Episode 72: Knit in color

Episode 72: Knit in Color

This week we talk about cowls, Stitches yarn reprised, the joys and woes of goals, and knitting in color.

Cowl Crazy
We talk about our latest adventures in knitting. Jenny knits cowls for days, Nicole sees the light at the end of the Dad sweater tunnel!

Thermis (Jenny's; Nicole's)
Dad's Sweater (all done, but for the zipper!)
Stripe-y Vest (also since finished)
Darkside Cowl (rav link)(Jenny's)
Handspun by Nomads Cowl
Dolores Park Cowl (Jenny's)
Handspun kerchief
Ishbel
Bourne sweater

Color Knitting Essentials
We talk about an amazing color knitting reference work and then talk to Elise Duvekot, author of Knit One Below, a cool color knitting technique.

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe
Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot

Thank you!
Phat Fiber Club
Knit Circus
XRX
Elise Duvekot
Storey Publishing

Music
u-dot: Continental
Oscar Wilde: Company of Thieves

Comments

[Lucy]

I'm so excited - I finally caught up on your podcast (I've been months behind on a whole bunch of podcasts I listen to) and so I got to listen to this one just after it came out! :)

Since I'd love to win that book: My favorite use of variegated is using it in a simple stitch, such as the melon shawl that I made for one of my daughters. (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/workbasket/melon-pattern-for-a-shawl-or-scarf )

I just paired it with a plain color that goes with one of the colors in the variegated yarn and it seemed to work well.

..now to go find you on twitter :)

[Anneh]

Although it isn't really variegated yarn, I have to add a plug for the Carolina sock pattern (available free on Ravelry) which makes the most of striping sock yarns without the fit problems associated with Jaywalker.

For variegated yarn, I have recently discovered that I love plain stockinette scarfs knit on large needles to give a drapy fabric. I have one already finished in Fleece Artist sock yarn, and am plotting my next one!

[Julia]

Me me me! (Can you tell I want this book?) Great interview, and great book review of the previous colorwork book you highlighted.

I would love to say something brilliant and insightful about how to use variegated yarns, but so far their best use for me has been in patterns that are simple and break up the colors with eyelets, etc. Usually a lace pattern with few rows works well.

Thanks again for a fun podcast and a chance to score a great book.

[Patti]

I loved this episode - I have been visiting the Color Knitting Essentials book at my local bookstore. Since I found it, I have been telling everyone I know that early birthday presents are totally acceptable. ;-)

The interview with Elise Duvekot was great and I can't wait to start experimenting with her technique! My most recent projects with variegated yarns have been blankets for a couple of my daughters. I use two strands of yarn, keeping the variegated yarn as a constant and varying the other strand every so many rows. And I have a secret code knitted into the patterning that is particular to each person I knit for. (Like a secret sauce recipe - I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you);-)

Keep up the good work! (and I'll keep my fingers crossed for winning that awesome book of Elise's.

...now how am I going to knit with my fingers crossed..???

[sarah]

How fun, a contest! I know it's super boring, but I almost always use variegated yarn for socks and scarves. :)

Can you tell I NEED this book? ;)

[jojo]

I like to strand variegated yarn with a plain color. I also like to do the linen stitch with two variegated yarns in different colorways to see what I get. I am very excited about this book. I learned a little about the technique while making the Learn to Knit Afghan by Barbara Walker. I would love to pursue it further.

[Kathy Wolpers]

This was a great episode. I would LOVE to win the book. I absolutely adore variegated yarns. I of course use them for fun socks, but perhaps my most interesting use was in a pair of fair isle mittens. I used a semi-solid for the background, and a skein of Koigu KPPM for the design. It was easy and turned out great.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitloon/3163532952/in/set-72157600028566499/

[Margaret]

I have only two techniques for using variegated yarns: the pattern in "My So-Called Scarf", and in a color pattern with a contrasting solid.

Help!

(And great tune at the end, Harold.)

[Monica]

I have only used variegated yarns for plain stockinette projects like mittens and plain vanilla socks. Hopefully with Elise's book I will be able to expand my knitting horizons.

[Phyllis Barnett]

I use variegated yarn for soakers. Some are better than others due to pooling. Sometimes it looks good sometimes it needs help!
(sonomaknits on ravelry)

[Sally Howard]

I recently knitted a scarf from two balls of KnitPicks patterned sock yarn, holding two strands together and aligning the colors. The strands shifted as it knit up, and gave a very soft striping that was very appealing.

[Emily]

Definitely weave your stash yarns! I actually use it for a lot of my variegateds, because I like how the colors combine better than in stockinette or even a lot of stitch patterns.

The book sounds fascinating, I love techniques that are simple once you understand but really hard to get your mind around to start with.

[Karalee]

I love all the cowls! And the book reviews were great--really inspired me to go have a look at them.

My favorite use of variegated yarn is in a one-skein project, something simple, like socks or a plainish lace pattern.

[Redsknits]

It was great to meet you two at Stitches!
My best use of variegated yarn has been a multidirectional scarf for the Sweet Darlin Man!

[Executive Knitter]

my favorite way to use varigated yarns is to knit stripey things, Jared "noro" scarves, chevron scarves, striped hats - anything were you knit alternating stripes of the varigated colorways. I am so over socks. I also knit a sweater out of two strands of sock yarn....and thinking about trying wiht multiple skiens picking and up and dropping at different intervals one strand at a time..

[Cirilia]

Okokok--I just had to PAUSE the podcast and comment this--I am in the middle of some crazy ass sample knitting. Serious loserness happening, marathon TV watching, much ass widening snackage. And I'm perusing Nicole's Flickr page when all of a sudden it hits me--IT'S TUESDAY! It's been awhile! NEW STASH AND BURN!! This has quite literally made my day. And it's so not the first time. I love you two!

[Cirilia]

HA, and P.S. those are my hands in the Maggie Radcliffe book! I'm everywheres!!

[Jeri]

I want to win the knit 1 below book. Mostly I use variegated yarn for socks, generally stockinette or a simple pattern. If it wants to pool, I'm ok with that, or I'll tighten up for a row to push the pool "on around".

[susetheslowknitta]

great ep! and what a lovely lady Elise Duvekot is!
So far, I've used variegated yarns for socks and cute hats for my daughter. I'm now working on a crocheted moebius (Cecily,designed by Amanda Perkins http://amandasartquilts.homestead.com/), using variegated yarn. It will be very pretty when I've made 40 tiny stars!

[Ruth]

This book sounds awesome! I love colorwork and was searching ravelry while I was listening to the podcast for which pattern I'd like to do in a varigated yarn since I haven't worked with it much. So far, the only varigated yarns I've used are Dream in Color and I LOVE them!

Thanks for the fun podcast!

[Kaitlyn]

I'm using my first varigated yarn right now actually - on a pair of Monkey Socks. My philosophy was to kind of just "go with it" and I actually really like the result. They're some wild socks, but at least I knew what I was getting into.

[Chppie]

I don't know if i have a successful technique for varigateds since I end up being one of those "loved it before it was skeined" but I am experimenting more with mixing with a plain, a la YH's striped scarf. The knit one below techinique really intrigues me. I like things that look more difficult than they really are.

[Kennan]

I love your podcast!

I like to use verigated yarn when i make mittens and bags. I will soon be making a pair of socks with Dream in Color. I can't wait!!

[Poppins]

Cowls are awesome! They're like socks in that they ask so little of the knitter. "Just knit for a bit and I'll be done," they whisper.

In terms of dealing with multi-colour yarn, I thing that seed stitch is truly magnificent in most. At least a bit as edging. There's something about those seeds scattered across the surface that just pop the colours and yet tame them with the addition of texture.

A project that really works with hand-dyed sock yarn (aside from Jaywalker, which everyone and their non-knitting pet rock knows about) is Bellatrix. I loved the way the texture of the 'runs' in the socks pulls the colours out and gives them a bit of a stage on which to strut. Here's my version: Mrs. Weasley Socks

[Patti]

I'm doing a pair of herringbone socks out of my hand dyed (by me!)sock yarn from Shelridge Farms. I'm almost finished the first one, but it's slow going with moving stitches back and forth on the needles. I've been known to place skiens of yarn in vases to enjoy all the vivid colours. I'd love the book to expand my knitting knowledge.

Great podcast. I still miss hearing you weekly, but I'll take you biweekly if that's all I can get. Thanks again.