โTry to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud.โ
โ Maya Angelou
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Hello there fellow knitter!
This is The Yarnist. The daily newsletter that makes you love knitting the same wayIsrael Kamakawiwoสปole loves rainbows.
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We see a pretty yarn in a pretty pigment and we are pretty sure to pay a pretty penny to proudly place it in our plentiful stash.
But not all colorful yarns are created equal.
In fact there's been a secret war waging for over a decade between hand dyers over which method of coloring yarn is best; gradient or variegated.
Ok not really, but it's fun to imagine them throwing paint soaked balls of yarn at each other and making a giant colorful mess.
However there is a BIG difference between these two types of yarn and today we're going to explain why one is clearly superior.
What is variegated yarn?
A variegated yarn is usually dyed with multiple colors in one skein with a very random pattern.
These are often hand painted yarns where dyes are lain down on a hank (or hanks) of yarn using one of a few different methods.
The result is a yarn that looks really good twisted up in a hank, but you don't really know what you're going to end up with when you knit it.
Examples of variegated yarnsย
The problem with variegated yarn
We get it. Variegated yarns look delicious on the shelf of the yarn store.
Unfortunately a lot of these yarns look like unicorn barf once they're knit up.
That's just one of a few drawbacks that come with knitting with variegated yarn:
Color Pooling Because of how variegated yarns are dyed, the color is distributed throughout your fabric at random. Often that results in odd "pools" of colors developing. While this can be a design "feature" for some projects, it's usually not the result we want.
Hides Texture Think of variegated yarn like colorful camouflage. The constant color changes are going to make it nearly impossible to see any detailed texture in your fabric.
Not Flattering There's a reason you don't see a bunch of sweaters at the mall that look like they got stuck in the middle of a paint ball fight. It's just not going to make you look your best.
A Slouch for Josie by Wooly Wormhead
What is variegated yarn good for?
While we're inclined to say variegated yarns aren't good for anything, we know that's not true.
It's perfectly possible to knit a nice simple accessory like a hat, scarf, mittens, or socks with them.
The small size of the project will help mitigate any issues with pooling. They're also great for adding *pops* of color to your wardrobe.
Just remember to use simple patterns that let the yarn color shine.
What is gradient yarn?
Back in the early 2010s ombre fabric was all the rage.
You started to see garments with the dip dyed look, which creates a slowly fading gradient of color, all over the place.
It wasn't long before someone figured out how to do this same effect with yarn.
The process generally entails knitting up the yarn into a sheet of fabric using a knitting machine.
Then the dye is applied to the fabric with long, slow color changes.
This labor intensive process is the main reason these yarns usually sell for a premium.
But the result is definitely worth the effort.
Brioche scarf and hat set using gradient yarn
What is gradient yarn good for?
Everything? ๐
With some planning a gradient yarn can be used for most projects.
The slow color changes are ideal for stripes and even fair isle patterns, especially when paired with another neutral yarn color.
And because the yarn *usually* has subtle color shifts, it will still work with textured stitch patterns.
Drawbacks of gradient yarn
You need to be careful when knitting sweaters using a gradient yarn.
Because the circumference of the sleeves is smaller than the body, the color will change at a different rate.
You might have a similar problem with socks matching when knitting with gradient yarns.
Some companies mitigate this by offering special kits for socks and sweaters that are designed to address these issues.
Which is better?
Obviously we here at The Yarnist have a strong preference for gradient yarns.
They are far more versatile, look great in almost any project type, and are just damn gorgeous (usually).
Is it possible to knit something nice with a variegated yarn? Sure!
But given a choice, we're always going to reach for the gradient first.
๐ Gradient Yarns We Love
Hereโs some of our favorite gradient yarns you might want to check out:
Mandala Ombre by Lion Brand Yarns - โGet It Hereโโ
Each color in Mandalaยฎ Ombrรฉ gradually blends into the other in both tonal and multi-colored versions. The printing technique allows for some of the cream yarn base to show through, creating a hand-dyed, artisanal effect. Mandala Ombrรฉ is slightly thicker than the original, spun with multiple plies of premium acrylic, which give it the look and feel of merino at a fraction of the cost.
No matter your taste in colors, there is a rainbow waiting for you! Chroma is a color-transitioning 70% superwash wool and 30% nylon blend yarn. Pair the brightest colors with your boldest projects, or choose a subdued shade for gentle waves of changing color. The colors move gently through a single ply, creating subtly blended and shaded sections. Chroma is a single ply yarn that has differences in thickness that gives a handspun look to your finished projects.
The combination of cotton and acrylic make this an ideal warm weather yarn. Couple that with the bright gradient color changes, and you'll basically have sunshine running through your fingers as you knit.
Each gradient cake of Scheepjes Whirl boasts an incredible 1094 yards, enough to make most any project out of! This fingering-weight yarn packs a punch with its blend of cotton and acrylic, making it durable, breathable, and machine-washable, which lends itself well to most projects like home decor, garments, and accessories! Scheepjes Whirl seamlessly blends together through shades of the rainbow and is also calorie-free, making it the healthiest cake you could get, hehe!
Whether youโre making sweaters, scarves and shawls to keep warm during the winter, fashion garments to sport for show, afghans and blankets to put on display and use in your home, or little accessories like socks and mittens, you want to know youโre using acrylic yarn that not only feels soft and comfortable to the touch, but that also expresses your style. Available in more than 10 unique, rippling color schemes, Mary Maxim prism yarn offers you the best of both worlds in feel and appearance.
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Conclusion
Gradient yarns provide slow color changes that are (in our opinion) more visually appealing than variegated yarns.
But what do you think?
Are you in camp variegated or camp gradient?
What's your favorite brand of either type?
Hit reply and let us know!
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Announcements
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We'll be spilling all our secrets on topics such as...
Finding the perfect yarn color pairings
Our favorite multi-color cast ons
Why intarsia might be the most difficult type of colorwork
Complicated colorwork patterns that are EASY to knit
The simple way to learn 2-color brioche
How to HIDE secret images in your knitting with stripes
and much, MUCH more!
With more than 25 sessions on almost every type of colorwork, there's something for knitters of ALL skill levels!
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