Have you ever looked at a marled yarn and thought it was pretty, but had no idea what to do with it? Since we introduced the three marl shades of Dovestone Natural Aran earlier this year, quite a few customers have been asking us how to make the most of it. So our Alison has shared her top tips with us, with examples taken from her latest collection, Learn to Knit at Home:
Because of the way marls are made - twisting different coloured plies together they give a tweedy, speckled look when knitted up - the key to using them successfully is to keep the stitch pattern simple.
Garter stitch, stocking stitch and rib are perfect for marls as the stitch pattern isn't trying to compete for attention with the marled fabric. Complicated lace or cable patterns will lose definition or may be difficult to see at all, especially in high-contrast marls.
| Marls work very well in stripes, especially with similar solid colours for a gradient effect – take a look at the Walter cushion and blanket (left) from Learn to Knit at Home, using shades 1, 5 and 7 of Dovestone Natural Aran. You'll need 2 skeins of each shade for the cushion and 3 skeins of each shade for the blanket. Ribbed socks look great in marled yarns (think of the classic cream and brown socks used to make sock monkeys!). The Nora socks in Learn to Knit At Home (pictured at the top) are knitted flat, perfect for new knitters or a quick project. The sample is in shade 6 of Dovestone Natural Aran but would look great in any of the shades - you'll need use two skeins. |
| Marled yarns are also great for animals and cuddly toys, giving a great furry or feathery effect. Using two different marled shades of Dovestone Natural Aran, the Marley the Owl cushion fromLearn to Knit At Home (click the link for pictures) is an easy-to-knit project using two skeins of shade 8 and one of shade 6. This cute teddy bear was knitted by Verity in a DK weight marled yarn. He's a free pattern and makes a lovely gift for a little one - a new arrival or to mark a milestone, such as the first day at school. Click here to download the pattern. |
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A hand-made gift has so much meaning for a child taking a big step, whether it's a first day at school or going off to university for the first time. Brilliant designer Thea Colman has been in touch to let us know she's created the gorgeous Boston Flip hat (above) for her daughter and best friend as they head out into the world. We absolutely love it - it's made in Dovestone Natural Chunky and needs one skein of each of your two chosen shades to complete it. |
Of course, if your not-so-young one is heading off to uni, there's no reason why they can't take their own needles or hooks and yarn with them, and learn a new hobby while they're away. Get someone off to the best start with their knitting with a copy of Learn to Knit at Home, which goes right back to basics and guides them through simple techniques to create beautiful results. Throw in some Dovestone Natural Aranand Dovestone Natural Chunky to keep them busy all term. Alternatively, buy a Learn to Knit Kit, which has everything they need to get started: pattern, simple instructions, yarn, needles and even a pom pom to top it off! |