Yarns to Love
What’s Your Waffle Going to Look Like?
Dear everybody in search of February fun,
We are gearing up for our big knitalong, Bang Out a Sweater. (It begins January 30.) (Good times ahead.) (Please join.) (Details here.)
One of the most tantalizing decisions is choosing the colors for Amy Christoffers’s Waffle Pullover. (Described as a hug in sweater form.) (Pattern info here.)
This slip-stitch texture can be worked in one color or two. For me, the two-color version is beckoning. With both arms flapping. Me! Pick me! I’m easier to knit than the one-color version. I’m more fun!
To be clear, you work this stitch pattern using only one color per row—the colorwork effect happens because you’re slipping stitches. Very magical and cool.
In the interest of putting a visual on the possibilities, the divine Francie Owens worked up swatches for us, using pairings of our Jane yarn.
I was frankly semi-astounded when they arrived. It matters so much, which color is used for Color A and which is Color B.
The main Color A is what will dominate. Color B is what makes the dots, the blips, the little accents.
Watch what happens when you reverse the two colors.
Shadow and Persimmon:
Sage and Pathos/Pothos (you might call this dark green, but not us):
Peony and Caladium:
Pampas and Citronelle:
Juniper and Marigold:
Heather and Scarlet:
Cameo and Aubergine:
I like the look of a light Color A plus a dark Color B. The dots are excellently dotty. But a subtle tonal effect is really good, too. Ack! This is the sort of decision I can chew on for a while. At least January 30 is coming and I have a deadline.
Now, we have 22 colors of Jane, and these swatches use only 14 of the colors. You see where this can go, right?
Curious to hear what colors and yarns you all are considering.
Love,
Ann
I’d try Citronelle and Marigold. Alas, the lovely Jane is out of my budget, and I don’t have SQ of anything appropriate for this sweater.
Spent a lot of time this past week having fun and finally decided on Sage and Celeste!
Looking forward to the class!!
I started swatching yesterday … citronelle (A) and shadow (B), which will surprise no one! it’s already so much fun.
I’m looking forward to your sweater, Jen!
Is citronelle more of a green or a yellow shade? I love greens but not yellows.
I’m also thinking about Yorkshire (A) and Caladium (B). Love that new pink!!
Hi Ruth,
Citronelle is definitely a yellowish green, kind of a deep chartreuse. Almost an olive green, but a bit lighter. I’m swatching Citronelle with Earth and having the hardest time deciding which is A and which is B!
Lilac and aubergine for me ! I was thinking lilac for A but maybe I’ll rethink
Hmmmm…..looking forward to this class !
Definitely Lilac (A) and Aubergine (B) for me!
I read the phrase “The dots are excellently dotty!” And just KNEW Ann had written this column, although I scrolled back up to double check Looking forward to banging out a sweater next month! Which reminds my I have an Old Friend sweater all done and just waiting for side seaming…
Instant sweater! Those seams go fast!
Beautifully and ingeniously presented visually. I like the brighter color to be dominant, too.
At Nashfest I purchased enough Jane to make a Pressed Flowers sweater. Since the Waffle is so similar I may bang out the PF. Or I may just use the Jane for the Waffle instead. I love Jane.
Does the back side of the cloth look like swapping A and B? If so, if you were careful, you could have a reversible sweater. That would take one decision away at least. Or swap A and B for the sleeves….
I made a very similar pattern for my F-I-L about 15 or 20 years ago & yes, if handled carefully, you absolutely CAN make this a reversible sweater. Your seaming will need to extra… chef’s kiss… as they’ll be visible when worn “opposite”. Fortunately, that (showing seams outside rather than hiding on inside) is a current trend!
The Waffle is seamless!
I chose the heather and scarlet — a sweater that will look festive during the holidays and bright in cheery on regular days. I love the swatches and seeing the difference that A & B make. I’d love to see some blue swatches!!!
I do wish Jane would set up her website so that the viewer could look at 2 colors side-by-side! Having to look at them in sequence challenges my very weak color-choosing ability! I may have to go stash diving instead, so I can get an idea of what 2 colors look like together.
I also have trouble choosing colors! Depending on your browser, you may be able to open two windows at half-size and put different skeins in different windows, then snug them up side-by-side.
Wonderful!
I finally decided on cameo and frost, and got an extra skein so I can see which of the two versions I prefer and still have enough yarn!
This sounds like you now have to be a member of the Society to be able to participate, is that the case? I don’t see anywhere for those of us not a member to participate. That’s fine, it’s a choice I’ve made, just want to be sure.
You definitely don’t have to be a member of the Society to participate in Bang Out. We’ll be posting here regularly, sharing on social media, etc. The more the merrier!
Here is the link to all the info & how to join:
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/shop/bang-out-a-sweater-virtual-workshop-with-lorilee-beltman/
Not so, Denise! Anyone can join the Bang Out a Sweater gang! Society membership merely means a person chose to support MDK’s work with $ and then receives a discount on MDK purchases. So, please, bring your needles and yarn, and join the banging!
Shadow and Heather here.
Cathryn, I have a Waffle In Process using Heather and Shadow. Really happy with this color choice! You’ll love it.
Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you are happy with our choice.
Very helpful to see the two color swatches. Thanks for this post!
For those who are moderately computer savvy, you can take screen shots of the individual yarn colors and then drop them onto an Excel spreadsheet. You can move them around easily on the spreadsheet to visualize different color combinations. Still hard to choose though!
thanks so much for this suggestion, KJ! I followed your suggestion but made it even simpler—-simply dropped the 2 colors into an email to myself—-very helpful;!
Heather and Juniper…. Juniper will be my “dotty things”.
Love stitch and colors but not the raglan sleeves. Has anyone adapted this pattern for drop sleeve?
The Pressed Flowers Cardigan is a mosaic sweater with dropped shoulder sleeves by the same designer, similar gauge.Maybe that could be a guide?
I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed in Clay (A) and Seasalter (B).
Love!
Seasalter is my very favorite shade of Felted Tweed, I am looking forward to seeing this combo!
Alas, I’ve already got two sweaters in their early stages OTN, so this one will have to wait. Knit on!
Like Kay, I love blue. Mines going to be Bluebell (MC) and Vista. I am so excited to knit this sweater!
Bluebell and Yorkshire here. Crossing fingers my yarn arrives before I leave next week to travel for the month! I’m thinking bluebell for color A should probably swatch first.
Heather and Scarlet! Shadow and Persimmon! Yes, I go for the bright backgrounds with dark blips. 😉
I’ve also had yarn for a Pressed Flowers sweater for a while but I like the Waffle pullover more. It’s an olive green paired with a pink tonal Spincycle DITW. I definitely need to start swatching but I’m in for my first Bang out.
I’m doing Peony and Shadow. There was a one skein difference for which you use as a and b so, using Society discounts, I rationalized just getting six of each and swatching to see which I would use as the main and which as the contrast. As I said to my husband, it takes up a little more space in my stash closet, but it’s not as dangerous as fentanyl.
I tell my husband all the time “at least it’s not vodka.”
You just gave me a great morning giggle!! Thank you for moment of JOY!!
What is the color combo for the sample sweater up top? And which is A and B to get the dots the darker color? Being “color combo challenged” I really appreciate the samples!! I believe one of the colors is sold out. Will there be more in time for the class?
Sorry for the slow reply! That’s Yorkshire plus Bluebell, and all Yorkshire for the one-color. Reason. We do have more Yorkshire in stock, but we’re running low (sorry about that!) so if you’re interested, might want to hop on it soon.
Thank you! That is my question too.
Question – I have a lot of yarn and want to make this from stash. I have some lichen and lace worsted 4-ply I bought from MDK (115 gr/200 yds) and some Valley Yarns Granville which is 50 gr/167 yds. They look great together but do you think it will work. I’ve half assed swatched it but I’m just not sure. Speed swatching is hard.
I think a swatch is the best way to know. Worsted is heavier than the dk weight of Jane. But it’s worth a try. Getting gauge is the game, and you may need to play with the needle size as you try out these yarns. Good luck! Fingers crossed.
I agree with a few others. I would have liked to see a few more blue swatches. But I took the plunge – Yorkshire and Bluebell.
I am tall with a long torso. I hope there will be information about where to add length. Sometimes it isn’t just about making something longer at the end of the body or the sleeves.
Looking forward to it!
I have already made this sweater, and I do no think it will be too hard to lengthen.
Question about the swatching…I’m having a hard time getting gauge at 21 st for 4 inches. I’m getting 22 with 7 or an 8. I’m swatching flat since I have done the pressed flowers cowl. Will it tighten up when I work it in the round? Won’t that be worse? I’m using yarn I have here that I want to use. Any suggestions from the “experts”? Thanks.
Not an actual expert, but have been to several of Patty Lyons’ classes have her book et cetera and read all of the helpful articles by all the true experts here and… i think you need to swatch in the round if you’re going to knit a sweater in the round. Definitely has made a difference on my projects. Patty has a great way of doing it without actually doing it in the round. Also changing the material of the needle you’re using (wood can be really different than not wood, slick needles different than sticky).
Good luck!
Thanks! I have the book and watched the video. When I went up a needle size, I used wooden interchangeables instead of metal. I’ll keep trying to figure it out.
One could do the two-color version with light color A for the sleeves and dark color A for the body … or vice versa! I adore the Cameo and Aubergine combo!!
Do it! I’ve been curious about how this would look!