An Ode To Gradient Yarn
Sometimes, you can let the yarn do the work for you. A gradient yarn can turn even a simple ten stitch garter pattern into something that looks super complicated and pretty.
I liked doing the single Ten Stitch Blanket pattern (seen in the picture to the right) so much that I’m currently working on a Double Ten Stitch Blanket for myself (below) with yarn I got when Joann’s went out of business (RIP). It’s mostly the same pattern, except I’m running one skein from the outside and one from the inside at the same time. I’m getting close to done with the first 2 skeins. I have about 10 more left (I went a little nuts at the sale), so I’ll stop when I feel “done,” but I definitely still have a long way to go. The all knit pattern is generally mindless except for trying not to tangle the 2 strands when I turn it and when I get to corners and have to pay attention. Otherwise, it’s great tv watching knitting.
But sometimes, you want to make that gradient really shine. In those cases, you can pair it with a solid, like I did in this double knit Hönkä that I made for Mike. I’m not sure my 2015 cell phone camera does this one any justice either. The “in progress” pictures are more color-accurate, but the finished one gives a better overall look.
Some other random gradient projects, since I’m a sucker for this kind of yarn. I don’t have finished pics of either one, but they were some of my favorites to work on. As you get close to the color change, it gets motivating. “Let me just get to the next one” is a worthy goal, and probably why these tend to end up complete instead of abandoned.
Very cool. My friend finished a quilt begun by her great, great Grandmother. Each woman contributed to it. Her mother bought the last material for it and years later passed it along to Mary Lou who is a very good quilter and even kept two frames in two stalls of her beauty shop to work on when things were slow. This quilt is an absolute work of art. Her mom embroidered line pictures of Gibson Girls in white spaces.
SAdly I can’t paste the photo in. If you’ll shoot me an em addy, I’ll send the photo.
That’s awesome! I’d love to have something that multiple generations could contribute to, but sadly, I’m past the point of able to do that. 🙁 The best I have is that I “inherited” most of my grandmother’s knitting supplies. I do need to do something for myself with at least one skein of what she had.
And you can shoot the pic over to Mike (mikewinfrey at bellsouth dot net) and either he or I can share it. <3
That quilt is AMAZING, Bob!
The ends justify the means?
My wife has not discovered gradient yarns yet, but has purchased many skeins of yarn at a nice craft store by her Dad’s and I think she also hit Joann’s as they were closing.
Just know that whatever she told you she paid for those is at least half.
And we don’t talk about my pet qiviut skein.
When she mentioned some of the prices she paid, she was proud, so I am pretty sure she told the truth on those.
I think.
And qiviut sounds great. And yes, I had to look it up.
My wife started knitting within the last few years, taught to her by an older friend (RIP). So my wife knits the British way, not the American way to knit as our friend grew up in England before immigrating to Canada.
To correct myself, I was told the two knitting styles are “English” and “Continental” (which is mostly German).
They are also known as “picking” (English) and “throwing” (Continental). I’m a thrower. I did at one point of that blue and green Ten Stitch teach myself to knit backwards rather than turning my work, but I haven’t managed to remember how to do it again yet. I’m sure I’ll get annoyed into figuring it out again soon, though! Big blankets are a pain to flip.