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

[Trish]

I'm on a cowl kick, too!

With respect to variegated yarns, I just have always found them to be rather irritating. Nevertheless, I have many skeins purchased because I loved their colors. And now with the knit one below technique I might be able to make use of those pretty Malabrigo skeins taking up space in my stash......

[Jean L]

I use variegated (multi-colored) yarn the same as I do for solid colored yarn although it does look better with a simple pattern. The "Knit One Below" technique sounds interesting. I bet the book is awesome!

[JoanneB]

I use variegated yarns for baby wear, socks, felted bags, and scarves. For the most part, I've been lucky with pooling (or I've just ripped out the offending yarn!).

[Whistlepea]

Great episode ladies!

I'm kind of boring with my variegated yarn and usually just end up making Jaywalkers. I'm branching out now and making Crosswalkers. Dangerous!

[Amy]

I took a class at Stitches West on wrangling hand-dyed yarns so you can make it pool, zig-zag, or "argyle" if you want.

I'm currently working on a baby blanket in mitered squares - each square is a full repeat of the color run. Purple on the outside of the square, then thru blue, green, yellow, orange, then just a little pink at the top corner of the square before starting purple on the next one. It's turning out really cool!

[Mimi]

When I'm going to use a variegated yarn, I try to choose a pattern with slipped stitches. If it's to be knitted in the round, a lace pattern that biases helps too. I would love the book to see how knitting 1 below can help too!

[erinamelia]

Thanks so much for letting us all know about the color work book - it will be good to get more creative with variegated yarns. To be honest, I'm not big on colorwork, but there's a Three Tams pattern on ravelry that looks great - a plain base color and a variegated yarn. It produces a great effect. But I've just started knitting socks and I am LOVING my pooling and flashing. Let the crazy sock collection begin.

[Karen]

Hello!!
Like many other, I like using the variegated yarns with a coordinating solid in stripes, I've also had success knitting a shawl in a bias pattern.
Enjoy the podcast, keep it up!
Karen

[Heidi]

I'm so excited about this podcast! The book sounds very interesting--like I might be more willing to do colorwork!:-)

I love to use my variegated yarns for socks and shawls. They seem to take to those patterns.

[Andrea (noricum)]

I find it hard to decide what to do with variegated yarn... I'll have to check out Knit One Below! "My So-Called Scarf" works pretty well, as does the linen stitch (I think that's what I remember seeing recently).

I love your podcast!

[Jane]

Being a pretty new knitter, so far all I've done with variegated yarn is my first sock, which is very large and very lonely!

[Jennifer P.]

I've caught the weaving bug, and it's a great way to use multicolored yarns! I also saw the knit one below technique demonstrated at Stitches and I'm planning on trying that too.

[LittleWit]

I actually just used some variegated yarn to make a camisole and I am thrilled with how it gave me a diagonal stripe. :)

[Leslie]

Great episode! I keep hearing about that "Knit One Below" book -- I've got to check it out. Jenny, I taught a friend to knit yesterday who has spent many, many weeks at 7-Long (though she may be getting discharged shortly, fingers crossed). I told her that if she runs into problems to ask for you! :) Hope that's okay!!! Thanks, as always, for a great podcast.

[Jen]

Howdy! Fairly new listener, still trying to catch up (with yours and a lot of other knitting podcasts)! I'd love to win the book. I haven't done too much with color, especially not variegated yarn (unless self-striping sock yarn counts?). I think I'd like to try a tank top with some type of variegated yarn but who knows if it would turn out!

[Diane]

I usually reserve my variegated yarns for socks, but I'd love to explore techniques to use them in garments. I'm excited to explore Elise's methods to expand my knitting world!

[Sue]

I would be one of those beginners you gals were talking about. I am using a gorgeous Handmaiden Sea Silk for the Swallowtail Shawl. One day I will move on to solids, but for now, I'm loving all the color! I'm seriously considering taking a Margaret Radcliffe class at WEBS.

I'm in the process of getting every one of your podcasts onto my MP3 player. You're terrific. Great fun, lots of good info.

[Julianne]

I don't have any great way to use my variegated yarns. I think I need this book! I also want to check out the sock patterns for handpainted yarn book. It seems to have some good patterns. I usually only buy super variegated yarn in sock weight.

[Barbara L. Brewer]

Thanks for another great episode.
The interview with Elise Duvekot was excellent. She sounds like a really interesting woman--and is very well spoken.
Hmm. Variegated yarn. Well, I like it for socks like Jaywalker, also for the Baby Surprise Jacket, and right now I'm working on a 4-stitch reticulated sock pattern by Charlene Schurch that uses one skein of solid color and one variegated that's turning out very nicely.
Loved your closing song. (Ditto for your music in general. You have very eclectic taste and I hear a lot on your podcast that I probably wouldn't otherwise hear. Love that!)

[Ariel Luria]

My iPod's been psychotic lately, but thankfully I got it to work just in time to catch the latest podcast!!!!! RE tip on best way of using variegated yarn.....a simple ribbed sock pattern is my favorite. Let the yarn do all the work for you ;o)

[Suellen]

Great podcast. I love variagated yarn in the skein, not as much in the knitting! I'm anxious to try this technique. Please pick me for the book!

[Lori]

Honestly, I struggle with varigated yarns. I buy them because I must, then can't quite figure out what to do with them. I too display them: they must be admired! Then plain ol' stockinette, and enjoying the colors as they play with each other.

I'd love to win the book: nearly bought it at Stitches as my daughter and I both loved the look/patterns/information. Darn having a limited budget!

[Diane W]

Most of my projects are socks and I knit about half of the time with variegated yarn. Only once have I had pooling that seriously bothered me. But recently I took a class in two-color mittens and loved the example she showed using one variegated yarn and one contrasting yarn. That will be something I'm going to try!

[Robin]

Not to be greedy.. but I'd love the book! What do I do with variegated yarn? Hmmm... I guess I've used it mostly for knitting mittens - makes for interesting patterns without making by brain hurt too much.

[Maria]

My favorite way to use variegated yarn is with the Tunisian simple stitch (Tss). It seems to really help prevent pooling and Tunisian crochet just moves so quickly because the hook size is so much larger. I'm really a beginning knitter (don't even know how to purl yet!) so maybe I'll find some ways I like use variegateds in knitting too. My ravelry name is redpoppy303 if you want to see some Tss dishcloths in kitchen cotton.