Non-allergenic shawls and socks with Allegro and Naked Sock yarn

This week, we’re looking at 2 non-wool Wisdom yarns by Universal Yarn. Yesterday, I described the fiber content (what is PBT anyway?) and other attributes which make these excellent non-allergenic yarn options to wool and wool blend sock yarns.

Garter stitch evenly distributes the colors of this Allegro colorway called Grape Sonata

Sock knitters often complain about color pooling in variegated and dip-dyed yarns. Color pooling is the unintentional appearance of areas with one color concentration. It may look blotchy or spotty, and not everyone likes it. Some people try many tricks like knitting socks with 2 balls of yarn at the same time, changing the yarn every round or so to interrupt the pooling. Other people use textured patterns to “disrupt” the patchiness.

Allegro in Grape Sonata creates a melody of stripes and speckles

The Allegro yarn we’re looking at this week has been dyed to be a self-striping yarn, but there are not only stripes. There are variegated segments that break up the stripes with a more mottled look. There’s a free basic sock pattern which is ideal for the yarn and highlights its colorways and dye patterns.

A basic Sock knit with the Bright Spot colorway of Naked Sock

The Naked Sock yarn from this week’s focus doesn’t have clearly defined stripes. Four of the yarns are variegated with 4 or 5 different yet coordinating colors. The other 4 yarns are ombre colorways, with differing shades or intensities of the same hue. Looking at the picture below, you can see how evenly the color speckles are distributed. What I find intriguing is how, on the foot section, the dark gray seems to be the predominant stripe color, where as in the leg and cuff, the light grey is what stands out. How cool is that?

The basic sock pattern for Naked sock is available here.

“I heart you” shawl is a free pattern on the Universal Yarns website

There is also a free pattern for a shawl called “I heart you”.

This lovely shawl has a pattern repeat of only 6 stitches and 8 rows, which will be easy to memorize. The border is added on later by knitting it together with stitches held in waiting on a provisional cast-on edge. Some people may be leary of knitting lace with acrylic because in general, acrylic isn’t blockable. With the PBT content, that makes the yarn springy, even I’d be worried that the lace wouldn’t block well. But, the pattern instructions say to pin and steam the yarn firmly. While you won’t want to touch your iron to the actual shawl, lots of shots of steam will make the acrylic learn a new “memory” will make it so that you don’t have to reblock the shawl aggressively after subsequent washings in cold water.

These yarns can be used for more than just socks and shawls. Tomorrow we’ll explore another application for Allegro and Naked Sock.

This is part 2 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 1:  Knitting with Wisdom Yarns Naked Sock and Allegro, the non-allergenic yarns

Go to part 3: How to knit on an I-cord edging

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13 comments

Darci Paice December 25, 2016 - 5:13 pm
I think this is so beautiful and would love to try the shawl pattern thank you!
Jordan December 25, 2016 - 9:07 am
I have several vegan family members, looking forward to learning more about the yarn!
Theresa C. December 24, 2016 - 12:50 am
Love the "I Heart You" shawl pattern - thank you so much!
milly December 22, 2016 - 8:33 pm
I have been having eczema issues and am interested in learning more!
Sara Muzzatti December 22, 2016 - 8:16 pm
Just started knitting this year and my new years resolution is to master the sock :)
Tiffany S December 22, 2016 - 12:42 pm
I just started getting into knitting and I really want to try making this stuff. The shawl looks really nice, but very hard. One day I will have to give it a try though.
Cindy Peterson December 22, 2016 - 10:17 am
Thank you for the free shawl pattern. I can see making this for a local retirement center giving tree.
Charles Voth December 22, 2016 - 11:37 am
It's a great 1 skein project!
Cindy Peterson December 22, 2016 - 10:15 am
This shawl would be great for my Nana. Thank you for the free pattern
eric December 22, 2016 - 9:26 am
I love the colour of the shawl.
theresa j December 21, 2016 - 5:30 pm
I need to feel this yarn
Charles Voth December 22, 2016 - 8:08 am
It has a lovely feel. If you can't find it in a yarn store (not a craft store) near you, let me know.
Pat December 20, 2016 - 12:22 pm
I want to try this yarn. Sounds perfect to knit with for my allergenic family members.
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