayed people to believe nonsense, and this yarn concept was pretty much ruined as soon as it was released. It was heart breaking.
I was pretty upset about the reviews of what people were saying. A significant risk in identifying a problem consumers complained about was taken seriously. Without background, many reviews labelled this yarn as gimmicky when it could have been the new future of yarn. Caron cakes and caked-wrapped yarn were considered a gimmick, yet nearly 8 years later, they are standard-wrapped yarn ball items you see in most places.
What upset me the most is that Yarnspirations, if a YouTube Host or a reviewer wants to review something, is transparent and gives people the facts, but instead, people open the packages and run a review with assumptions that are partially true or not even true at all. This has become true as people may not use critical thinking to question whether the information is accurate.
Bernat Blanket Ogo, in my opinion, should have stayed as an O'go format. Reaching in to find the centre of a standard Bernat Blanket ball is a real pain in the ass. I put up with it as I love the yarn, but this wrapping concept on this type of product solved a major problem.
Another real thing that annoyed me was that people squawked so hard about the packaging. Originally, the O'Go Ball was not full of cardboard. The video above showed that the original was just a small ball band around the top of the o'go. Retailers wanted two options: pegging it on a peg board and setting it up on the shelves. This significantly changed the packaging to accommodate the retailer's need for displays, which ended up being a consumer nightmare. Packaging... I get it... Lawd knows I wouldn't say I like the packaging from the grocery store and seeing garbage day every other Friday.
Consumers did a great job of hating on this product so much that the entire lines of Red Heart, Caron and Bernat yarns that were prepared in this format were taken off the shelves and moved over to a discount store for clearance. To me, an absolute mortal sin, as my mother would say.
You can still find this yarn on clearance at Yarnspirations for the remaining of what is left. Perfectly great yarn but unfortunately, the complaints that Yarnspirations addressed turned out not to be significant enough to warrant a ball packaging change. They took a risk, it didn't pay off.
Ollie the Owl was a great example of fun projects created for this type yarn.
To this day, I think all Bernat Blanket products should be in O'Go Format with reduced packaging, which consumers complained about. It's easier to deal with, to my point of view. Unfortunately, I think I might have too much wishful thinking. But what do I know? Do I sound bitter?
Rachel says
I agree with you, this is sad! O'Go yarn was what I started with when I recently learned to knit. I LOVED this package design. On top of not having to dig for the start, the yarn unraveled without yanking and knotting. There were a few downsides, but they didn't deter me from buying more of the yarn.
Susan Uhrich says
I loved the wonderful color selection. I made a great rainbow colored blanket for my grand daughter. Made several beanies! Great color. I'm sorry to hear that this yarn is going away. It was fun to create with.
Suzanne says
I loved the O'Go yarns from the start! They're great for amigurumi projects. You get all the necessary colors you need in one awesome package! There were many You Tube content creators that gave bad reviews of this packaging. It has been my experience that many viewers will adopt there opinions at face value, instead of trying them out on their own and doing due diligence first. I am heartbroken 💔 that the O'Go concepts were halted. (Although I did enjoy the deep discounts, still I want the yarn in O'Go format.)