Which Knitting Stitches are Best for Ivory?
It’s always amazing to me when I meet a knitter who doesn’t like to swatch--swatching is sometimes my favorite part of the entire knitting process! Setting aside time to swatch gives you a moment to get to know your new yarn intimately. For dyers, swatching is one of the many ways to determine how a yarn will behave and whether it’s right for your customers.
I know swatching takes a little time, so I’ve done some of the work for you! I’m spending some time with a different Knomad yarn each month to swatch stitches (simple and complex), get a feel for the spin on each base, and help you decipher what to choose for your next project.
First Impressions
At first glance, you might mistake this ultra-smooth, multi-plied yarn for a singles yarn--it’s just that delicate looking--but don’t be fooled! Ivory is an ultra round, 4-ply that blends 70% extrafine Merino Wool with Royal Alpaca (20%) and 10% Mulberry Silk. Royal alpaca refers to the fineness of the alpaca fibre, and this designation indicates that the fibres are as soft or softer than 19 microns--as soft as cashmere, and you can feel it with every stitch! The addition of bright white silk gives this yarn a little extra sheen and drape, plus durability, and of course, extrafine Merino means epic softness, too. Combined together, Ivory is a luxury yarn for luxury yarn lovers, and if you’re a brand that prefers to err on the side of soft, this might be a great one to bring into your line--especially if your knitters love lace. To celebrate this delicate, exquisite yarn, only lace stitches seemed appropriate, so I chose three and worked them up to see how well this yarn swatched and blocked.
Little Diamonds Lace Stitch
I actually saw this stitch called everything from “Easy Lace” to “Diamond Lace” but really, I think it looks more like diamonds than anything else. It’s deceptively simple, so don’t get cocky and try and zoom through it--work in repeats of 4 so you don’t lose track! This stitch swatch is worked flat. CO a multiple of 6 sts + 2. Row 1 (RS): K1 *K3, yo, sl2, k1, pass both slipped stitches over, yo* repeat from * to *, k1. Rows 2 & 4 (WS): Purl Row 3: K1, *yo, sl2, k1, pass both slipped stitches over, yo, k3* repeat from * to *, k1. Repeat Rows 1-4.
How to Knit Feathered Lace Stitch
Columns of lace are a great choice for scarves and simple wraps, and this stitch really lets the yarn shine! It can also do a good job of breaking up a hand painted or variegated yarn and really showing your artistry off. This stitch swatch is worked flat. CO a multiple of 4. Row 1 (RS): *K2tog, 2yo, ssk* repeat from * to *. Row 2 (WS): *p1 (p1, k1), p1* repeat from * to *. Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for pattern.
