Shawls Made With Multiple Yarns

Using different yarns in the same shawl adds visual interest to the design.

Shawls are one of the most basic knit or crochet patterns, but also some of the most complex. There are shawl patterns for every skill level, making them a popular project choice. Multiple yarns used together in the same shawl offer a wide variety of design options. There are several ways to work multiple yarns together, each producing a different effect and requiring different considerations.

Designs with Multiple Yarns

Designing a shawl with multiple yarns gives you the option to create textures and patterns. Different colors and types of yarn will showcase different portions of the shawl. Use different colors to spice up a plain shawl pattern, or use them to highlight intricate stitch work in more complex patterns.

Choose your yarns carefully. Make sure that the colors and textures compliment each other well. Before you begin, make a sketch of the finished shawl and figure out which portions of the shawl will be made from each different yarn. Use the sketch as a visual guide when creating your shawl.

Working with Different Size Yarns

Yarn size is measured by weight. The weights of yarn correspond to the gauge of the yarn, or its thickness. On the package for each different yarn, there is a recommendation of which size crochet hook or knitting needle to use for the best results. When mixing yarns, it is easiest to use yarns that are recommended for the same size hook or needle, as they will be of the same gauge and should make stitches of the same size.

Using different size yarns together is more complicated. Thicker, heavier weight yarns that require larger hooks and needles make larger stitches than finer yarns. This means that there are fewer stitches per inch with larger yarns. When switching to a larger yarn, using the same number of stitches will produce more length, causing puckering along the edge where the two yarns meet. Adjusting the number of stitches will alleviate this problem. Make a sample swatch of a few square inches using the yarns you have chosen to figure out the number of stitches you must increase or decrease to make the yarns work together.

Working On vs. Sewing Together

There are two ways to join different yarns together. You can either work one yarn directly onto the other, stitching them together, or you can work the areas separately and sew them together once they are complete.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Working the yarns directly together works best with similar gauge yarns, but with different size yarns is more complicated. This method will require making adjustments to patterns, sometimes drastically, so beginning crocheters or knitters may not feel comfortable with it. Sewing the pieces together after creating them is an easy way to avoid puckering at the point where the yarns meet. However, much attention must be paid to the width of each piece, making sure that the edges to be sewn line up perfectly. Pattern changes may still be needed in order to keep the edges the same width.

Working Two Strands of Yarn

Doubling up two strands of yarn and treating them as one is an interesting and different way to work two yarns together. It is particularly effective with novelty yarns such as eyelash yarn, which is flimsy on its own. Working a double strand of the yarn or working it alongside a heavier, more traditional yarn will give it structure and add warmth to the finished shawl.

Remember that the two yarns together will require a larger hook or set of needles than is recommended. If you are unsure which size of hooks or needles to use, create a sample swatch of a few square inches with different sizes and decide which look you like best. Pay careful attention to stitches when working two yarns as one strand, as it may be difficult to see the definition of each individual stitch.

Applique and Embroidery Designs

Another way to work multiple yarns into the same shawl is with appliques and embroidery. Appliques are flat pieces in shapes such as flowers, hearts or stars that are sewn onto a finished piece. In embroidery, on the other hand, images are stitched directly onto the shawl. Embroidery offers more freedom of design than applique, as it is easier to add precise detail. The two techniques also work well together, using embroidery to embellish appliques with additional details.

References

• Knitting for Charity: Knitting in Multiple Colors
• Craft Yarn Council of America: Standard Yarn Weight System
• Lion Brand Yarn: Knitting With Two Strands Together