Koigu Blanket Dreams
It's really hard to sit with a fabulous bag of of Koigu Painters Palette Merino next to your desk and not want to do something with it. It's doubly hard when you know that you have purchased that yarn with the intention of trying out something new and fun and you have the hope that the combination of color and new technique will lead to something both creative and beautiful.
After getting my desk cleaned up on Saturday afternoon, I still had some daylight time to consider my Koigu throw. I didn't want to use up any of the new stuff that I had, so I went back through my yarn remnants and pulled out some KPPPM that I had left over from my Charlotte's Web Shawl. This turned out to be an ideal starting point, since my leftovers were colors I used next to each other in the shawl.
Initially I was thinking that I would just try to find a good needle size to get the right drapey blanket texture that I wanted to achieve. But after I made the first square, I decided that I just wanted to play with joining squares together. The 4 squares below are the result.
My general idea for the blanket is to have a strip of squares in a "solid" (if you can ever call a KPPPM colorway a "solid") followed by a strip of squares that alternated colors in some fashion, followed by a strip of squares in the second "solid" color.
In the above swatch, the squares labelled 1 and 4 are solid colors, while the squares labelled 2 and three alternate every two rows using the two solid colors. Square 2 alternates color but uses garter stitch all the way through. Square 3 alternates both color and stitch pattern, switching between garter stitch and stockinette.
I need to loosen up a little bit carrying the alternating yarns up the sides of the squares, but other than that, I consider the experiment a success. I even think the gauge is about right. Each of the dominos is 12 stitches and 2.5" on a side (4-3/4 stitches/inch), which seems to create the right amount of drape in the fabric. So I guess I'll be sticking with my 4.25 mm bamboo double points for this project (Clover DPs, for some reason, don't use the standard 4.0 mm sizing for US size 6 needles).
I was going to knit a few more squares to get a better idea of how this would look on a larger piece, when I realized that through the miracle of digital photography and PhotoShop I could make my small swatch grow into something much larger and more interesting.
No one will ever be able to confuse me with someone who really knows how to use PhotoShop, but I am pretty pleased with the overall impression I was able to create. I definitely like the striping effect that I was thinking about. Now I need to decide how I want to alternate the color. So it's time to take an opinion poll. Do you like the solid garter stitch with the alternating colors (a la square 2) or do you prefer the garter stitch alternated with the stockinette (a la square 3)? Or do you think I should head back to the drawing board and try something else? All opinions will be gratefully accepted.
I'll kick the voting off with my dear, sweet husband's pick: alternating the garter and stockinette, which he likes because of the texture it creates.
I think your husband's got the right idea, The contrast shows up much better with the stocking stitch. Are you using Horst Schulz's edge stitch. It really helps when you're changing colours. (Knit first stitch in the back, slip last stitch with yarn in front).
I think your husband's right too. The photoshop throw looks brilliant!
I'm with Hubby too! It's gonna be an amazing throw!
Patricia Werner's new knitting book Dazzling Knits (all modualr projects) has a beautiful way of alternating yarns and stitches in her modular mitered squares. She gets the best of both worlds of texture of stitches and color combinations. I tried knitting some squares her way and also plain garter and hands down her way was visually nicer. Plus, not any more time consuming.
ISBN 1-56477-522-4
Definately alternate. I like the texture better too. It will be more "drapey" too.
I agree with your husband too. I think it gives more interest to have the garter/stockinette combo and it also shows off the colour more effectively. This is going to be one beautiful throw!
I actually think the garter stitch looks better. The colors blend well together and I think the different textures look odd. You're already changing the colors and you don't need to change the textures as well.
i love the thought of a koigu throw! what a great idea. i like the look of square 2. truthfully i like it all.....
Me too, me too -- I agree with your husband.
And what a fantastic use for Koigu!
Another one that agrees with the hubby! I think the combination of color and texture changes in the squares creates a nice effect, and makes the color changes "pop" more than in the solid garter stitch squares.
I'm agreeing with your husband too ! It'll be FABULOUS !
:0)
I agree with the majority, but just to throw a new idea out there -- couldn't you do both? Garter for the solid rows and garter/stockinette for the two color rows? Or would the differences in gauge throw it off?
I made an afghan like this from a Plymouth pattern that uses all garter/stockinette diamonds -- one main color for the purl (garter) ridges throughout, with each diamond using a different contrasting color for the knit (stockinette) rows.
Oops! Substitute the word "diamonds" for the word "rows" in my first paragraph.
I'm not the biggest fan of garter stitch, so I say alternate.
Although, you could just Photoshop the whole throw and have a virtual throw. To keep you virtually warm?
Perhaps I need more tea this morning.
I second your hubby's opinion. The alternating gives a nice little pop to the blanket. I really love how the squares look. I've got some yarn I'm saving for a blanket but just have not figured out how I want it to look. I may have to follow in your experimental foot steps!
I'm actually with Rebecca - I like it the other way - I think the colors of Koigu are so beautiful they don't need added texture to show them off!
You do see more of the color with the change in texture from garter to stockinette. It's going to be really cool and pretty!
I'm really liking the way they're put together right now - the bottom half of your Photoshop masterpiece - I like the garter for the "solids", but I love the way the alternating garter/stockinette looks for the 2 color squares. It really separates the colors, making the 602 pop, but letting the 334 blend in from the back. It draws the eye across the squares better, and makes the afghan more special. (just my opinion...)
I don't mean to wimp out on picking. But I agree with Sarah. I actually think using both techniques creates a more interesting look. But if allowed only one choice I would go for the garter only and let the color be the star rather than the texture.
Basically I agree with the consensus, but thought I'd throw in a wrench: How do you like the reverse? A caveat I have with a lot of throw/shawl/scarf patterns is that they're only meant to be seen from the RIGHT side.
I'm in the minority, but I like #2. I think the contrast between the garter/st st and the 2 colors is a bit much when juxtaposed with the "solid" squares. How do the solid squares look with alternating garter and stockinette? All in all though it's a pretty fun looking dilemma to have!
Hubby knows what he's talking about. I agree with the Mister!