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January 16, 2006

Watercolor Legwarmers

Klegstart

All along I thought I'd use a stitch pattern and a single color, but when I sat down and thought about them I kept coming back to colorwork.

I wanted something subtle, so at first I thought I'd just alternate between 2 colors to get a really muted, shaded effect. I started drawing out little stitch patterns and eventually I got to an actual pattern.

Now, I know you can't clearly see what pattern is there. Occasionally the 2 colors of yarn that are next to each other almost match. But I like the overall effect -- it's blended, but you can definitely tell something is going on there.

I've used a total of 4 colors -- the MC, plus 3 others in the stranded area. The stranded area can use little scraps -- making this the perfect project for using up scraps from leftover socks.

My stranded knitting technique is probably my weakest and this project is giving me some great practice. Gauge isn't terribly important as long as I can slip them over my ankle and let them slouch a bit on my leg. Blocking will be my best friend for this project!

I've found my stranding is pretty even in the middle of the row. My problem is deciding how loosely to strand when it's between the 2 needles. I still need some practice before I know just how much to leave. I was thinking about cutting a piece of cardboard and inserting it so the yarn would be forced to follow the shape of the cylinder. I'm open to other suggestions though. Maybe it's just something I need to work on for a while longer?

The stitch pattern is really versatile. I can easily see making these up as armwarmers as well, and with less stitches they could definitely be made in a heavier wool. I'm already thinking about other lone balls of yarn I have in the stash to pair up for a totally different look.

All this inspiration from "too much" sock yarn!

January 16, 2006 in accessories | Permalink

Comments

Gorgeous!!! The pattern kinda looks like abstract pansies LOL. I like it. I've not tried my hand at colorwork so far as I don't have any kind of yarn in more than 1 color :)

One day... when I'm not on a yarn diet...

Cheers Eva

Posted by: Eva (EvaLux) | Jan 16, 2006 9:14:21 AM

You can see the pattern, but I like that it's almost more suggested because of the colour blending. It's gorgeous no matter how you look at it!

Posted by: caro | Jan 16, 2006 9:29:36 AM

I love 'em!

Posted by: jes | Jan 16, 2006 9:35:46 AM

Oh wow, those are looking great! I love the subtle contrast in some parts, and more visible contrast in others.

Posted by: grumperina | Jan 16, 2006 9:41:45 AM

I love the look!

Posted by: Kate | Jan 16, 2006 9:43:29 AM

Gorgeous - I like the subtlety of the color pattern!

Posted by: Chris | Jan 16, 2006 10:01:05 AM

Breathtaking. Subtle and colorful.

Posted by: anmiryam | Jan 16, 2006 10:02:54 AM

Wow, that's beautiful!

Posted by: Angela | Jan 16, 2006 11:08:02 AM

Watercolor is the perfect name for this... the colors blend beautifully.

Posted by: Karma | Jan 16, 2006 11:36:13 AM

This looks awesome! I like how the edge of the colorwork blends into the rest of the legwarmer, rather than being a sharp line. Have you decided if you will be making the ankle fitted (to keep the warmth in) or flared (to fit over shoes or boots)?

Posted by: Beccamonstr | Jan 16, 2006 12:57:35 PM

I really like the multiple varriagated effect! I've thought about doing something using a variagated and a solid in FI, but not multiple variagated. I hope you like them as much as I do!

Posted by: Johanna | Jan 16, 2006 2:40:10 PM

Beautiful! (and I really like those Rainy Days too!)

Posted by: Mary Beth | Jan 16, 2006 3:10:17 PM

That is really nice, kind of like a Monet painting.

Posted by: Linda | Jan 16, 2006 4:10:28 PM

Wow, I love that! It looks very Impressionist to me.

Posted by: Cookie | Jan 16, 2006 4:11:26 PM

Very beautiful.

Posted by: Brooke | Jan 16, 2006 5:58:04 PM

Very pretty and artsy.

Stranding knitting technique? Thanks for the homework.

Posted by: isel | Jan 16, 2006 6:37:56 PM

Prooves that there cannot be too much of a good thing!

Posted by: Pioggia | Jan 16, 2006 9:15:22 PM

What a great idea! It's a beautiful effect.

Posted by: Emily | Jan 16, 2006 10:44:18 PM

Great work Jodie. So effective.

Posted by: Estee | Jan 17, 2006 8:19:30 AM

Those are gorgeous. I love the water color blurred look.

For stranding across needles I recommend weaving instead of stranding. Try the Philosophers Wool method of weaving if you haven't tried it before. They have a brief video of it on their web site.

Posted by: Jayme | Jan 17, 2006 10:17:16 AM

As soon as I clicked on your site's bookmark - the pic's colors just popped out at me. You chose some gorgeous colors there!

Posted by: Terry | Jan 17, 2006 12:37:39 PM

Beautiful! I love how the colors blend into each other. I agree with the previous commenter who said it was like a Monet painting. That's exactly what it made me think of! :)

Posted by: Shana | Jan 17, 2006 1:54:13 PM

The colors are beautiful! Really lovely work. Stranding - way beyond me at the moment. Hope that will change one day.

Posted by: Dharma | Jan 17, 2006 8:44:48 PM

Truly lovely Jody! Well done!

Posted by: Debi | Jan 18, 2006 7:09:21 AM

OOo I love them! Can't wait to see what they look like on....those would look great slouched over a pair of boots...or anything.

Posted by: Julia | Jan 18, 2006 6:24:39 PM

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