Thursday 15 January 2015

Not sure about...

I don't use colour stranded yarn that often, I can never tell from the ball what it will look like as a finished fabric but I picked these up over a 2 years ago in a sale and after a tension square was not suitable for the pattern I had picked out...it had to be knitted into something.

It is called King Cole Twist in DK. But I put my glasses on to check the dye lot on these two because I thought my eyes were deceiving me... the same dye lot ... you are kidding me...



So I had to keep an eye on the colour stripes and keep changing between the two balls. I did manage to get the navy and burgundy strand as the starting colour run on every border piece but that was more hard work than luck.

If you choose yarn like this or are lured into a bargain sale price as I was, I recommend you knit a top down or circular needle garment because the stripes are thicker on my front pieces than the back pieces because the rows on the fronts are, of course, shorter.


It is a bit of a curler too. Steam blocking required for this yarn. I will have to start getting tough with it!

Can I let on...I am not even sure I actually like it. I knit the two sleeves at the same time which I have never done before to try and get the yarn to match a little. I have had to start another ball to get two similar ones.


I know I fit some cliches - I wear a thumb ring, a toe ring, an ear cuff, we have an allotment, we are members of greenpeace but I don't necessarily want my knits to say these things! I have cheerily nicknamed this cardigan the 'commune cardy'

Basically what I am saying folks is: don't buy curly weird King Cole Twist double knitting in orange and sale shop wisely my friends!

I will return with the final garment next week and 
we can all pass comment then...

Thank you for your lovely comments recently. has anyone else used this yarn?

 Jo xxxxxx

16 comments:

  1. It's nice looking yarn, maybe just not as suited for garment knitting as others. I think it will look very striking when it's finished

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  2. I quite like it actually. Maybe I should get an allotment, too :-) I am knitting with two different colourstranded yarns just now, a kind o a ripple scarf alternating the two different balls every second row. It is quite surprising how the stripes turn out. x

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  3. I like those colors. I like those colors together. I don't think I like them as little stripes together. And I am normally about laying as much color into one thing as possible!
    And yet, the longer I look at it, the more it looks "ok".
    I can't wait to see what you've got this turning in to! :)

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  4. Well I don't have any of those things you mention and vegetation dies when I look at it. I am a vegetarian though and eat nuts and sometimes wear sandals in the summer as well as eating muesli. Perhaps that must be why I like the yarn. I would just have knitted it as it came straight out of the two balls though, to see what happened.

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  5. Ha!!! Commune cardy!!! Sounds just right to me....I actually love the colors!! It really speaks to me!! I would live a bit of this yarn in my house as decor!! Just beautiful! Looking forward to seeing more! Happy day!! Nicole xo

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  7. I haven't used that exact yarn but I am using something similar at the moment. I decided to use it for a hat and scarf. The stripes are thicker on the scarf as the rows are shorter. It still looks lovely though.

    (I had to delete my earlier comment as I made a mess of it.)

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  8. This made me smile I'm the same it always looks so lovely in the ball, but never as good when knitted hooked it up. From one former allotment owner and greenie to another I'm right with you on the varigated yarn thing, although so far I'm impressed with the balance you are getting, I'd just knit and hope for the best, so you're doing a great job with it xxx

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  9. Great advice!!! I find these multicolour yarns very difficult as they don't ever seem to be the same from one ball to the next as far as I can tell. I think that you are making a wonderful job of it!! The only cliché you fit into for me is the one of being a thoroughly nice person!! xx

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  10. These type of yarns are quite baffling aren't they? But I do veer on the liking side, and I'm liking your knitted components and looking forward to seeing the finished article. If it's the aesthetic you choose for one day then you can always put on your big shouldered power suit the next. Have fun finishing your card, Sam x

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  11. I am always puzzled by this type of yarn and avoid it as I can never get the changes of colour to work for me, particularly when using it for crochet. That said your knitting is looking good, the striping looks equal and coordinated so is working well.

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  12. Jo you make me laugh! Commune cardy, I love it. I thought I didn't like striped yarn until I made a shawl with some noro, but I can see how it would be tricky in a garment like this rather than a shawl or scarf. I am sure you'll beat it into submission and create something wonderful. xx

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  13. Haha, I too struggle with these types of yarn. I have also bought yarn because I simply have to have yarn and it's in the sale only to later regret it. The yarn never looks right when I crochet it. Yours reminds me of Kaffe Fassett's work, and I like it but I know I couldn't wear it. I look forward to seeing the finished garment.
    Have a lovely weekend

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  14. You know I have to admit I really like it. Try it with jeans and a white t-shirt, or jazz up a pair of khaki pants or a skirt. I think the beauty of the yarn needs to in a simple pattern to show up so you are doing the right thing even if it is curling. I think it might end up being one of your favorites.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  15. I like it too and the thing is about these yarns it doesn't matter if they match just go with it it will look lovely with the random stripes thats the beauty of it. I do use variegated yarns a lot I think they are much more interesting to work up than one colour. :)

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  16. hahahaha! I think I have something really similar but I was knitting a stuffed owl with it (frogged at the mo). Weirdly the arms look different to the back/sides or is that just me? Please finish it, I'm dying to see what it looks like and it might be ok, but I get what you mean about the colours making a statement! I'm sure you can always find someone who likes it, but it might just be alright :-)

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