This turned out to be a beautiful blanket, but I have issues with this kit:

• In order to get the chart for the pattern, you need to buy a separate book that has the chart in a pattern for a children’s vest. (I don’t think this is right - when you buy a kit, it should clearly include everything you need, including any charts.) No problem, I thought the book would have useful information on how to steek - not the case at all: the book refers the reader to Alice Starmore’s other book on fair isle for steeking questions. If I were doing this now, I’d look around for other people who have posted the chart. (ahem, http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Schultheiss/elephants---b...).
• You are not told upfront how much yarn you need or the equipment. I ran out of Corncrake on the seventh repeat out of 10.5 and I would not have had enough Limpet and Calluna to continue if I hadn’t thought ahead to buy more. This is a real hassle and something that has happened to other people using the kit. My gauge is spot on, so I think I know where to place the blame. If I had given this project more thought, I would have realized that I needed more than two needles to complete the border. This was ignorance on my part, but I would have expected the pattern to clearly state what equipment was needed from the outset.
• Virtual Yarns has been quick to correct their mistakes, including their failure to include an entire color line in the initial shipment. I appreciate this, but it is just another delay.