Knit what you Spin - What pattern do I choose?
You've spent days, nay, weeks washing, dying, carding and spinning that perfect yarn. It is your master piece, the highest achievement of your spinning career. You and I know that the yarn is a finished item in and of itself, but others look at us very oddly as we carry it through the grocery store, cooing baby-talk at it while we lovingly cradle it in the nook of our arms.
The solution? Knit it into an even more incredible wearable! That way you can carry your achievement around all the time, without your friends and family members quietly making arrangements for your involuntary commitment.
But what pattern to choose? The heartbreak of taking a beautiful yarn and an incredible pattern to produce a hideous finished item is immense. It is, however, avoidable. There are 4 features to consider: Yarn Color, Yarn Texture, Fabric Color, Fabric Texture. The rule, pick one of these elements to showcase.
I know, I can hear you now, "Badfaerie, how can I pick just one when my awesome yarn is textured and multicolored?". You pick one to showcase in your finished item, but all 4 features are a part of every garment. Here are a few suggestions for pattern styles that compliment each of our design features.
- Yarn Color - If it's the color(s) in your yarn that you are looking to show off, pick a pattern with a slight texture, but not intricate. A moss-stitch or repeating knit/purl pattern works well. Lighter colors can take more texture in the stitch pattern. If it is a repeating color pattern, make sure to swatch with the actual number of stitches in the finished item so you know how the color repeats fall and adjust for the most pleasing results. Entralac is great to show off repeating color patterns, but is boring for monotone yarns.
- Yarn Texture - The more texture the yarn has, the less stitch design you will see. If you cable with a boucle or eyelash art yarn, you are going to get a lumpy blob. Choose smooth stockinette stitch to show off the luster of your BFL. Garter stitch adds even more "squoosh" to your warm soft woolens. Fuzzy mohairs just don't do justice to delicate lace (with a few exceptions).
- Fabric Color - Intricate fair isles and intarsias are great for monotone yarns, but those hand-painted yarns and yarns made from hand painted roving, get lost in the pattern (with a few exceptions). Stick with simple yarn and fabric textures to get the most out of your color patterns.
- Fabric Texture - The more complicated your stitching, the less complicated you want your color. Arans and cables are displayed best by light colored smooth yarns. This is the place for your worsted spun naturals and pastels. The darker the color, the less the eye will notice the details, and your eye will notice any color changes at the expense of your intricate stitch work. Laces work with most colors, and can be beautiful with hand-painteds, but you will lose some of the stitch impact with the color changes.
Of course, the Golden Rule is: Knit What Thy Loves! Sometimes you just have to use that whacky colored art yarn for cabled wrist warmers. As long as you know what you are getting into and love the result, have at it! Rules like these are what we fall back on when we aren't sure which way to go. Follow the guidelines and you should be able to match patterns with yarn to make great items everytime.
By Badfaerie
BadFaerie Designs is now on Etsy.com
I have opened up the new Etsy store and loaded some hand spun yarns. I hope to add to our offerings ssoon and often.
Check a sample of what's in the shop to the left. Don't see what you are looking for? Email me at badfaerie@badfaeriedesigns.com or message me on Etsy, or PM me on Ravelry, username Badfaerie. I'm happy to discuss special orders.
So check out the shop Badfaerie Designs on Etsy. Look for information on the Ponderosa Spinning Retreat here soon!