5 knitting patterns for colorful handspun yarn

PATTERN SHOPS

WHERE TO FIND ME

SPINNING FIBERS MENTIONED
Wound Up Fiber Arts

Nest Fibers

Skagit Woolen Works

PATTERNS MENTIONED
Ziggy Triangle by Leila Raven

Homesweet Mittens by Alicia Plummer (Ravelry Only)

Clara’s Playtime Mittens by Aimee Sher

Mauna Hat by Leila Raven (Ravelry Only)

Directional Pullover

[claretrevor]

Oh that Ziggy pattern is so pretty. Love the geometric-ness of your new design. I spun as a child, but picked it back up last year. My dad makes custom spinning wheels.😊

[eddavanleemputten]

If spinning a sweater quantity feels daunting and you’ve got a default spin like DK or sports weight yarn, it can be a good idea to break things up in skeins and to use coordinating colours, like undyed natural colours. Spin a skein, set aside. Spin for another project. Spin another skein, possibly in another natural colour. Set aside. Spin two half skeins in both colours, ply them together into a third skein. Keep going until you have enough, and in between each skein, reward yourself with s spin in something totally different. Then, go and have fun knitting up your sweater. Knit part in your first colour. Alternate 2-4 rows of your first skein and the barber poled one. Then knit solely with the barber poled one, then alternate 2-4 rows with your barber poled one and your 2nd colour before moving on to that 2nd colour, etc. You’ll end up with a gradient. Possibly, incorporate a colour work section with your darkest solid and your lightest solid. Mosaic knitting patterns are great for this.

I’m currently working on spinning skeins of alpaca/silk blend I’ve made myself from donated raw alpaca fibre. The bag is enormous and contains four colours, moving from white to the darkest chocolate brown via warm beige and caramel tones. I’m spinning up 250 grams of each colour as solids. I’m using only 0, 5% to 1% of silk top which results in a very slightly marled shimmer and each skein only weighs around 50-60 grams so it doesn’t take all that long to spin. Every time I pick up that project I use a different colour to keep me from getting bored. At some point I might start blending colours to create intermediate skeins.

End goal is to have enough yarn for a large project. No idea yet what, because my daughter is still trawling through Ravelry for what she wants me to make from it.

Thank you of thinking of fellow hand spinners when designing your projects! That sweater looks absolutely gorgeous!

For fellow hand spinners looking for projects: I really like mosaic knitting patterns, they show up the beauty of hand spun really well and the texture can hide a multitude of sins. Either using the combination of a hand spun solid and a hand spun variegated/barber poled/gradient/fractal, or alternating your multicoloured hand spun with a commercial solid.

[fleeperification]

That shawl is so pretty! I bet a true colors shawl by Melanie Berg would also be really pretty using handspun as the CC.

[arieknits]

I've been wanting to make the Clara's Playtime Mittens with my handspun! I love the colors of yours 😍

[karyncook]

Thanks Aimee for the recommendations! I’m always looking for patterns to use my handspun in!

I’m looking forward to your pattern release.

[LottaSocks]

Not a spinner (small apartment), and as I watch many spinners show their yarn….I have serious FOMO. That said, I do have stash. Lots. Sooo, I’m game for project inspiration!
I have been waiting for. ever.
I must make this new sweater! Finally!!
Your socks look so comfy! Always have a sock (or 2) on the needles! Will check out the hat pattern, looks like fun!
Thanks for ideas!