If you’ve been following my patterns for a while, then you’ve probably noticed already that I have a bit of a thing for holding yarn double, and with good reason. Or, to be accurate, reasons.
Today I’d like to catalogue those reasons.
1. Blending Colours
The first example is one most people think of when they think of holding yarns double. By holding two different colours together, you can create something totally unique, like mixing paints.
Clarity uses two different colours held double, one softening and darkening the other.
2. Blending Different Dye Lots
If you have two hand dyed yarns that haven’t come out quite alike, or two yarns from different dye lots, the usual advice is to alternate skeins every few rows in order to blend them. Another option is to hold them double, which eliminates the fuss of switching.
Perforate uses two skeins of hand dyed yarn held double, evening out any differences between dye lots.
3. Blending Fibers
Is there anyone who hasn’t seen the trend of holding a strand of merino with a strand of mohair or suri alpaca? Well, in case that’s passed you by, let me tell you: it is a THING, and it is a thing of beauty.
Rosehill holds two strands of merino with one strand of mohair to create a dense but dainty looking fabric.
Kodachrome mixes both fibre and colour for transitions that you can see, and others that you can feel.
4. Adjusting Yarn Weight
Sometimes a pattern calls for heavier weight yarn, but you’ve got a stash full of fingering. No worries: if holding multiple strands together lets you get gauge and creates a fabric you like that’s appropriate for the project, you can use that fingering! And there’s no need to limit yourself to fingering, either – the yarns you hold together don’t need to be the same weight. Hold laceweight alongside chunky if that’s what moves you!
Stumped at what weight you’ll get if you hold two together? Use the Yarn Weight Calculator to give you a starting point. Then, swatch!
5. A quicker knit!
Larger yarn means fewer stitches to create the same area of fabric. Fewer stitches means a faster road to casting off and finishing that WIP. FACTS!
Nadir uses yarn held double for exactly this reason.
Well there you go! 5 excellent reasons to hold yarn double. Did I miss any?
