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Get the Goods on Gradient Yarns

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gradient knits book review

The winner is Linda.

Last week I shared a review of a brand-new book from Tanis Gray all about gradient yarns and ombre mini skeins. Gradient Knits not only provides great lessons in using these colorful skeins, it also offers 10 lessons in knitting skills, particularly as they pertain to colorwork knitting.

If you’d like a chance to get a copy of this book for yourself, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Oct. 8.

I’d love to know if you’ve used any gradient yarns or multicolored mini skeins in a project before. I have some of these yarns, and I had an idea I wanted to try with one of them, but I’ve since forgotten what it was so I haven’t broken it out just yet. Typical.

Thanks for visiting and commenting, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. I would love to learn how to use gradient yarn properly. I used a multi colored yarn for a project a while back and I didn’t really like the look of it. So winning this book would be so awesome!

  3. I have two sets of mini skeins, neither is a gradient set. One was a hat kit, and the 5 colors work together, wonderfully. The other was a “grab bag” and while they might be forced to work together, they certainly weren’t picked with that in mind.

    I haven’t tried any modern gradient yarns, but as far back as the 70s I made the gradient effect by holding two or three strands together, trading out colors (or shades of the same color) every so often. For instance 3 of A, then 2A and 1B, then 1A and 2B, 3B, 2B and 1C, and so on for as many colors as you like. Of course, it works best with finer yarns. I still see this method pop up every now and then. It cracks me up when designers act as if they’d invented it, because that’s what I felt like the first time I did it. Thanks for the giveaway.

  4. I have made a shawl with a gradient yarn and I love the way one color blends ino the next . This would be an awesome book to learn more about gradient yarns. Thank you for the chance to win.

  5. I have some gradient yarns just waiting for the perfect project. This book looks to be full of useful ideas!

  6. gradient & avoiding pooling – my math just isn’t up to them yet, despite my prolific reading & math attempts!

  7. I haven’t knit with a gradient set. I won a gradient set as a door prize at a knitting retreat this past summer and have been trying to decide on the best use for it. This book would sure help me pick the perfect project!

  8. Hi – I haven’t really used any gradient yarn yet. I’ve done many projects with Noro yarn and love the color-changing effects of their yarns. I’m excited to learn more about the projects in this book. Thanks for another great giveaway!

Have you read?

Knit and Felt Some Tabi Style Slippers

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical. 

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique. 

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead. 

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit. 

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern. 

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like. 

[Photo: Maymade Knits]