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Giveaway: Self-Striping Yarn Studio

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Self-Striping Yarn Studio Review

Congratulations to Sarah L.

Self-striping yarn is a lot of fun to use, but sometimes it can be hard to come up with projects to use it on where it will still look good but that aren’t just straight Stockinette (not that there’s anything wrong with straight Stockinette, just if you have a lot of self-striping yarn you might want to do something else with some of it).

Self-Striping Yarn Studio by Carol J. Sulcoski has a lot of great ideas for using self-striping, self-patterning and gradient yarns in a variety of projects including hats, scarves, sweaters, cowls, mitts and more.

One thing I love about this book is that the patterns are arranged by yarn weight, which makes it easy to use what you already have in a project. There are even a few projects that are perfect for using up odd balls.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Sept. 25. I’d love to know about your experience with self-striping yarns or if you have a favorite yarn (Noro Silk Garden over here) or project using self-striping yarns.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. I have used some self striping yarns in the past, I love Knit Picks self striping merino yarn and Plymouth Gina. It really adds such a unique touch to any project! I love making socks and shawls with these types of yarns and I’ve wanted to try the Noro line for ages.

  3. I love self-striping yarns for socks and cowls. It’s very impressive looking to non-knitters! Have used Noro yarns for mitts but love the new gradient striping yarns by Knit Circus,

  4. I’ve used self-striping yarn for anything from hats and scarves to dishcloths, but I’d love to learn how to use it more effectively!

  6. I have made a few shawls with self striping yarn. I love how the colors turn out randomly or not it depends upon the maker of the yarn.

  8. i have used this type of yarn and have had good luck. i like when the colors last longer than just small segments of color..

  9. Hi!
    I’ve used self striping wools for store projects as I worked Ina wool shop before I retired. I’ve made the Knitty Clapotis scarf, mitered scarf, some baby outfits and sock. It’s fun to see how the striping will occur. Lorna

  10. Self striping yarns are a favorite……….all the joy of lovely jacquards with none of those terrible ends to fasten. Love them for socks and shawlettes.

    from rainy VT,
    the Vermonster

  11. These yarns are great for livening up a Fair Isle project, and when combined with solids they add little little pops of excitement when I do stripey scrap projects to use up all the leftovers.

  13. I’ve used very little self-striping yarn, but I have made a few hats with it. I do like a good self striping yarn because they are always so colorful!

  15. It is hard to find the self stripping yarn only area, but I like to use it scares and hats and fingerless mittens.

  16. I love self striping yarns! So far, I’ve mostly been a collector of the yarns. I have made a few small projects with them.

  17. I am just beginning to knit but the thought of random color appearing on my project just makes it more exciting to use!

  18. Self striping yarns are so versatile for knitting projects. It gives the option of pairing knitted items with a variety of clothing options. I have used it in cowls, scarfs and hats, It is especially appealing when used with novelty yarns as trim, e.g. faux fur yarn to compliment and highlight one color in the striping yarn.

  20. I have used it a few times on scarves & love not knowing how it will look till it’s knitted. It’s always an adventure!!!!Thanks for the give away!

  21. This kind of yarn is great for socks but I used some worsted Drops Big Delight for a scattered fair isle motive on a sweater. I love to use a yarn that change color!

  23. I love buying self striping yarn! It’s not as easy to use it in projects, sometimes. I have used this type of yarn in blankets, sweaters, dishcloths, hats, socks, cowls….

  25. Love Noro yarns for the colors but they’re a bit rough for against the skin knitting for me, I haven’t tried Silk Garden yet – I’ll have to try that one next.

  28. I’ve bought self striping yarn, but can’t seem to get it to stripe! So I would love this book so I can make it work!

  33. The book looks great! My favorite is Noro Silk Garden, though I did make an awesome blanket out of Taiyo.

  37. Nor is my favorite! I had the chance to knit with Silk Garden and love it. Any simple knit becomes special with it.

  39. I have not yet had the opportunity to use self striping yarn but if I were to win I believe I would try one of the beautiful shawls I’ve seen created using the lovely yarn.

  40. What a great idea for a book. I have only used self striping yarns for scarves so I would love to see other ideas.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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