If you have multiple skeins of a single color of a hand dyed yarn, they might actually be ever-so-slightly different in color.
You’ll often even hear advice to stripe the 2 colors before switching to just using the new skein.
Blending or Not – An Example
I used 2 shades that were similar but not identical, just to make it easier to see the differences.
Even though the shades are quite similar, you can really see the dividing line between the 2 plain sections.
But, if you look at the top – with the helical stripes – it looks more subtle.
How to Work Helical Stripes
Working the stripes is very easy – honest. It’s easiest to work it in the round. While it IS possible to do them flat, it’s MUCH more effort to do it. If you’re working things flat, I suggest you work 1-row stripes by Sliding Stitches using this tutorial instead.
When you’re ready to join in the new color (NC), just stop working in the old color (OC) and join in NC.
* Work a round in NC STOPPING WHEN THERE ARE JUST 3 STS REM IN OC.
Slip those final 3 sts. Your RN will have a round of a few sts in OC on it and your LN will have a rnd of NC on it. There will be yarn in OC that’s ready to be worked.
Using that yarn, work a rnd in OC, stopping 3 sts shy of the end of NC again.
Note that you NEVER cut the yarn. Striping yarns like this will not create ANY extra yarn tails to weave in – you’ll just have 1 beginning tail and 1 ending tail for each color of yarn.
Repeat this process, starting at the *. You’ll need to do around 1 inches of the stripes before being ready to just use the NC only.
Note that each time you switch yarns, the starting point will move 3 sts to the right.
It’s Really That Easy
Doing Helical Stripes is truly that easy – and you’ll wonder why you haven’t used them before this!
About the Instructor: Jody Richards
I’m the knitting-obsessed, crochet-loving, math-geeky, web-dev girl behind Knotions. I’m passionate about helping crafters become even better at what they love.
Crafting runs deep in my roots—my mom was an avid embroiderer and sewist, and she sparked my lifelong love of all things crafty.
My mission at Knotions is simple: to empower crafters to craft smarter. Let’s make something awesome together!
About Jill Bickers, our Resident Knitting Nerd
Jill Bickers is a full fledged knitting nerd, who can’t seem to stop buying books on fiber history in general and knitting history in particular. Okay, let’s be honest. She can’t seem to stop buying books, period. She is particularly obsessed with socks , lace, and cables.
Her designs can be found on Ravelry, as well as Knotions.
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