This week’s KnitBits patterns were inspired by the Icelandic tradition of the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous tricksters who wreak havoc around the holidays.
While knitting the first of two Kertasnikir Boot Toppers, I didn’t pay attention to the issue of yarn dominance. I trusted that blocking would work its usual magic and that the Geode colorwork would be more prominent. I’m always trying to improve my knitting diligence so I did some reading and decided to pay more attention on the second Boot Topper. You can TOTALLY tell, I’m completely sold on the importance of yarn dominance. ( In other words, if you knit with both hands, it matters which hand holds the CC!)
Has anyone ever learned from a knitting mishap? Can we blame the Yule Lads for all our knitting accidents?
CR
10 comments
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October 17, 2008 at 3:59 am
Jus Shar
I had never heard of yarn dominance before reading this. Very interesting. It’s very good info for when I knit with more than one color again.
October 17, 2008 at 6:13 am
Aim
Isn’t it amazing how something that “subtle” can make such a big difference?! Thanks for reminding me of that subject of yarn dominance–I’d forgotten I’d read that on Nona’s blog before! Great comparison pics, BTW.
October 17, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Sharon S
Do you find you have better results when holding the contrasting yarn in your dominant hand?
October 17, 2008 at 2:35 pm
lekkercraft
Weird and interesting. I’ve never heard about yarn dominance, either, but then again, I haven’t done much with colorwork. It is impressive what a difference it makes!
October 17, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Michaela
When I knitted some Fair Isles designed by Marianne Isager she gave a hint to yarn dominance and I made some tests. It IS evident which yarn lies under or upper the other.
When I work Fair Isle patterns I make note which yarn I hold in which hand. Otherwise I would forget it every time I knit after a pause.
Thanks for pointing out this issue.
October 18, 2008 at 1:28 am
janita
i love the yule lads and the fact that they all have their own special talent as far as miscief making!
October 18, 2008 at 1:53 am
Britnlind
I never knew there was a term for that. Thanks for sharing your mishap.
October 23, 2008 at 2:05 pm
turtle
lol, had never heard of the yule lads! but now i know who to blame!
October 29, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Mimi
I learned to knit from two ends of handpainted yarns by making a sweater from two skeins of the “same colour”. The yoke was a totally different shade!
I took a workshop with Lucy Neatby on stranded knitting and she showed us a Paradoxical Mitten in which she had accidentally switched hands halfway through. Above the switch, the complimentary colour leapt to prominence and the main colour retreated.
November 10, 2008 at 2:35 am
AudKnits
Thank you for sharing this! I forget about the dominance issue sometimes. My mind just can’t grasp why it would matter. This is a good reminder to me to pay more attention.
I like Michaela’s tip about jotting down which yarn you use in which hand.