At Qing Fibre we’re passionate about creating yarn that is as unique as you are. Each skein we hand-dye tells its own story, with rich, vibrant colours that shift and flow in beautiful ways. These natural differences are what make knitting with hand dyed yarns so exciting. Sometimes, this means you might notice a shift in colour or slight pooling when knitting your project, and we think that’s part of the charm! But if you’d like to keep things flowing a bit more seamlessly, we’ve got a few tips to help you embrace and work with those beautiful, natural variations
Tips for Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarn
1. Swatch and Experiment:
Always take time to swatch and test out different methods with your hand-dyed yarn. Every yarn behaves a little differently, so what works well for one project might not for another. The more you experiment, the more you’ll learn how to create the perfect result for your yarn and project.
Swatch knitted with Dashing Sassy - Auroral:
Left image shows swatch knitted as normal without any changes (1). Right image shows swatch that has been alternated with another skein causing the purple tones to be more evenly spread.(2&3)
2. Alternate Skeins:
One of the most effective and common methods is alternating between two skeins of yarn. By switching skeins every few rows (or rounds if knitting in the round), you'll blend the colour variations more smoothly and avoid any harsh lines or demarcations.
3. Wind One Skein into Two Balls:
If you're working with just one skein, consider winding it into two smaller balls. By alternating between them, you can better distribute the colours and reduce pooling that might occur when you knit from one section of the skein.
4. Start at Different Points:
When you alternate skeins, start each one at a different point in the colour repeat. This helps further break up any visible colour blocks and creates a more natural flow of colour throughout your project.
Swatches knitted with Dashing Fingering - Wonka:
Left image shows swatch knitted as normal without any changes, as you can see there is slight pooling of the golden tone in the centre of the swatch. Right image we used the exact same skein and did not alternate, but made sure to start in a different colour section of the yarn causing the contrasting colours to spread more evenly. This can sometimes be time consuming to figure out the best spot to start but it is always worth it to achieve the best result for your project!
5. Choose a Stitch Pattern:
Some stitch patterns, like those with floats or dropped stitches, can help the colours blend beautifully and show off the unique qualities of your hand-dyed yarn. Experiment with these textures to create an extra layer of interest in your project.
A really eye catching knitting technique you can use with some hand dyed yarns is assigned pooling. This is when you work a different stitch every time you reach a specific colour in the skein. This is usually best for skeins that are two toned with the colour you work assigned pooling stitches on being less dominant. In this sample we used Dashing Sassy - Chocolate Shop to knit florets with the deep purple section of the yarn.
With these tips, you can make the most of your hand-dyed yarn and enjoy its unique, beautifully varied colours in your finished piece. Happy knitting