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The Great Yarn Mix-Up The Great Yarn Mix-Up From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-209

When it comes to combining yarns, the sky's the limit! You'll be amazed at the variety of effects you can achieve by simply trying different yarns together. Below are just a few suggestions.

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• Knitting together smooth yarns in contrasting colors results in a tweed-looking fabric.

• Knitting smooth yarns that are close in tone results in a fabric that has a more mottled appearance.

• Mixing yarns of similar colors but different textures produces subtle, rich-looking fabric.

  Note: The swatch to the right in figure A was knit of yarns in contrasting colors; the swatch to the left, of yarns that are similar in color.

• Mixing eyelash yarns can result in unexpected color combinations (figure B). Experiment with combining colors that you wouldn't normally. It's unpredictable and totally unlike mixing paint or other yarns.

Figure A

Figure B

Stripes

To cut or to carry: that is the question. When knitting stripes, you have to decide whether to cut the yarn at the end of each stripe or leave it hanging and carry it up the side the next time you use that color. The narrower the stripe (figure C), the easier it is to carry. Generally, on an item like a scarf where the edge will be seen, you can comfortably carry the yarn up half an inch; wider stripes (figure D) require you to cut the yarn at the end of each stripe. On a piece where the edge will be hidden in a seam, you may be able to carry it a full inch. If you do carry, take care to maintain even tension: neither pull too tightly (which can distort the fabric) nor leave the yarn too loose (which can form unsightly loops along the edge). Inconsistent tension will result in a piece that looks like the one in figure E. The key is to knit stripes of even numbers so that the working yarns both ends up on the same side of the knitting.

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

When knitting stripes of yarns that are radically different gauges (figure F), use the needle size recommended for the larger yarn. The fabric will be more stable if you knit wider stripes of the larger yarn and narrower stripes of the fine yarn.

Some pieces require you to cut and carry the different stripes, such as the scarf shown in figure G. This scarf can also be knit twice to make the following poncho:

Figure F

Figure G

Poncho of Many Yarns

Mix and match the way you want within this basic poncho pattern. The materials listed are the ones we used to make our version featured on the show: the Knitty Gritty Freeform Mixing Yarns Poncho.

Materials
Wool-Ease Chunky: 3 balls #152 Charcoal
1 ball each (or as desired) of the following yarns:
Landscapes: #276 Summer Fields
Incredible: #201 Rainbow
Watercolors: #352 Mist Grey
Color Waves: #313 Sunset Red
Fancy Fur: #213 Rainbow Red
Fun Fur: #113 Red, #112 Raspberry, #133 Tangerine
Moonlight Mohair: #204 Rainbow Falls
Needles: U.S. 11
Large-eyed blunt needle

Gauge: 14 sts + 18 rows = 4"

Note: Poncho is made in two strips that are sewn together lengthwise.

Strip (make 2)
Cast on 22 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row), changing yarn as whim dictates, until piece measures 48". Bind off loosely and weave in ends.

Assembly
Sew strips together lengthwise to make wider strip. Then sew short edge to long edge at the end to form a point. Point of poncho can be worn to the front or side.

Next: Casting-On Tips