Gradient yarns cannot be processed exactly like single-colored or mixed-colored yarns. The color gradient has to be taken into account! Therefore, with parts such as sweaters or jackets, you have to check whether the front and back parts have the same color gradient.
But that doesn't mean you can't knit just about anything with Bobbel! It just means more attention when planning and calculating the knitted pieces. For beginners, the instructions from Chiemseegarn are the first port of call if you want to knit the beautiful gradient yarn for the first time.
There are just a few things to consider when working with gradient yarns, which we would like to explain to you here.
What do you need to know about Bobbel?
You can read everything you need to know about our bobbles here in the blog. Nevertheless, we will briefly summarize the most important things in the individual articles.
First of all, you should know that Bobbel is generally referred to as a hand-wound color gradient yarn.
This is available in different variations and yarn counts. There are gradient yarns with 3 to 8 individual threads. The designation is then 3-thread, 4-thread, 8-thread. Of course, this means that the yarns are of different thicknesses. However, it also depends on how thin the individual threads are. And so, depending on the manufacturer, you have very different color gradient yarns with very different color gradients and yarn thicknesses.
The color gradients of Chiemsee yarn have been chosen to be extra harmonious! There aren't such strong contrasts and rather no shrill colors like neon pink or neon green. Our color gradients are based on the beautiful nature and we are inspired by the landscape and culture of the Chiemgau! That's why you'll also find yarns that are intended for traditional costumes and offer traditional colors.
It is also important to know about bobble yarns: The color gradients are never created by dyeing a thread, but the yarns are plied from different colored yarns, i.e. laid next to each other, not twisted together. The individual threads are knotted together. You can always knit the knots without any problems, they are invisible in the knitting.
What can you knit with the bobbles?
Theoretically you can knit anything you want with it, but the gradient complicates it because you want to end up with a consistent piece. But if you are experienced in knitting, inventing instructions and calculating the right measurements, you can do a lot with our Bobbel.
For example, you can knit a sweater that should have the same color gradient on the front and back if you choose a boat neckline and both parts are cut exactly the same. But even a small cut-out at the front usually doesn't destroy the color gradient too much.
It gets more difficult with the sleeves, but you can choose our knitting set for the “Frozen” sweater, for example, because smaller bobbles for the sleeves are included. You can also order extra sleeve bobbles for your color gradient from us. Then you knit the front and back of your sweater each new from a Bobbel. And then the sleeves separately from the sleeve bobble.
Of course, depending on the size of the sweater and the width of the pattern you choose, there will always be a different color gradient! This is what makes planning the works so difficult, but also what makes knitting with Bobbel so appealing and surprising.
The following pieces are easiest to make with Bobbel yarns:
- Scarf
- Triangle scarf
- Tunic
- Tablecloth
- stole
- poncho
- Skirt
- Raglan sweater
With us you can choose from a running length of your Bobbel from 600 to 1200 m. You can also choose whether you want a thin 3-ply yarn or up to an 8-ply yarn.
Just get started and enjoy the colors
But don't worry too much when you get started and just use our instructions and ready-made bobble sets! If you are an advanced knitter, you will certainly enjoy testing different yarn counts and color combinations for your own individual creations.
If you simply want more of a color or you just can't get enough of it, then you can simply order this color as a plain bobble.
Pattern: yes or no?
In general, the gradient yarns from Chiemseegarn look so gorgeous that they don't even need a pattern. But tastes differ and if you don't just want to knit in stocking stitch or garter stitch, you can also let off steam with the patterns. You just have to keep in mind that you don't see the pattern as well as with plain-colored pieces.
For more beautiful effects, we recommend knitting in small beads or ordering our glitter threads. It is best to use this only for one color stripe, not for the entire knitting.
Which needle for which thread size?
We suggest using 2.5 to 3.5 needles with 3-ply yarn. Of course, this depends on how you knit personally, rather loose or rather tight.
In general, you calculate that for each additional thread of yarn, the needle size must be 0.5 larger.
So if you choose a 4-ply yarn, these would be needles in 3.0 to 4.0.
Knitting with gradient yarn in detail:
As already mentioned, it is not so easy to work classic sweaters with gradient yarns, because if you just started knitting as fun as usual, the sweater would have a different color gradient on the front part than on the back part. The sleeves are also narrower and the color gradient looks different.
Therefore, it's a good idea to keep an eye out for raglan instructions. This should then be knitted from the “top”, i.e. starting from the neckline.
You can either order sleeve bobbles in the color gradient of Chiemsee yarn or simply knit the sleeves out of plain-colored bobbles! Just pick a color from the gradient yarn that you want for the sleeves. It looks nice and soft if you choose one of the light colors for the sleeves.
shawls are of course much less complicated to knit and the classic for color gradient yarns: you can simply knit here until the bobble is over. However, we also recommend that you download our instructions for this, so that every color of the bobble can be used and the cloth does not become too long.
The knots in the yarn are easy to knit with. If you want it to be totally inconspicuous, you can twist the yarn a little before and after the spot when a knot appears, i.e. in such a way that the ends of the knot disappear into it.
For starters, we recommend that you simply use the instructions from our shop. Then you can get started and see how you like knitting with gradient yarns.
You can then create your own works later and dare to use other instructions from the web. We wish you lots of joy and surprises with our colorful Bobbel from Chiemseegarn! Feel free to write to us if you have individual requests for your project.
Tip: If you have a knitting project for which a color gradient yarn is not suitable, simply choose our Bobbel boxes, with which you can design your color gradient yourself. With this you can of course knit absolutely even pullers and garments! And you have the great colors and the great quality of the Chiemsee yarns with their gentle color gradients.
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