A chunky, marled acrylic yarn holds up well to hand washing and the machine alike. Its texture plays beautifully in colorwork and cables. This post covers how washing and blocking change the yarn’s texture. It also covers a few project types worth knitting with it, a hat pattern built around a spiral-textured stitch, two ribbing variations for a stretchier brim, and how to make a pompom topper.
Introducing Russet, a calming colorway of Major yarn.
Wash and block the yarn
A soaked swatch, blocked flat for two days, relaxed noticeably. It curled far less than fresh off the needles. The stitches settled into a more even fabric too. Machine washing tells a different story. Straight out of the washer on a warm wash and rinse cycle, the fabric felt squeaky and stiff. A trip through a hot dryer restored the softness though. It also released a light halo of fuzz around every stitch. That fuzz happens because the yarn is spun loosely. Wool has naturally grippy fiber scales that hold everything in place, but this yarn doesn’t. A few strands work themselves loose with every wash and wear as a result. A tightly twisted yarn blooms far less by comparison. Skip the dryer and lay a washed piece flat instead to avoid that fuzzy halo. It also cuts down on static.
The colors of Major transition gradually from one to another and the marl twist creates a tweedy, luxurious look.
Choose a project
A few free patterns make good use of this yarn’s wide color range and generous yardage.
The Collar Cowl works up in an evening. It teaches the basics of decreasing, using just one skein for two gifts.
An entrelac throw, Woven Sky Throw builds an illusion of woven strips through clever construction alone. It lets the yarn’s shifting colors play off each other.
Hidden Treasure Poncho knits up from just three or four balls with an elegant, on-trend drape.
A cabled pullover, Blue Heartstrings proves surprisingly beginner-friendly too, since the cables are the only complex element in an otherwise simple construction.
The Collar Cowl is perfect for the beginner knitter who knows how to knit and purl, and wants to learn the basics of decreases
Learn to simulate woven ribbons with the entrelac technique!
These subdued blues and grays will relax anyone who needs a break and a little warmth. Just add a cup of tea and a good book!
The cool teals, greens, and grays make this poncho as lovely as a warm and lush oasis to chase away the winter blahs. If these hues aren’t in your “crayon box,” use your favorites!
The short tunic length, with the criss-cross cables and ribbing alongside gives the Blue Heartstrings Pullover a svelte silhouette.
Knit a spiral-textured beanie
A hand-knit beanie pattern gets an unexpected twist from a simple stitch. Slip one purlwise, yarn over, knit one, then pass the slipped stitch over the first two loops on the needle. Repeat this every other round in a staggered pattern. Each repeat shifts the stitch column sideways by one. That creates a spiral texture without losing any stitches. Leaving out the yarn-over turns it into a spiral decrease instead. Work the capped stitches from the ribbed brim up, spiralling gently around the sides of the hat. Switch to the decreasing version once it’s time to shape the crown. A 16″ [40.6cm] circular needle in a US 10 [6mm] knits the whole hat in the round. A set of double-pointed needles in the same size works too. Gauge runs about 14 to 17 stitches to 4″ [10cm].
This colorway for this hat is called Russet. I really like the way these warm earth tones blend from light to dark and back again.
Try a twisted rib
Two ribbing options give a beanie’s brim a bit more grip and definition than a plain rib. Knitting every knit stitch through the back loop tightens the column. It adds a crisp, defined line too. A wider rib worked as purl one, knit three, works well too. Twist the center knit stitch on odd rounds and slip it on even rounds. This mounds up slightly for a snug hold around the head. Either version keeps a stretchy cast-on edge, which matters for comfort. A too-tight edge leaves pressure marks otherwise. Finish off the beanie with a pompom.
