This chapter is part of our Mosaic Knitting Video Class. Click here to learn more.
Choosing Yarn for Two-Color Projects
To make sure your pillow comes out looking amazing, you need to pick two yarns that will work well for the pattern and will also coordinate with each other and your decor. The thumbnails below link to my recommendations for bulky self-striping yarn.
The Easy Part: Choose Yarns of Equal Weight
Choose two yarns of the same thickness or “weight.” This pattern calls for bulky-weight yarn.
Choose Similar Fibers and Textures
Your project will look its best if you choose yarns that are similar to each other in fiber and texture (texture being the way the yarn is twisted, or plied). For instance, the yarns used in the pillows above make sense together because they are both slightly-fuzzy, mostly-wool yarns that are not very tightly twisted.
You can tell by looking at them that the textures look similar. The yarn labels confirm that both yarns are mostly wool.
Two super-soft and smooth merino wool yarns that are tightly plied, like Malabrigo Chunky (the yarn I’ve used in the videos), would also work great as well.
The Fun Challenge: Choosing Colors
When you pick out colors, make one of them a self-striping yarn to increase the impression that this is a complicated project involving many colors.
For your contrasting color, pick a solid-colored yarn that coordinates with but isn’t exactly the same as any of the colors in the self-striping yarn.
You can make this pillow in subdued colors for an elegant or earthy look, or in loud neons or rainbow colors for a teenager’s room or a college student’s dorm room. School colors, anyone?
