Walk into any yarn shop this fall and you will see an assortment of beautiful degrade (also called gradient) yarns. Degrade yarns are somewhat similar to self striping yarns, except the color repeats are much longer, and most often the color transitions slowly from one hue to the next. Whereas self striping yarns tend to create rows of uniform stripes or patterns, degrade yarns are a more subtle graduation of color.
A perfect example of this is King Cole Carousel—big, chunky cakes in fun marled and solid gradient effects. There are eight lively named colors to choose from, like Helter Skelter and Spinball.
These 200g balls pack a whopping 316 meters each! Plenty for a baby sweater, scarf, shawlette—the possibilities are endless. And since we’re speaking of scarves, check out the free pattern for a knit or crochet scarf in Carousel, available at your LYS.
Another degrade that is sure to be a hit this season is from the Comfort Wolle collection. Gala Degrade is a wonderfully soft, continuous degrade comprised of 80% wool and 20% nylon. An economical choice with exceptional yardage, this yarn is perfect for one skein projects!
What better way to show off the beautifully subtle gradation of these colors than with a simple poncho pattern? With shades like this, less is more when it comes to choosing a pattern: let your yarn do the talking.
From Cascade Yarns we have some great new shades in Melilla. With 14 colors available, Melilla contains a generous helping of silk and has long transitions through eight colors per colorway. Use it to add interest to simple designs or to accentuate modular or geometric design components.
Canadian designer Shannon Charles has designed the perfect pattern for Melilla, or any of your favorite degrade yarns. Changing Lanes Wrap is knit sideways, using increases and decreases to make up its angular shape. This versatile wrap can be worn many ways, as a shawl over your shoulders on cool fall nights or as a big, comfy wrap around your neck as the weather gets colder.
You can download Shannon’s pattern for free on Ravelry, simply by clicking here. While you’re there, why not have a look at our other free patterns and tell us what you think.
We love your feedback so please leave a comment below about your favorite degrade yarn from Estelle.
Happy knitting and crocheting everyone!