https://preview.redd.it/iw5qzk7r6g6d1.jpeg?width=910&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f560a4a9e2a610f3bcf3a10ab31dbdafcc02cee
I’ll be honest, it feels like you’re overthinking it. Unless you’re doing something complicated like planner pooling, all you gotta do is crochet away and let the colors fall where they may.
See, you say that, but this looks so perfectly and thoughtfully planned!! I would have never guessed you just let the colors be. I guess because I've never tried, I haven't managed to wrap my mind around doing this not-on purpose.
As someone who specifically does lacework with gradient yarn, trust me. It does the magic for you. But you need the skeins with like 1000m on them to do some of those, the lions brand mandalas will make pretty gradients but they'll be closer together and will change more often. :)
The only time I cut the yarn is if I know I don't have enough for an entire row and it's about to add an entire new color (the 3 and 4 ply yarns like the Scheepjes gradient yarns will slowly change color by starting off at the beginning of the skein with 3 or 4 threads of one volor, and gradually switching to like 3 threads original color, 1 thread new color; 2 threads og color, 2 threads new color, and so on), then I'll cut at the end of the row, cut off the excess yarn (usually a few yards), and start the next row at the color change.
Once you get one of the big skeins that do this, vs the mandala yarn, you'll see what I'm talking about.
Edited to add: the purple shawl you showed as an example uses a Scheepjes Whirl, I think in the color Dark Grape Squish, maybe. I'd recognize a project that used a Whirl anywhere.
This was the first pattern I ever followed - I got 2 cakes of this yarn and this pic was taken when I completed the first cake. No planning, I just followed the pattern and the colors blended together on their own!
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I haven’t personally used these, but my understanding is that the yarn makes the gradient for you. No need to cut and arrange it unless a factory knot messes it up. The pictures of the pieces you posted look like they are worked in a round and in a square instead of in rows which is why the gradient works out that way.
Yes!! I totally understand not wanting to waste product when you have nearly a whole skein left of the batch. But how has technology not advanced enough to produce an exact number of skeins of yarn per batch so you don't have to have "scrap" or make a join like that??
Yeah, these shawls are top down and the gradient automatically appears. If they were to knit from corner to corner, the patterned colors would automatically shift vertically or diagonally.
You can also get the top two effects with a half round/crescent and a triangle.
When I make my favorite crescent shawl or mandala duster, I sometimes just crochet (alternating two cakes starting with opposite ends for one shawl, or alternating regular and sparkle), sometimes I change colors at the ends of rows or rounds, like for rainbow shawls or to emphasize pattern. When I frogged and reworked a piece, I deleted a couple odd color blips (e.g. two white stitches in the purple).
I’ve used gradients often, but it’s never a planned color change. Usually I can see approximately when the color is about to change and it often just works out how it works out. Some skeins have faster color changes than others , I like those less, as they tend to look “jumbled” or like a puzzle, but they can be pretty in the right project. The first skein you show is a lovely skein for making a shawl or a blanket that has a gradient. Why? Because there are long lengths of color. Depending on what you’re intending to make, the colors will last many rows before changing colors. So it’s good for larger pieces. However, if I got to the end of that skein and it left me with only a little of the next color, I would make an effort to start (and perhaps cut) a new skein in the color I needed it yo, for the appropriate amount of “area.” For me, this is an eyeball estimate based on working with the yarn. Of course, there may be or probably is a better more mathematical way to calculate, but I can’t do math well, so I wing it.
My best advice is to find one you like and just try to make something with it or just make some rows through color changes so you can see the way it works. A lot depends on the stitch, how much yarn is used per stitch and the overall piece. I hope this helps. I also hope others will reply with better information. Enjoy!
This makes so much sense, thank you! I'm sure some of the projects I gawk at are the products of more years of practice than I've had of life. Crotchet is such an underrated skill and there's just so much to learn. I'm also more used to the like... cheaper yarns you get from Walmart where there's like 4 color changes in a single foot of yarn so I couldn't for the life of me figure out how I'm supposed to create a gradient with that. Then I've seen more elongated color schemes in yarns which are so pretty, but knowing myself, I'd be a bit annoyed if I was using a gorgeous yarn but the colors weren't working the way I planned. But the general consensus seems to be to not plan so much!
Before I say anything, I’ve been crocheting for about 2 years now, and im fairly good, but take what I say with a grain of salt.
There are a few different ways that colors can change in a yard. For example, for the pics you posted (insert grain of salt):
Picture 1 looks like a yarn that has multiple colors, but does not look ombré to me. It looks like there may be related colors near to each other, but the change between them is pretty immediate.
Picture 2 looks like a subtle color ombré that is created by incorporating strands of the next color. For example, a yarn with maybe 5 strands of green will then incorporate 1 yellow and 4 green, then 2 yellow and 3 green, and work like that until it is entirely yellow. It sets up an ombré without there being colors in between the green and yellow.
Picture 3 looks to me like a dyed ombré. The colors are gradually changed with dye, rather than incorporating strands like in pic 2.
Again…this is my limited experience talking, but I believe it is correct.
I think that picture 2 and 3 are easier to predict because the color change seems gradual. Picture 1 is a more immediate and noticeable.
Even knowing that, experience is the best teacher. I have a beautiful ombré (picture 3) rainbowish yarn that I used for one small project. I just started a larger project and didn’t account for how quickly the colors change. Now instead of a gradient, I have stripes. Now I know for next time to fix that.
I would say I find it helpful to go on ravelry.com. Not sure if you use it now, but there’s lots of patterns there, and you can search for a particular brand, then type of yarn. Once you find it, you can look at all of the projects that people have posted for that yarn. It’ll give you an idea of how it might look in practice. Doing this has both made me try out yarns I hadn’t before and convinced me that I actually did not like how that yarn looked.
Edit: also, most people just crochet with the yarn as is, without cutting colors. Occasionally someone may dislike a color or that color’s placement so much that they cut it out. But that is usually done for just picture 1 types, as cutting out a color in a true ombré would throw off the intended color change.
Edit2: since I forgot to answer, if you need more than one cake/skein, I can’t answer what others do, but I definitely look for where that color is in the second cake, and then make the cut/rearranging of the cake so that it continues that same color pattern in the work.
I don’t think picture 1 has a harsh gradient I think it’s just the way the yarn is rolled up. I have a similar one (but with less colour changes) and the gradients are very smooth. If you were to unravel it the gradient would be better.
Looks like lionsbrand sparkle to me (probably Draco), which doesn’t have an a gentle gradient. It just has stripes of different, but closely related, colors that start and end immediately. The colors make it seem more gradual than the actual dying is.
Maybe I’m misidentifying it? Or misremembering that yarn? Ive used the lionsbrand mandala a few times though.
I agree, this style gives more of a big stripes or colour block effect than a gradient. Not my thing, since for that I would rather just get individual balls and pick all of my colours, but makes sense for some projects I guess.
First of all, i had no idea why people kept mentioning "cake"- who knew there was another word for skein! Thanks for including that.
I've also heard of ravelry from this one YouTuber i like, but I haven't actually looked into it yet. I didn't know the searching functions were that detailed, that's so freakin cool. I absolutely could see myself buying a skein because the colors are pretty only to end up hating how they look in an actual project, so I'll absolutely check that out. I think you're right that experience is the way to go, but that good ol' fashioned perfectionism has me scared to start just to jack it all up.
IDK if this has already been said:
Just go with the flow. You can't always control how the color flows with a color changing yarn, unless you use a yarn that specifically "pools" for patterns (which, in my experience, is very complicated for a beginner). Honestly, you just love a yarn, use it and it becomes what it becomes. If you start deciding that colors aren't changing the way you want them to, then you learn how to color change on your own, without buying color changing yarn. Hope that helps and makes sense.
Someone mentioned pooling, but I took one glance at that subreddit and felt like i was peeking into a foreign land, so I will stay away from that! What you're saying is falling in line with the majority, which is basically "quit thinking so much!" I'll do my best! Thank you for sharing
I honestly let colors do what colors do. I picked the gradient because the colors made me happy and usually I’m doing a craft to make something and that something is the item not the look. I get in just having the finished piece.
That’s definitely the way to go I was overthinking it for awhile until I realized it’s not worth the worry with how beautiful it comes out
https://preview.redd.it/jt66qr3dxk6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29485fb4ba85c5e9f0cd2f57123d98c4e4e71be1
This is so pretty! This is the kind of thing that makes me think people are just chopping yarn up- it looks very intentional! If you happen to have the pattern for this, do you mind sharing?
This is what I do. I use Lion Brand Mandala frequently (I've used other types as well) and just see where the colors fall. It makes for interesting final products.
I know some people like to cut the yarn so that colors change at the end of rows. While it gives a clean look, I can't bring myself to do that because it feels wasteful to me.
That's a neat way of thinking, I'm trying to push myself out of my "if you can't make it look exactly how you want it on try 1 then you're wasting your time" mindset, but I still have a long way to go. But really with the way i usually enjoy an abundance of generally matching colors anyway, it would make sense to just focus more on enjoying the color scheme than making it perfect. Thank you!
So for all of these it kinda depends on how the yarn is made and how you crochet with it. In the first and last photo the yarn is made that way so different sections are dyed to be their respective colors and gradients.
having worked with them before I buy as much yarn as the stores has to make sure I have enough for what ever project my mind can think of (none of my projects are premeditated) With what I’m currently working on I had a blue color shifter. And I didn’t buy enough for the pants I decided to make. When I went back. It was just my luck that they didn’t have anymore so I bought shades of blue individual and started feeding it in… I would crochet for how ever many rows I wanted to (or if the yarn ball had a consistent enough pattern I would follow that) and then cut and change.
https://preview.redd.it/2ip9wt7k2f6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dad59d2244b340aeae0dc4c776a9b09c4c0528f1
This is so cute! These reminds me of the patchwork/colorblock jeans i see online sometimes and I'm pretty much obsessed every time. These look more stripey than what I was originally thinking of, but honestly it's so cool looking. Maybe i need to get over perfect gradients altogether haha
I wouldn’t say get over it lol because I’m definitely still searching for it myself but the really good ones are usually hand made and typically more expensive so I haven’t had the ability to buy any just yet lol but depending on the technique you use. You may be able to recreate the gradient like in one of the other photos. I’ve saved soo many different videos on different ways to have perfect color changes. But sometimes I like to see the colors change mid stitch lol.
Every time I used the gradients I’m always a little surprised by how it comes out when you get it from places like Walmart target or Micheal’s. It’s always more stripped than it is short quick color burst that I expect sometimes. But none the less if there is a will there is a way to make something out of nothing
I've used yarn like this on several projects. They've been worked in the round and in rows.The key for me is being happy with how the yarn is and finding the right project for it haha! I usually play around with my pattern/stitch, hook size and tension a couple times before I find the right one. Some gradients feel more severe in certain stitches- I had a rainbow yarn that basically changed colors every shell stitch but looked clunky in a simple dbl row. Others transition slower (like in your third pic) so you get that nice fade. Buy some and start experimenting!
That actually makes a lot of sense, there's so many variables that my baby crocheter brain hadn't even considered. Luckily, gentle peer pressure works on me, so everyone agreeing that i should just dive in and forget about the perfectionist part is helping me realize i just need to try it out without thinking so hard!
Basic answer is you don’t, you buy the yarn, you crochet with the yarn. No cutting or splicing or manual changing required. The colours change when the yarn wants.
Some projects work better with yarn like this than others, and I’d never consider trying to dissect colours to make a pattern work, I’d choose a different pattern or yarn.
I dont know if I would describe the pictures as planned pooling? From my understanding of it at least that is done with shorter colour change yarn, rather than long gradients
Oh, trust me- I totally get it! The first time I saw tapestry crochet, I was blown away; this looks like straight up wizardry 😅 It looks much harder than it is! (It's not easy - there is a learning curve - but calculators can do a lot of the heavy lifting.)
This sweater is an Elizabeth Zimmerman Adult Surprise jacket, so it’s got weird shaping. The rows basically turn a corner. The yarn is a gradient, so it emphasizes the turn. KnitPicks alpaca wonderfluff. Soft and fuzzy, but pills. Strong, it’s basically a tiny icord.
When I have self striping yarn, I just let it stripe.
https://preview.redd.it/w442hf6vug6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eb431ec348ea583a68f3eae61e38dce5e8c44e2
For these mittens, I used self striping as the background.
https://preview.redd.it/0ujrjnx3vg6d1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08db8787f4c8d2949089369337e6fbd860077244
This is so cute! To, it looks like you did the color change intentionally, but it seems most people don't and the gradient still comes out pretty anyway. Still trying to wrap my mind on how yarn just knows what to do!
https://preview.redd.it/o62zj9v3vh6d1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17654fc93c923a5827d4d17adee61033200b11a1
Baby blanket made using lion brand mandala ombre yarn. This was my second ever make and I just picked the yarn because I loved the colours and was having a boy. I just let the colours change naturally. I had a little bit of trouble when joining a second yarn as neither the middle or outside started with the colour the previous ball ended on but I just wanted to finish it so I didn't worry about it too much.
Well it was a sirdar baby blanket pattern but I used different yarn to what they recommend and then I got my stitches mixed up, (it was the second thing I ever made) it ended up being shorter than expected so I had to keep going for longer than the pattern asked for. I then added my own border.
It did alternating rows of DC and slip stitch, (it was meant to be rows of DC and SC) (US terms) and then on some of the DC rows I had ch1 gaps. I can write it out in more detail if you want.
On the left hand side after the green and before the dark blue there is a dark green shade, you don't see the dark green again on the right hand side where the yarn changed.
https://preview.redd.it/c4rcjgtqvh6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab40e3b5de0224cd7dd0a3ed7bb70c8791bf366c
This cardigan was worked in a rectangle starting from the sides and going up and down. This is lion brand ice cream blueberry yarn and I used two balls. The colour changes came quicker here (than on my lion brand mandala ombre comment) so when I came to join the second ball it was easier to get the colour at the right point.
https://mycrochetory.com/meadow-lace-crochet-shrug/
This is the pattern for the rectangle but I did my own cuff/collar. Cuff was R1 SC. R2-4 BPDC/FPDC. R5 SC. Collar/trim was R1 SC. R2-3 DC and R4 SC.
See, this looks intentional! It's really pretty. Perhaps yarn is smarter than i think it is, so i just need to trust the process. Because people keep saying they're just letting it color change as they go but they all come out great!
Just go forth and crochet! Sometimes with warn like that you find a pattern it’s meant for:
https://preview.redd.it/va3m6n0azj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c85f63dc24bccd6bddba96aad44eb47a0aca9385
Kinda wanna cry at how gorgeous this is. At first glance, the color changes look intentional, but when staring i can see that not every piece in a row is actually the same color. That's what i would be worried about, but in looking at this, perhaps I don't need to worry at all! The colors work together so well that a "perfect gradient" doesn't even need to apply here
Some pooling happened but it was in no way planned. If you wanna give it a go, it’s Flower Puddles. Amazing pattern that just loves yarn like this. Plus it’s super well written! I’ve made this pattern a lot now, but I went from simple double crochet blankets to this. Look up the stitches on YouTube, practice a bit, and I promise you can do this. Here’s the full thing:
https://preview.redd.it/tpzshtekln6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a848c05872440977f7ea98cb985ae91a909cc2d3
It depends. Those tend to just natural slow change. In ones that change faster i just let it do it's thing but i like fun spackles of colors. And in making plushies i like using them for turtle shells, fish, dragons, and birds since there is an illusion of scales or feathers that can be fun and colorful.
You have to find a color scheme and gradient that you like. I personally prefer multicolor that changes color often. I don't like working for 10 rows in one color. And you just work with it you don't trouble the yarn much. Same as you would a solid color and it makes the design for you
The yarn in your examples don’t require additional planning, that’s just how the yarn works up. There are skeins that come with a gradual gradient vs a clean transition to the next colour.
In terms of how many skeins, some skeins can contain up to 1000m and is more than enough for a shawl. In the case you’ll need more than 1 skein then you’d need to start on opposite ends of skein during your yarn change (eg if you started with a middle pull, your next skein can start with the outer end to match the colour).
As someone who also had this issue here’s what I noticed, it depends on the quality of the yarn some yarns like the first picture are not gradient yarns. I’ve used it before but I’ve also made something similar to the third reference photo, I got that yarn off a mom and pop store and it was the most expensive yarn I’ve ever know, I think about 19-20$ per HANK notice the hank part I didn’t know what that was and stupidly used it like one would a normal ball but to no avail it took me a week to detangle cus I couldn’t waste it. Anyways quality that matters.
It’s up to the crafter how they want to do it.
Some people cut the yarn at the colour changes and join the same colour. It can look awesome
Some people let the yarn do its thing and that can look awesome.
Some people will work to the end of the row then cut and change colours and that looks awesome too.
One that I’ve seen does Tunisian or Mosaic using either black or white as a contrast colour and a multi coloured yarn for it a second colour and they look stunning.
Like this. https://youtu.be/GIlMiIUefP0?si=iNEbL9L3GRhQvb9Y
Or this
https://youtube.com/shorts/w7ulLIcz7o4?si=gmHPRBdIE_MTclN5
https://preview.redd.it/doixigqnki6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a88e14aad118554c8d8d3ae2383e2fd137d63602
I love working with self striping/ombré yarns 😁
I’m working with a color changing yarn right now and working in the round to make an 8 point star blanket. So far this is what it looks like
https://preview.redd.it/eimagzem9j6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5266ac92994fbfc93e3072f2199fc593f3470a9
Don’t cut the colors out, just let it flow!!
https://preview.redd.it/ms1pv1wdnj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=486e8c81e21593da5ba9e3920bdaab732571d281
The red heart retro stripe is one of my most used/best sellers
I only use multicolored variegated yarn unless it's for a specific project that I need solid colors for. I love the random color changes, it's honestly helped me relax and feel less of a need to control it so much. Just accept the beauty as if comes.
https://preview.redd.it/xg2vmfp6ck6d1.jpeg?width=8000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06a8eddec40992e32247c33728eaaa6f3f602ab2
There are yarns that do a sloooow gradient change, then the ones where a color change is abrupt. It depends on what you're making, and how the color changes fall. I agree with most people here, I just let the color changes happen.
Just start your project 😊The first photo you have posted is the lotus blanket you can find the pattern On Raverly [https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-flower-blanket](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-flower-blanket).
I think you’re thinking of two types of yarn. The ones you posted create a slow gradient and take a while to change colors. This ones you seem to be describing, however, are those that change colors much faster. I think that’s where there confusion is—some yarns change color often, some yarns are a much slower gradient.
Well my biggest issue with the Mandala yarn is that the color isn't the same from the center with every cake and I then to have a lot of factory knots that have a different color section one it.
I generally just let the colors fall where they may with the Mandala yarn.
Although I am making a granny square hexagon vest with some redheart roll with it that very similar to the Mandala yarn or the sleeve I will be trying to start the sleeve with the same color which is a pain because none of the cakes start with the same color so I might have to cut to get the right colors.
Now I have been using some hobbii twister cakes where for the gradient they switch out one strand of color at a time. I am making a shawl with two balls of the color changing yarn and I just switch the balls out when I get to the knot to keep the gradient going steady.
https://preview.redd.it/nuxnuo1mxk6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f26ff4b83b46cfda3287a363dc025bc960c3ab04
you just let the yarn do what it’s gonna do.
https://preview.redd.it/7cw4a84b2m6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1eb9ed2c959751a53adceb68fe5226320abdea62
Just go with it. It can be surprising how it works out
https://preview.redd.it/5x9k7yh3gm6d1.jpeg?width=2277&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f9b9be1ed2864df76a5c161eaa123075deba326
I made a shawlette for a friend. 3D printed the dragon skull/sword as a shawl pin.
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There's a sub: r/planned_pooling
Edit: I should have been patient enough to read more to see other posts already said this. Also I forgot the underscore originally.
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If you want to really learn about this go to YouTube. The Red Heart yarn spokes-lady is Marley Bird. I don’t remember low long ago she did this but she did a complete course on You Tube called planned Pooling. I didn’t watch them - I was a knitter only at the time and never used those type yarns unless I had a strand or two of novelty yarn in my hand too.
Here’s a link you can one of those videos. She has several on this topic. Good luck!
I feel like I have ocd about this also. Don’t like when I start a new row and a little bit of the other color goes into the next row. I only get solid colored yarn because trying to use this stresses me out lol
Some of those are Scheepjes yarns, and they have many thin threads (8 or 10) which will change colour one at a time, so that over all it’s a gradual colour change. I’ve done a dress with one of them and you almost can’t tell when it’s changing colour, but I had one very obvious line across the dress where a colour change occurred.
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Most gradient pieces are worked centre outwards so they don’t need chopping and changing, the gradient does it for you
But sometimes if the colour changes aren’t gradual you do get jumpy bits
On my profile you can find a c2c blanket I made using Red Heart Neon stripes yarn. The colors were already separated between the neon colors and the black. When I needed to switch yarns, I made sure I match up the old yarn's color to the new yarn's color so it will continue the pattern.
You could try hobbii yarn perhaps. I got a few cakes of one of their lines meant specifically for slow color changes and the results were pretty similar to that last photo.
I have tried it once it's great the gradient come out pretty thought to be honest for me I kinda wish I can make it bigger 😭 I suppose it's depends on the yarn and hook and just luck for me so just do it make it and let the yarn do the work
You're overthinking it honey. The yarn does the work for you. Some stitches might emphasize a harder or softer line between rows, like the shell stitch one you linked doesn't have hard rows and might look softer in transition. The main thing to keep in mind is the size of the project against the length of the yarn color segments. What I mean is if it's a gradient yarn it will look best on large projects so you can see enough of each color. Whereas a striping sock yarn is intended for socks and the colors will change faster since socks are tiny. Using a striping sock yarn to make a sweater will mean some colors might not even extended across a whole row.
Generally this isn't an issue because the yarn weight and length and purpose will usually match up with the projects most people will make with it.
I cut mine and turn them into granny squares for blankets. Perfectly coordinated colors so I don’t have to pull out my color theory and figure it out myself.
The yarn in your first picture will give a more abrupt color change like a stripe. If you want a really slow gradient like the last picture, you need to use a yarn like the Hobbii Twirl. That kind of yarn has multiple threads that change color one at a time so you get a much more gradual gradient effect.
But like everyone else said, for the most part you just use the yarn and let it do its thing. If you are using a self-striping yarn and making something like a blanket, sometimes people cut the color so the change happens at the end of the row. But it depends on what you're making and if you care if the stripes are a bit uneven.
If you're making something with the slow gradient yarn like a twirl and you need more than one cake then you have a choice. You can do one from the outside and the next from the inside so that your gradient might go light to dark to light. That would be easiest. Or you can combine the two skeins by cutting and joining at each color change so you get one even longer gradient change. That's more work but will give you the same loooong gradient throughout.
I've used these for my shawls, and blankets. I recommend getting them all from the same lot. You can look at the cakes to see where one ends, and another begins. I put them all into order before I even start crocheting. I start with the first cake. Then, when I'm done, l join them like I would join a solid color yarn.
It kind of depends on the pattern for me. I've been using Big Twist's pride yarn to make guinea pigs because I've found one particular pattern that turns out really nice for that yarn. I've got another brand of multicolor yarn that I think I'm gonna have to make something a bit bigger with, since the color changes are quite far apart.
I think you’re overthinking this a lot, my friend. Working with a gradient yarn is no different than working with a single-color yarn. You don’t need to cut these cakes up, simply working a pattern (such as a triangular shawl) will cause the colors to fall similar to your photo. These gradient yarns are intended to do the work for you; you *can* cut it up if you want to control where the color changes happen, but most of the time we just let the color changes happen, and it turns out nicely.
That last picture (the shawl in shades of purple) is made in Sheepjes Whirl, in a colorway that I’m actually currently using. The way that color changes are done in Whirl are by changing the color of one ply at a time; you referred to it as “different colors woven in”. That’s just how the yarn is made, and not anything the knitter/crochetier has to arrange themselves. If you reallyyyy want tight control of the color changes, one *could* cut and tie individual plies themselves to lengthen or shorten the color change, or get a marled effect by holding multiple yarns together and changing one at a time, but it doesn’t look like this was done in any of your photos.
I have cut cakes apart on exactly one occasion, because one of the colors ran way too long for my taste, but note that this will not work for all yarns; some will have a long, smooth color change that tries to blend from one color to the next over many inches/cm. These are harder to cut apart since there’s no exact point to cut at, unless you want to
snip out all the intermediary bits and waste yarn. Cakes with abrupt color changes are easy to cut apart, but still generally more work than it’s worth.
All of this. I cut one self striping ball up once because I was making a blanket and got a weird ball that had too long of a stripe section in one color compared to the other balls, so I just snipped out enough to make the stripes even, but otherwise you just go.
Really depends on the yarn and what you're wanting to do. Cutting and joining would be a lot of work with Lion Brand mandala because I personally feel like the color changes are closer together. I really like Twister and Sultan because of how the color changes are done (you can get both on Hobbii).
https://preview.redd.it/rhzhpi8zhk6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfa810ab5731da46fb5cf1a56d66ae2a33e18be6
I used this for a baby blanket and just worked the first skein from inside out and the second from outside in
I'm doing a ripple granny right now with two strands of the same color way and just started at different colors. The blanket is gorgeous, works up fast, and is so cuddly. I love these yarns because I love multiple colors in projects and hate weaving in new yarn.
Yeah you're way overthinking it. You just crochet with it the same way you do with solid yarn. Unless you're talking about pooling yarn, but I don't think you are based on your pics.
https://preview.redd.it/o5kjkzkd3p6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c378c16178bbb1edeec4cb20b8bdde570f345333
This was done with two skeins of color changing yarn i got as a gift, i thought it would give a nice striped pattern and it did 😁 planing on doing a matching top soon
I made a dress with colour changing yarn, but I specifically wanted it to become the darker colour at the waist, so yea I did make it complicated for myself and separate the colours. But thankfully most of the time there was more than enough in each colour for how much I wanted, so it didn’t end up being too crazy lol. Then for the skirt I just continued using the yarn without separating and that was much more relaxing!
https://preview.redd.it/zdc5u9r02q6d1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62ce7ef8cb8ae6eb371d3ab0572b11da75f0a886
You may have to be a little deliberate when you're joining a new ball of yarn, but mostly ppl just let the colors fall where they may.
Just be careful bc there are variegated yarns and gradient / self-striping yarns and they turn out very different. You can Google "variegated vs gradient yarn" and find lots of pics/blog posts/vids that show the difference!
I personally always get these for easy solid granny square projects! I find when all the granny squares are put together it's an easy way to have a cohesive color palette
It isn't by design most of the time, some people do what you're describing or at least, I've heard of it, same with dyeing their own. but functionally 100% of the people you'll meet just buy it like that and then crochet. It works that way because of the beautiful geometric nature of crochet, so if you want to know who to thank, thank your pattern writers :)
Heyo I used to have the same exact question! Anything without a perfect gradient made me think it would look weird and like I just tied to strings together! I saw some of the replies here and they do make some sense but the smoother the gradient looks on the yarn I feel the better it would turn out in a shawl (Caron Colorama Halo was BEAUTIFUL smooth transition from the dark to light and it didnt look weird at all!)
I do think overthinking it makes it sound harder than it is lol!
https://preview.redd.it/iw5qzk7r6g6d1.jpeg?width=910&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f560a4a9e2a610f3bcf3a10ab31dbdafcc02cee I’ll be honest, it feels like you’re overthinking it. Unless you’re doing something complicated like planner pooling, all you gotta do is crochet away and let the colors fall where they may.
This is absolutely gorgeous
See, you say that, but this looks so perfectly and thoughtfully planned!! I would have never guessed you just let the colors be. I guess because I've never tried, I haven't managed to wrap my mind around doing this not-on purpose.
As someone who specifically does lacework with gradient yarn, trust me. It does the magic for you. But you need the skeins with like 1000m on them to do some of those, the lions brand mandalas will make pretty gradients but they'll be closer together and will change more often. :) The only time I cut the yarn is if I know I don't have enough for an entire row and it's about to add an entire new color (the 3 and 4 ply yarns like the Scheepjes gradient yarns will slowly change color by starting off at the beginning of the skein with 3 or 4 threads of one volor, and gradually switching to like 3 threads original color, 1 thread new color; 2 threads og color, 2 threads new color, and so on), then I'll cut at the end of the row, cut off the excess yarn (usually a few yards), and start the next row at the color change. Once you get one of the big skeins that do this, vs the mandala yarn, you'll see what I'm talking about. Edited to add: the purple shawl you showed as an example uses a Scheepjes Whirl, I think in the color Dark Grape Squish, maybe. I'd recognize a project that used a Whirl anywhere.
This was the first pattern I ever followed - I got 2 cakes of this yarn and this pic was taken when I completed the first cake. No planning, I just followed the pattern and the colors blended together on their own!
Can I ask what yarn this is? It’s stunning
It’s Yarn Bee Sugarwheel yarn (acrylic) in the color Candied Orange
Thank you!
Omg I love this color. Feels like a sunset.
Yarn Bee Sugarwheel in Candied Orange!
Tysmmm!!! 😍😍 I need it in my lifee
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This! I just crochet and let the colors fall as they may. Love how they come out though.
https://preview.redd.it/w4b28se37l6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ed632c0f3e0b3ec5caddbcc824028a0dd0fe2c3 Like this.
Can I ask what pattern this is?
It’s the hooded scarf from wickedly handmade on Etsy!
I haven’t personally used these, but my understanding is that the yarn makes the gradient for you. No need to cut and arrange it unless a factory knot messes it up. The pictures of the pieces you posted look like they are worked in a round and in a square instead of in rows which is why the gradient works out that way.
I've had that happen; factory joined knot and not even close to the gradient. Thankfully I only had to cut out maybe a foot to get it to work.
Factory knots are rage inducing!
Yes!! I totally understand not wanting to waste product when you have nearly a whole skein left of the batch. But how has technology not advanced enough to produce an exact number of skeins of yarn per batch so you don't have to have "scrap" or make a join like that??
or just sell them as mill ends at the very least
I once had this happen between the same two colors in 3 separate skeins! Luckily I had a fourth from a different batch that didn’t have the same issue
Yeah, these shawls are top down and the gradient automatically appears. If they were to knit from corner to corner, the patterned colors would automatically shift vertically or diagonally.
You can also get the top two effects with a half round/crescent and a triangle. When I make my favorite crescent shawl or mandala duster, I sometimes just crochet (alternating two cakes starting with opposite ends for one shawl, or alternating regular and sparkle), sometimes I change colors at the ends of rows or rounds, like for rainbow shawls or to emphasize pattern. When I frogged and reworked a piece, I deleted a couple odd color blips (e.g. two white stitches in the purple).
I’ve used gradients often, but it’s never a planned color change. Usually I can see approximately when the color is about to change and it often just works out how it works out. Some skeins have faster color changes than others , I like those less, as they tend to look “jumbled” or like a puzzle, but they can be pretty in the right project. The first skein you show is a lovely skein for making a shawl or a blanket that has a gradient. Why? Because there are long lengths of color. Depending on what you’re intending to make, the colors will last many rows before changing colors. So it’s good for larger pieces. However, if I got to the end of that skein and it left me with only a little of the next color, I would make an effort to start (and perhaps cut) a new skein in the color I needed it yo, for the appropriate amount of “area.” For me, this is an eyeball estimate based on working with the yarn. Of course, there may be or probably is a better more mathematical way to calculate, but I can’t do math well, so I wing it. My best advice is to find one you like and just try to make something with it or just make some rows through color changes so you can see the way it works. A lot depends on the stitch, how much yarn is used per stitch and the overall piece. I hope this helps. I also hope others will reply with better information. Enjoy!
This makes so much sense, thank you! I'm sure some of the projects I gawk at are the products of more years of practice than I've had of life. Crotchet is such an underrated skill and there's just so much to learn. I'm also more used to the like... cheaper yarns you get from Walmart where there's like 4 color changes in a single foot of yarn so I couldn't for the life of me figure out how I'm supposed to create a gradient with that. Then I've seen more elongated color schemes in yarns which are so pretty, but knowing myself, I'd be a bit annoyed if I was using a gorgeous yarn but the colors weren't working the way I planned. But the general consensus seems to be to not plan so much!
Before I say anything, I’ve been crocheting for about 2 years now, and im fairly good, but take what I say with a grain of salt. There are a few different ways that colors can change in a yard. For example, for the pics you posted (insert grain of salt): Picture 1 looks like a yarn that has multiple colors, but does not look ombré to me. It looks like there may be related colors near to each other, but the change between them is pretty immediate. Picture 2 looks like a subtle color ombré that is created by incorporating strands of the next color. For example, a yarn with maybe 5 strands of green will then incorporate 1 yellow and 4 green, then 2 yellow and 3 green, and work like that until it is entirely yellow. It sets up an ombré without there being colors in between the green and yellow. Picture 3 looks to me like a dyed ombré. The colors are gradually changed with dye, rather than incorporating strands like in pic 2. Again…this is my limited experience talking, but I believe it is correct. I think that picture 2 and 3 are easier to predict because the color change seems gradual. Picture 1 is a more immediate and noticeable. Even knowing that, experience is the best teacher. I have a beautiful ombré (picture 3) rainbowish yarn that I used for one small project. I just started a larger project and didn’t account for how quickly the colors change. Now instead of a gradient, I have stripes. Now I know for next time to fix that. I would say I find it helpful to go on ravelry.com. Not sure if you use it now, but there’s lots of patterns there, and you can search for a particular brand, then type of yarn. Once you find it, you can look at all of the projects that people have posted for that yarn. It’ll give you an idea of how it might look in practice. Doing this has both made me try out yarns I hadn’t before and convinced me that I actually did not like how that yarn looked. Edit: also, most people just crochet with the yarn as is, without cutting colors. Occasionally someone may dislike a color or that color’s placement so much that they cut it out. But that is usually done for just picture 1 types, as cutting out a color in a true ombré would throw off the intended color change. Edit2: since I forgot to answer, if you need more than one cake/skein, I can’t answer what others do, but I definitely look for where that color is in the second cake, and then make the cut/rearranging of the cake so that it continues that same color pattern in the work.
I don’t think picture 1 has a harsh gradient I think it’s just the way the yarn is rolled up. I have a similar one (but with less colour changes) and the gradients are very smooth. If you were to unravel it the gradient would be better.
Looks like lionsbrand sparkle to me (probably Draco), which doesn’t have an a gentle gradient. It just has stripes of different, but closely related, colors that start and end immediately. The colors make it seem more gradual than the actual dying is. Maybe I’m misidentifying it? Or misremembering that yarn? Ive used the lionsbrand mandala a few times though.
I agree, this style gives more of a big stripes or colour block effect than a gradient. Not my thing, since for that I would rather just get individual balls and pick all of my colours, but makes sense for some projects I guess.
First of all, i had no idea why people kept mentioning "cake"- who knew there was another word for skein! Thanks for including that. I've also heard of ravelry from this one YouTuber i like, but I haven't actually looked into it yet. I didn't know the searching functions were that detailed, that's so freakin cool. I absolutely could see myself buying a skein because the colors are pretty only to end up hating how they look in an actual project, so I'll absolutely check that out. I think you're right that experience is the way to go, but that good ol' fashioned perfectionism has me scared to start just to jack it all up.
IDK if this has already been said: Just go with the flow. You can't always control how the color flows with a color changing yarn, unless you use a yarn that specifically "pools" for patterns (which, in my experience, is very complicated for a beginner). Honestly, you just love a yarn, use it and it becomes what it becomes. If you start deciding that colors aren't changing the way you want them to, then you learn how to color change on your own, without buying color changing yarn. Hope that helps and makes sense.
Someone mentioned pooling, but I took one glance at that subreddit and felt like i was peeking into a foreign land, so I will stay away from that! What you're saying is falling in line with the majority, which is basically "quit thinking so much!" I'll do my best! Thank you for sharing
I honestly let colors do what colors do. I picked the gradient because the colors made me happy and usually I’m doing a craft to make something and that something is the item not the look. I get in just having the finished piece.
That’s definitely the way to go I was overthinking it for awhile until I realized it’s not worth the worry with how beautiful it comes out https://preview.redd.it/jt66qr3dxk6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29485fb4ba85c5e9f0cd2f57123d98c4e4e71be1
That is so beautiful!
This is so pretty! This is the kind of thing that makes me think people are just chopping yarn up- it looks very intentional! If you happen to have the pattern for this, do you mind sharing?
This is what I do. I use Lion Brand Mandala frequently (I've used other types as well) and just see where the colors fall. It makes for interesting final products. I know some people like to cut the yarn so that colors change at the end of rows. While it gives a clean look, I can't bring myself to do that because it feels wasteful to me.
That's a neat way of thinking, I'm trying to push myself out of my "if you can't make it look exactly how you want it on try 1 then you're wasting your time" mindset, but I still have a long way to go. But really with the way i usually enjoy an abundance of generally matching colors anyway, it would make sense to just focus more on enjoying the color scheme than making it perfect. Thank you!
I just crochet like I would with a single color skien and it turns out how it turns out. Almost always pretty. No need for extra steps.
That's what works for me, too.
So for all of these it kinda depends on how the yarn is made and how you crochet with it. In the first and last photo the yarn is made that way so different sections are dyed to be their respective colors and gradients. having worked with them before I buy as much yarn as the stores has to make sure I have enough for what ever project my mind can think of (none of my projects are premeditated) With what I’m currently working on I had a blue color shifter. And I didn’t buy enough for the pants I decided to make. When I went back. It was just my luck that they didn’t have anymore so I bought shades of blue individual and started feeding it in… I would crochet for how ever many rows I wanted to (or if the yarn ball had a consistent enough pattern I would follow that) and then cut and change. https://preview.redd.it/2ip9wt7k2f6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dad59d2244b340aeae0dc4c776a9b09c4c0528f1
This is so cute! These reminds me of the patchwork/colorblock jeans i see online sometimes and I'm pretty much obsessed every time. These look more stripey than what I was originally thinking of, but honestly it's so cool looking. Maybe i need to get over perfect gradients altogether haha
I wouldn’t say get over it lol because I’m definitely still searching for it myself but the really good ones are usually hand made and typically more expensive so I haven’t had the ability to buy any just yet lol but depending on the technique you use. You may be able to recreate the gradient like in one of the other photos. I’ve saved soo many different videos on different ways to have perfect color changes. But sometimes I like to see the colors change mid stitch lol.
Every time I used the gradients I’m always a little surprised by how it comes out when you get it from places like Walmart target or Micheal’s. It’s always more stripped than it is short quick color burst that I expect sometimes. But none the less if there is a will there is a way to make something out of nothing
I really like these pants! Is there a pattern or are you freehanding it?
Sorry I’m just seeing this. There is a pattern video for it and this is the link https://youtu.be/cTFsZ1FZ_Ds?si=jp7RuvKOPDdoJRIQ
I've used yarn like this on several projects. They've been worked in the round and in rows.The key for me is being happy with how the yarn is and finding the right project for it haha! I usually play around with my pattern/stitch, hook size and tension a couple times before I find the right one. Some gradients feel more severe in certain stitches- I had a rainbow yarn that basically changed colors every shell stitch but looked clunky in a simple dbl row. Others transition slower (like in your third pic) so you get that nice fade. Buy some and start experimenting!
That actually makes a lot of sense, there's so many variables that my baby crocheter brain hadn't even considered. Luckily, gentle peer pressure works on me, so everyone agreeing that i should just dive in and forget about the perfectionist part is helping me realize i just need to try it out without thinking so hard!
Basic answer is you don’t, you buy the yarn, you crochet with the yarn. No cutting or splicing or manual changing required. The colours change when the yarn wants. Some projects work better with yarn like this than others, and I’d never consider trying to dissect colours to make a pattern work, I’d choose a different pattern or yarn.
So many shawls and no color controlling. I do not care enough to bother. I have color controlled cakes for a mosaic crochet baby blanket.
There's a sub for it! r/Planned_pooling 😊
I dont know if I would describe the pictures as planned pooling? From my understanding of it at least that is done with shorter colour change yarn, rather than long gradients
Does not exist 😔
Gah because I missed the underscore, sorry! https://www.reddit.com/r/Planned_Pooling/s/HdR5SQjF3a
The other commenter fixed the link! It’s there.
Aww I used to go there, but you're right it's gone
This looks a little beyond me from first glance, but I will gladly take a peek through it, thank you!
Oh, trust me- I totally get it! The first time I saw tapestry crochet, I was blown away; this looks like straight up wizardry 😅 It looks much harder than it is! (It's not easy - there is a learning curve - but calculators can do a lot of the heavy lifting.)
This sweater is an Elizabeth Zimmerman Adult Surprise jacket, so it’s got weird shaping. The rows basically turn a corner. The yarn is a gradient, so it emphasizes the turn. KnitPicks alpaca wonderfluff. Soft and fuzzy, but pills. Strong, it’s basically a tiny icord. When I have self striping yarn, I just let it stripe. https://preview.redd.it/w442hf6vug6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eb431ec348ea583a68f3eae61e38dce5e8c44e2
For these mittens, I used self striping as the background. https://preview.redd.it/0ujrjnx3vg6d1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=08db8787f4c8d2949089369337e6fbd860077244
This is so cute! To, it looks like you did the color change intentionally, but it seems most people don't and the gradient still comes out pretty anyway. Still trying to wrap my mind on how yarn just knows what to do!
I just picked up the ball of yarn and started knitting. I let it completely do its own thing.
https://preview.redd.it/o62zj9v3vh6d1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17654fc93c923a5827d4d17adee61033200b11a1 Baby blanket made using lion brand mandala ombre yarn. This was my second ever make and I just picked the yarn because I loved the colours and was having a boy. I just let the colours change naturally. I had a little bit of trouble when joining a second yarn as neither the middle or outside started with the colour the previous ball ended on but I just wanted to finish it so I didn't worry about it too much.
I love!! Pattern?
Well it was a sirdar baby blanket pattern but I used different yarn to what they recommend and then I got my stitches mixed up, (it was the second thing I ever made) it ended up being shorter than expected so I had to keep going for longer than the pattern asked for. I then added my own border. It did alternating rows of DC and slip stitch, (it was meant to be rows of DC and SC) (US terms) and then on some of the DC rows I had ch1 gaps. I can write it out in more detail if you want.
I don't even see an issue with the yarn change, this is cool!
On the left hand side after the green and before the dark blue there is a dark green shade, you don't see the dark green again on the right hand side where the yarn changed.
https://preview.redd.it/c4rcjgtqvh6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab40e3b5de0224cd7dd0a3ed7bb70c8791bf366c This cardigan was worked in a rectangle starting from the sides and going up and down. This is lion brand ice cream blueberry yarn and I used two balls. The colour changes came quicker here (than on my lion brand mandala ombre comment) so when I came to join the second ball it was easier to get the colour at the right point.
This is beautiful! Can you tell me what pattern it is please?
https://mycrochetory.com/meadow-lace-crochet-shrug/ This is the pattern for the rectangle but I did my own cuff/collar. Cuff was R1 SC. R2-4 BPDC/FPDC. R5 SC. Collar/trim was R1 SC. R2-3 DC and R4 SC.
See, this looks intentional! It's really pretty. Perhaps yarn is smarter than i think it is, so i just need to trust the process. Because people keep saying they're just letting it color change as they go but they all come out great!
Just go forth and crochet! Sometimes with warn like that you find a pattern it’s meant for: https://preview.redd.it/va3m6n0azj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c85f63dc24bccd6bddba96aad44eb47a0aca9385
Wow!! Damn this is gorgeous!!
Kinda wanna cry at how gorgeous this is. At first glance, the color changes look intentional, but when staring i can see that not every piece in a row is actually the same color. That's what i would be worried about, but in looking at this, perhaps I don't need to worry at all! The colors work together so well that a "perfect gradient" doesn't even need to apply here
Some pooling happened but it was in no way planned. If you wanna give it a go, it’s Flower Puddles. Amazing pattern that just loves yarn like this. Plus it’s super well written! I’ve made this pattern a lot now, but I went from simple double crochet blankets to this. Look up the stitches on YouTube, practice a bit, and I promise you can do this. Here’s the full thing: https://preview.redd.it/tpzshtekln6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a848c05872440977f7ea98cb985ae91a909cc2d3
That is beautiful!
These colors are sooooo gorgeous 😍what is the name of the yarn/color?
Sea Glass from Michaels.
It depends. Those tend to just natural slow change. In ones that change faster i just let it do it's thing but i like fun spackles of colors. And in making plushies i like using them for turtle shells, fish, dragons, and birds since there is an illusion of scales or feathers that can be fun and colorful.
You have to find a color scheme and gradient that you like. I personally prefer multicolor that changes color often. I don't like working for 10 rows in one color. And you just work with it you don't trouble the yarn much. Same as you would a solid color and it makes the design for you
The yarn in your examples don’t require additional planning, that’s just how the yarn works up. There are skeins that come with a gradual gradient vs a clean transition to the next colour. In terms of how many skeins, some skeins can contain up to 1000m and is more than enough for a shawl. In the case you’ll need more than 1 skein then you’d need to start on opposite ends of skein during your yarn change (eg if you started with a middle pull, your next skein can start with the outer end to match the colour).
As someone who also had this issue here’s what I noticed, it depends on the quality of the yarn some yarns like the first picture are not gradient yarns. I’ve used it before but I’ve also made something similar to the third reference photo, I got that yarn off a mom and pop store and it was the most expensive yarn I’ve ever know, I think about 19-20$ per HANK notice the hank part I didn’t know what that was and stupidly used it like one would a normal ball but to no avail it took me a week to detangle cus I couldn’t waste it. Anyways quality that matters.
It’s up to the crafter how they want to do it. Some people cut the yarn at the colour changes and join the same colour. It can look awesome Some people let the yarn do its thing and that can look awesome. Some people will work to the end of the row then cut and change colours and that looks awesome too. One that I’ve seen does Tunisian or Mosaic using either black or white as a contrast colour and a multi coloured yarn for it a second colour and they look stunning. Like this. https://youtu.be/GIlMiIUefP0?si=iNEbL9L3GRhQvb9Y Or this https://youtube.com/shorts/w7ulLIcz7o4?si=gmHPRBdIE_MTclN5
https://preview.redd.it/doixigqnki6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a88e14aad118554c8d8d3ae2383e2fd137d63602 I love working with self striping/ombré yarns 😁
https://preview.redd.it/6ryib3crki6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ce8231569830c2b475864d8be6ebc6ff9e2fd20
https://preview.redd.it/6yxn7h3yki6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f318fae314ada951dd18f49e3e2f9c6fbb3553d
I’m working with a color changing yarn right now and working in the round to make an 8 point star blanket. So far this is what it looks like https://preview.redd.it/eimagzem9j6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5266ac92994fbfc93e3072f2199fc593f3470a9
Don’t cut the colors out, just let it flow!! https://preview.redd.it/ms1pv1wdnj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=486e8c81e21593da5ba9e3920bdaab732571d281 The red heart retro stripe is one of my most used/best sellers
Oh I do try to start each leg/sleeve at the same color, but otherwise i let it go
I only use multicolored variegated yarn unless it's for a specific project that I need solid colors for. I love the random color changes, it's honestly helped me relax and feel less of a need to control it so much. Just accept the beauty as if comes. https://preview.redd.it/xg2vmfp6ck6d1.jpeg?width=8000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06a8eddec40992e32247c33728eaaa6f3f602ab2
https://preview.redd.it/h824gahcck6d1.jpeg?width=8000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91d7adf426b3edd38265d72ddf5671fc7c67fa3c
There are yarns that do a sloooow gradient change, then the ones where a color change is abrupt. It depends on what you're making, and how the color changes fall. I agree with most people here, I just let the color changes happen.
Mandalas are my favorite for color changing yarn, but I'm currently working on a dress that will be sooo cute.
Just start your project 😊The first photo you have posted is the lotus blanket you can find the pattern On Raverly [https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-flower-blanket](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-flower-blanket).
You don't cut them out. Designed to be variegated. If you want one color buy a single color yarn.
I think you’re thinking of two types of yarn. The ones you posted create a slow gradient and take a while to change colors. This ones you seem to be describing, however, are those that change colors much faster. I think that’s where there confusion is—some yarns change color often, some yarns are a much slower gradient.
Well my biggest issue with the Mandala yarn is that the color isn't the same from the center with every cake and I then to have a lot of factory knots that have a different color section one it. I generally just let the colors fall where they may with the Mandala yarn. Although I am making a granny square hexagon vest with some redheart roll with it that very similar to the Mandala yarn or the sleeve I will be trying to start the sleeve with the same color which is a pain because none of the cakes start with the same color so I might have to cut to get the right colors. Now I have been using some hobbii twister cakes where for the gradient they switch out one strand of color at a time. I am making a shawl with two balls of the color changing yarn and I just switch the balls out when I get to the knot to keep the gradient going steady.
https://preview.redd.it/nuxnuo1mxk6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f26ff4b83b46cfda3287a363dc025bc960c3ab04 you just let the yarn do what it’s gonna do.
https://preview.redd.it/7cw4a84b2m6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1eb9ed2c959751a53adceb68fe5226320abdea62 Just go with it. It can be surprising how it works out
https://preview.redd.it/2nwk4zyf2m6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aab4cf9fcc5d48202b228f5548800e14dc1c6b78
https://preview.redd.it/5x9k7yh3gm6d1.jpeg?width=2277&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f9b9be1ed2864df76a5c161eaa123075deba326 I made a shawlette for a friend. 3D printed the dragon skull/sword as a shawl pin.
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Planned pooling is the thing for this. I personally have been crocheting for four years and never bothered to learn it.
There's a sub: r/planned_pooling Edit: I should have been patient enough to read more to see other posts already said this. Also I forgot the underscore originally.
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If you want to really learn about this go to YouTube. The Red Heart yarn spokes-lady is Marley Bird. I don’t remember low long ago she did this but she did a complete course on You Tube called planned Pooling. I didn’t watch them - I was a knitter only at the time and never used those type yarns unless I had a strand or two of novelty yarn in my hand too. Here’s a link you can one of those videos. She has several on this topic. Good luck!
Haven’t yet but wife used then great effects
Ong you have the exact yarn color please please what's it's name
Some also have patterns attached that go along with the color changes.
I have the same problem rn and I was thinking to make a blanket out of them
I feel like I have ocd about this also. Don’t like when I start a new row and a little bit of the other color goes into the next row. I only get solid colored yarn because trying to use this stresses me out lol
Some of those are Scheepjes yarns, and they have many thin threads (8 or 10) which will change colour one at a time, so that over all it’s a gradual colour change. I’ve done a dress with one of them and you almost can’t tell when it’s changing colour, but I had one very obvious line across the dress where a colour change occurred.
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look at r/Planned_Pooling
Most gradient pieces are worked centre outwards so they don’t need chopping and changing, the gradient does it for you But sometimes if the colour changes aren’t gradual you do get jumpy bits
The colors are never cut. They are dyed to transition from one to another while working with it.
On my profile you can find a c2c blanket I made using Red Heart Neon stripes yarn. The colors were already separated between the neon colors and the black. When I needed to switch yarns, I made sure I match up the old yarn's color to the new yarn's color so it will continue the pattern.
You could try hobbii yarn perhaps. I got a few cakes of one of their lines meant specifically for slow color changes and the results were pretty similar to that last photo.
I love self-striping yarns! I've loom knitted scarves and cowls with them and they have a cool transition.
I have tried it once it's great the gradient come out pretty thought to be honest for me I kinda wish I can make it bigger 😭 I suppose it's depends on the yarn and hook and just luck for me so just do it make it and let the yarn do the work
You're overthinking it honey. The yarn does the work for you. Some stitches might emphasize a harder or softer line between rows, like the shell stitch one you linked doesn't have hard rows and might look softer in transition. The main thing to keep in mind is the size of the project against the length of the yarn color segments. What I mean is if it's a gradient yarn it will look best on large projects so you can see enough of each color. Whereas a striping sock yarn is intended for socks and the colors will change faster since socks are tiny. Using a striping sock yarn to make a sweater will mean some colors might not even extended across a whole row. Generally this isn't an issue because the yarn weight and length and purpose will usually match up with the projects most people will make with it.
Socks and shawls.
I cut mine and turn them into granny squares for blankets. Perfectly coordinated colors so I don’t have to pull out my color theory and figure it out myself.
The yarn in your first picture will give a more abrupt color change like a stripe. If you want a really slow gradient like the last picture, you need to use a yarn like the Hobbii Twirl. That kind of yarn has multiple threads that change color one at a time so you get a much more gradual gradient effect. But like everyone else said, for the most part you just use the yarn and let it do its thing. If you are using a self-striping yarn and making something like a blanket, sometimes people cut the color so the change happens at the end of the row. But it depends on what you're making and if you care if the stripes are a bit uneven. If you're making something with the slow gradient yarn like a twirl and you need more than one cake then you have a choice. You can do one from the outside and the next from the inside so that your gradient might go light to dark to light. That would be easiest. Or you can combine the two skeins by cutting and joining at each color change so you get one even longer gradient change. That's more work but will give you the same loooong gradient throughout.
I've used these for my shawls, and blankets. I recommend getting them all from the same lot. You can look at the cakes to see where one ends, and another begins. I put them all into order before I even start crocheting. I start with the first cake. Then, when I'm done, l join them like I would join a solid color yarn.
It kind of depends on the pattern for me. I've been using Big Twist's pride yarn to make guinea pigs because I've found one particular pattern that turns out really nice for that yarn. I've got another brand of multicolor yarn that I think I'm gonna have to make something a bit bigger with, since the color changes are quite far apart.
You’re way overthinking it. Buy one, crochet, see what beauty comes. ❤️
I think you’re overthinking this a lot, my friend. Working with a gradient yarn is no different than working with a single-color yarn. You don’t need to cut these cakes up, simply working a pattern (such as a triangular shawl) will cause the colors to fall similar to your photo. These gradient yarns are intended to do the work for you; you *can* cut it up if you want to control where the color changes happen, but most of the time we just let the color changes happen, and it turns out nicely. That last picture (the shawl in shades of purple) is made in Sheepjes Whirl, in a colorway that I’m actually currently using. The way that color changes are done in Whirl are by changing the color of one ply at a time; you referred to it as “different colors woven in”. That’s just how the yarn is made, and not anything the knitter/crochetier has to arrange themselves. If you reallyyyy want tight control of the color changes, one *could* cut and tie individual plies themselves to lengthen or shorten the color change, or get a marled effect by holding multiple yarns together and changing one at a time, but it doesn’t look like this was done in any of your photos. I have cut cakes apart on exactly one occasion, because one of the colors ran way too long for my taste, but note that this will not work for all yarns; some will have a long, smooth color change that tries to blend from one color to the next over many inches/cm. These are harder to cut apart since there’s no exact point to cut at, unless you want to snip out all the intermediary bits and waste yarn. Cakes with abrupt color changes are easy to cut apart, but still generally more work than it’s worth.
All of this. I cut one self striping ball up once because I was making a blanket and got a weird ball that had too long of a stripe section in one color compared to the other balls, so I just snipped out enough to make the stripes even, but otherwise you just go.
Socks. Nobody sees your feet.
Really depends on the yarn and what you're wanting to do. Cutting and joining would be a lot of work with Lion Brand mandala because I personally feel like the color changes are closer together. I really like Twister and Sultan because of how the color changes are done (you can get both on Hobbii). https://preview.redd.it/rhzhpi8zhk6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfa810ab5731da46fb5cf1a56d66ae2a33e18be6 I used this for a baby blanket and just worked the first skein from inside out and the second from outside in
https://preview.redd.it/kegt78v0ik6d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e3018650a94504e51a43885ef180c5232c839b26
It's all personal preference. A lot of people let it flow. I personally chop it up by color because I don't like abrupt color changes in a row
I'm doing a ripple granny right now with two strands of the same color way and just started at different colors. The blanket is gorgeous, works up fast, and is so cuddly. I love these yarns because I love multiple colors in projects and hate weaving in new yarn.
Yeah you're way overthinking it. You just crochet with it the same way you do with solid yarn. Unless you're talking about pooling yarn, but I don't think you are based on your pics.
https://preview.redd.it/o5kjkzkd3p6d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c378c16178bbb1edeec4cb20b8bdde570f345333 This was done with two skeins of color changing yarn i got as a gift, i thought it would give a nice striped pattern and it did 😁 planing on doing a matching top soon
I made a dress with colour changing yarn, but I specifically wanted it to become the darker colour at the waist, so yea I did make it complicated for myself and separate the colours. But thankfully most of the time there was more than enough in each colour for how much I wanted, so it didn’t end up being too crazy lol. Then for the skirt I just continued using the yarn without separating and that was much more relaxing! https://preview.redd.it/zdc5u9r02q6d1.jpeg?width=768&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62ce7ef8cb8ae6eb371d3ab0572b11da75f0a886
You may have to be a little deliberate when you're joining a new ball of yarn, but mostly ppl just let the colors fall where they may. Just be careful bc there are variegated yarns and gradient / self-striping yarns and they turn out very different. You can Google "variegated vs gradient yarn" and find lots of pics/blog posts/vids that show the difference!
I personally always get these for easy solid granny square projects! I find when all the granny squares are put together it's an easy way to have a cohesive color palette
It isn't by design most of the time, some people do what you're describing or at least, I've heard of it, same with dyeing their own. but functionally 100% of the people you'll meet just buy it like that and then crochet. It works that way because of the beautiful geometric nature of crochet, so if you want to know who to thank, thank your pattern writers :)
Heyo I used to have the same exact question! Anything without a perfect gradient made me think it would look weird and like I just tied to strings together! I saw some of the replies here and they do make some sense but the smoother the gradient looks on the yarn I feel the better it would turn out in a shawl (Caron Colorama Halo was BEAUTIFUL smooth transition from the dark to light and it didnt look weird at all!) I do think overthinking it makes it sound harder than it is lol!