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  • Colour Play – Experimenting with Gradient Yarn Packs

    June 12, 2015 4 min read 0 Comments

    There has been a rise in the popularity of those gorgeous sets of mini skeins recently. I think I first started noticing them at shows last year, although I am sure they have been around for much longer. They are the type of thing that is utterly irresistible to knitters – well, to me at least. A glorious selection of beautiful shades, the little packs of mini skeins always seem to have so much promise … as is often the case inspiration can sometimes wane a little once you are holding all those tiny balls of wonderful yarn in your hands, as you begin to ask “What can I do with this pack of gradient yarn?”

    Mabel & Ivy Coast - Ombré Pack 2

    Inspired by the addition of Coast Ombré packs to the Tangled Yarn shop I set off on a quest to find some inspiring gradient knits to get your needles clicking.

    Top Tip

    Many designs can be adapted to use gradient packs.Keep your eyes peeled for new designs featuring stripes, small colour details, or designs that were made to use up oddments of yarn. These are also perfect for using delicious Coast Ombré packs.

    Here are some of my favourite shawls designs

    I love these two examples of shawls created specifically for gradient packs.

    Hallow Moon by Dieuwke Van Mulligen

     

    The Joker and the Thief by Melanie Berg


    Remember
    You can always double up, or get two different sets of Ombre Packs if you need more colours or extra yardage. There is so much room to explore colour options with these little skeins of yarn.

    Top Tip
    Shawls featuring stripes, more often than not, lend themselves really well to creating an ombré masterpiece with a gradient set.

    Full Spectrum by Cindy Garland would look beautiful in a tonal ombre set or striking in something a little bolder, with more contrast.

     

    Full Spectrum by Cindy Garland

    Top Tip
    Patterns designed to be flexible in terms of gauge, yardage and yarn used are excellent for experimenting with gradient packs.

    Louise Zass-Bangham’s Another Way can be a shawl or a scarf and works with virtually any yarn. Pick up a main colour and an ombre pack and off you go – let your imagination run wild.

     

    Another Way by Louise Zass-Bangham

     


    Lee Meredith is a design genius when it comes to flexible, and fun, patterns; I love her shawl, Pigment. Easy to knit garter stitch is punctuated by pops of colour; simplicity and colour play are the ideal combination for gradient packs.

    Pigment by Meredith Lee


    Martina Behm has many shawls that work with variable yardage and use bits of colour here and there for beautiful accents. I think these two gems would look stunning in Coast.

    Leftie and Endless Rainbow by Martina Behm

    Remember
    Coast can be worked as a single strand for something light and airy or double for something a little thicker and warmer, especially useful for cool summer evenings.

    Simple but versatile, Coastal Gradient by Elizabeth Smith could be worked in a single strand of Coast for a really lightweight summer accessory or two strands for something to snuggle up in when the cooler weather arrives. It has the added bonus of needing some great buttons – I love projects with great buttons!

    Coastal Gradient by Elizabeth Smith

    Top Tip
    Want to create a larger masterpiece, you can use the combinations in the Ombré packs as inspiration but buy full size skeins.

    I love this new design by Stephen West and think it would be exquisite knitted in Coast. Marled Wave uses five colours that are worked together and changed gradually to create a beautiful marled fabric.

    Marled Wave by Stephen West

     


    Asanagi Wrap by Olga Buraya-Kefelian is created using an interesting modular technique and would look spectacular in five shades of Coast inspired by an Ombre pack.

    Asanagi Wrap by Olga Buraya-Kefelian



    I hope you have enjoyed this collection of inspiring patterns. 

    Rachel is giving one lucky person the chance to win a Coast Ombré Pack just leave a comment telling us which colour pack you'd like and what you'd like to knit! The winner will be announced here in the blog on Friday 3rd July.


    Happy knitting,
    Clare

    Congratulations to Jane MacDonald you are the winner of our giveaway! I will be in touch very soon to organise sending your prize to you. A huge thank you to everyone who left a comment and also to random.org for selecting our winner!

    The giveaway is now closed......

     

    About the Author 

    Clare Devine is a writer and designer. Originally from South Africa she has nomadic tendencies and is currently knitting her way around the UK. She is passionate about all things fibre related (especially if it’s grey), knitting, travel and sunshine in equal measures.

    She regularly blogs at www.yarnandpointysticks.com. You can find her on Ravelry as Knitsforklipskaap, Twitter as @_ClareDevine and Instagram as @Clare.Devine.