But then I checked out the comments on Ravelry. Many of them are not very positive, and the complaints are pretty consistent: The colors fade, the yarn pills, and the socks don't hold up. Besides, there were lots of complaints about pooling. Not interested, I decided.
Then in a moment of weekness, I bought a skein of the lightweight in Chapman Springs from a Ravelry destash. It arrived and I was excited about the saturated colors and the soft springyness. I decided to use it for a Kai-Mei. At about three inches, it looks like this:
But turn it around and it looks like this:
Very weird pooling. I don't like it. I went back and looked at the comments on Ravelry, and I'm really wondering if I should put a lot of work into this yarn.What do you think?
12 comments:
I'm not a big fan of pooling, either. You might try it with a different stitch pattern; I think it would make you happier. Have you made Leyburn socks? The slipped stitches break up the pooling. Good luck!
I like STR - but not the pooling - so I tend to buy only the semi-solid colours.
But you might be able to break up the pooling by changing needle size. Or just do plain stocking stitch socks, where I don't think the pooling matters quite as much?
i was about to say what RoseRed said - I have only ever bought the semi solids and havent had any problems. I've not had pilling either but then I haven't worn my STR socks heaps yet since I made them last winter.
Keep going. They are lovely to wear. Pooling won't matter once they're knitted and being worn under jeans really!
I've never used it either, but pooling doesn't really bother me. If if feels nice, it works for me, but I see that you already have some suggestions for avoiding pooling.
maybe try from the toe up and see what happens?
That is exactly the reason I've never tried STR, and why I'm not interested in trying it. I've knit a few odd things out of variegated yarn, but it's really not my thing...just looks kind of messy. I have to admit if that were my sock, I probably wouldn't finish it.
That said, you don't want to waste good yarn, and it sure looks nice and soft. What if you stripe it with a solid color or do some kind of fake fair isle pattern?
I like STR, personally but I've used a fairly solid color for socks (the medium weight) so it didn't pool then I used some fingering weight for a beret so no pooling there either. As others suggested a different stitch pattern or needle size might work. I hope you find something that works for the yarn!
Love the feel of this yarn and I'm never fussed about pooling - mind you my favourite colourways are the Raven Clan so that's less of an issue ;)
If you don't like the pooling then I wouldn't put a lot of work into it. You might try a slipped stitch pattern which might break up the pooling some thought. I've had a bunch of problems with fading and pooling (which doesn't both me) but no pilling problems. I did finally wear out a pair after two years of wearing them at least once a week and putting them in the washer and dryer.
Try my Roundabout socks (freebie pattern on Rav). they work very well for variegated yarns.
You could also think of the pooling as how this yarn patterns. European knitters, esp. German ones, love pooling and will work their socks so that they start in exactly the same place.
I can never get my socks to pool. I don't like striping that much. Wanna trade?
I like STR - but I like it when the pattern makes small stripes with minimal pooling - but you have to fiddle with the stitch count which is a drag.
As far as wear - I have a pair of Jaywalkers that I made years ago that I still wear - and they are fine.
It really is pretty yarn but if you hate the pooling, then would you hate wearing the socks?
Post a Comment