So, the question is how do you avoid pooling?

I have two examples for you… and as you can see, in each item, while there is still some “color puddling” it is not drastically obvious, nor does it distract from the design of the object.

First off, we will begin with some lovely yarn I purchased from Yarn Hollow last year at the Michigan Fiber Festival. I purchased this mass of yarn with the intention of knitting another Hey Teach, and shortly after I returned home, I cast on. Within a few rows, my love or the yarn was waning, as it was just not working at all in the pattern with my gauge. I was having large areas of pooling.

Large areas.

I felt it was unattractive and it distracted from the elegance and simplicity of the design.

I frogged it and put the yarn away.

Enter Shawl That Jazz, and after knitting a gauge swatch, I was once again in love with the yarn. As you can see, while there are small areas of pooling, it does not mar the fabric nor distract from the design.

Shawl That Jazz knit with yarn from Yarn Hollow, Mojito color way.

So, learning curve here people, stockinette with its clearer stitch definition shows more clearly the uniformity of your stitches. Whereas, garter stitch, is much more forgiving of pools of color. I am enjoying this knit a tremendous amount and will love throwing this on all fall and winter!

Up next, some yarn of my own dyeing!

I took a dyeing class some time ago at Threadbear Fiber Arts from the incomparable Rob – and came home with some lovely twist yarn… dyed with colors I love; orange, purple, and green.

My plan for this yarn was to knit some nice hefty socks to warm my feet.

Enter the dreaded Pooling Genie.

When the swatch created a fabric would stand up to sock wear, I had horrendous pooling.

In short, I hated it. Once again, I frogged the swatch and put the yarn to simmer in my knitting stash and forgot about it.

Then I saw Mara on a friend’s blog and the wheels started turning in my head. I pulled the yarn out and began swatching. I found that if I knit on the size needle called for in the pattern, the pooling was still awful, despite the garter stitch, so I went down a needle size. It still was not perfect. I went down another needle size and, lo and behold, the moment each knitter hopes and dreams for, the perfection of harmony between yarn, pattern, and gauge.

As you can see, I have a nice start to Mara and, once again, while there is some color puddling, it works with the fabric and design. (And, sorry for the poor photo’s today – the monsoon season has arrived, and natural light is at a premium right now!)

I hope this has enlightened you a bit, and perhaps made you a believer in the Power of the Swatch!

The AsKatKnits Studios Etsy Shop is now open for business!

I blogged all about it here but wanted to post something here as well!

Please stop by and check it out!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

I have 3 skeins for sale at $44 per skein, shipping in the Continental US included.

Each skein is a composition of 70% alpaca/30% silk and contains 875 yds/100g. The silk really makes the yarn shine nicely.

If you click on each photo, you will find another view of that yarn.

On a Misty Morning – Limited Edition

• Available: 1
• Colors: Muted shades of grey, brown, teal, and burgundy.
• Cost: $44.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Nutmeg – Limited Edition

• Available: 1
• Colors: Rich tones of browns, greys, and aubergines.
• Cost: $44.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

After Midnight – Limited Edition

• Available: 1
• Colors: Deep shades of browns, teals, and foresty greens.
• Cost: $44.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Look for more of this to come, as I really enjoyed the over-dyeing process. The colors are richer and have much greater depth.

If you click on each photo, you will find another view of that yarn.

If you want to purchase anything, please email me at akkstudios (at) gmail (dot) com. You all know the drill, replace the (words) with the symbols @ and .

Thank you so much for stopping by and looking!

Golden Greens.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

The Autumn Leaves.

• Available:  1
• Cost: $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Rumplestiltskin.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.oo includes shipping in the Continental US.

Orange You Glad?

• Available:  1
• Cost: $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Mardi Gras.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Peaches and Cream.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Forest Floor.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

Sage and Sandalwood.

• Available:  1
• Cost:  $37.00 includes shipping in the Continental US.

If you click on each photo, you will find another view of that yarn.

If you want to purchase anything, please email me at akkstudios (at) gmail (dot) com. You all know the drill, replace the (words) with the symbols @ and .

Thank you so much for stopping by and looking!

Color Me Green, Dark.

• Available: 2
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

Color Me Green, Medium.

• Available: 1
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

Color Me Green, Light.

• Available: 1
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

Burning Embers.

• Available: 2
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

Seville Orange.

• Available: 1
  
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.
  

Melon Berries.

• Available: 1
  
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.
  

I’d Teal For You.

• Available: 1
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

I’ve Got the Blues.

• Available: 1
  
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

The Green’s Have It.

• Available: 1
  
• Cost: $20.00 including shipping in the Continental US.

On this blog I will post various items that I have for sale. I am working hard to create posts full of my current inventory.

Please stop back soon to see my wide selection of hand dyed yarn, and other knitting related items.

I will also use this blog to post tips and other interesting things related to this great hobby of mine.

Once again, thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your interest in my products!