If you’ve been following my crochet patterns, you know I have a soft spot for self striping yarn. There’s just something magical about watching the colors shift and flow without ever having to stop and change yarns yourself.
If you’re new to crochet or looking to add something fresh to your projects, let me share why self-striping yarn has become a favorite in the crochet community and why you should give it a try!
What is self striping yarn?
Self striping yarn is essentially one continuous strand that transitions through a palette of colors all on its own. The best part? You get all that gorgeous colorwork without actually having to stop and weave in a million ends.
Depending on the yarn you pick, the color changes may be gradual and ‘melty’ (like an ombre), or defined and bold, where it switches from one color to the next within a couple inches.
There is no right or wrong, better or worse; rather just your personal preference! It’s all about the vibe you want for your finished piece.
Yarn cakes
Self striping yarn is most often wound into a cute little yarn cake. This is very convenient, as this allows you to see the different colors in your cake. You can tell how many color changes occur throughout the entire cake, which colors are predominant in that specific cake, and which color you’d start with. (Peak inside the middle to see!)
It may sound silly, but those points can be very important, especially if you are looking to continue an existing project and want to pick up on a certain color.
For many yarn brands, each yarn cake is unique. For example, the Lion Brand Mandala cakes will vary depending on which one you pick up in the store.
On the other hand, Scheepjes Whirl cakes are much more standard or predictable.
Overall, having a peak at the cake you’re going to buy will help you visualize the overall color scheme and what your project will look like.
Why should I use self striping yarn?
Well friends, I could talk about this type of yarn all day long.
I mean, hop over to my instagram and you’ll see no less than 3 WIPS (work in progress) at any time, most of which are usually with self striping yarn.
What can I say, I’m in love with it! It’s the first type of yarn I ever crocheted with, so it holds a big place in my heart 🙂
6 benefits of using self striping yarn
#1. Lighten up your project bag
You won’t need to carry around 5 balls of yarn at once
Since your yarn cake contains all the colors you want to use in your project, you don’t have to worry about carrying around multiple skeins of yarn at once. So think about it – if your yarn cake has 5 colors, it’s SO much easier to work off of 1 yarn cake, rather than 5 different skeins of yarn!
Not to mention, you won’t have to deal with as much tangled yarn – yay! All you need is 1 crochet hook and 1 cake of yarn. Easy peasy.
#2. Tried and true – color combinations picked by the experts
Unless you’re a pro at color palettes and understand the psychology of which colors and shades work nicely together, self striping yarn is a wonderful way to ensure your crochet project’s colors will look beautiful!
Have you ever had a project in mind and bought one skein of yarn here, another skein of yarn there, then picked one from your stash – only to find that when you lay all the yarn together – you realize the colors just don’t go!
That can be so frustrating. So self striping yarn takes the guesswork out of finding colors that complement each other nicely.
Having these color schemes readily available really will speed up the process of picking a color theme for your project, so you can actually get stitching!
#3. Reduces stress and anxiety
Ok, this sounds like a stretch, but hear me out.
Which color should I start with?
How many rows should I complete before switching colors?
How many colors should I use?
What if it ends on a color I don’t like?
Does that sound familiar? It can be stressful trying to plan out every single detail of your project. It can be SO nice to let go, and just let the crochet project happen!
This sense of flow can make crochet even more meditative.
Just enjoy making your project, and let the color changes come as they will.
Trust that the colors you’re working with are pretty. You selected the yarn cake for a reason, after all! And the crochet design you’ve chosen to follow will not change. It will be beautiful – no matter what!
Even if the colors change in the middle of a row, and you think – oh, that’s not what I wanted…that’s ok. Crocheting something means it is 100% handmade by you, and sometimes these unexpected color changes are what actually make it awesome. 🙂
#4. Enjoy a surprise
“When is the next color change coming!?”
It’s the little things in life, isn’t it 🙂
When you’re crocheting a project in one color, it can get a little mundane. I know many people love crocheting in one single color, but others (ah-hem, guilty!) tend to get bored working with only one color for a while.
Self striping yarn keeps your project exciting and fresh, especially for longer patterns like blankets, scarves, or shawls.
Even the simplest stitches like single crochet or double crochet look fancy when the yarn is doing the (color)work for you.
#5. Try a new palette
Many crocheters have a specific palette of colors or hues they gravitate towards. For example, I tend to favor pink and purple and stay away from bold, dark colors.
Choosing a yarn cake with colors you don’t typically work with is a great way to dip your toe into a different color family. This helps you get out of your color comfort-zone. You may find you have a new favorite set of colors after all!
#6. Save Time (No Ends to Weave In!)
Normally, changing colors means cutting yarn, weaving in ends, and hoping the transition looks smooth.
With self striping yarn, you get seamless color changes with no extra work. Fewer ends to weave in means you finish your project faster – and enjoy it sooner!
What are some types of self striping yarn?
Lion Brand Mandala Sparkle
- Yarn Brand: Lion Brand
- Collection: Mandala Sparkle
- Colorway: Draco
- Link to purchase: Buy on Amazon
Lion Brand Mandala
- Yarn Brand: Lion Brand
- Collection: Mandala
- Colorway: Spirit
- Link to purchase: Buy on Amazon
Scheepjees Yarn
- Yarn Brand: Scheepjes Yarn
- Collection: Scheepjes Whirl Gradient Yarn
- Colorway: Rainbow Popsicle (Color 792)
- Link to purchase: Buy on Amazon
Loops and Threads Facets
- Yarn Brand: Loops and Threads
- Collection: Facets
- Colorway: Lollipop
- Link to purchase: Buy on Amazon
Lion Brand Mandala
- Yarn Brand: Lion Brand
- Collection: Mandala
- Colorway: Gnome
- Link to purchase: Buy on Amazon
Crochet projects for self striping yarn
Here are some crochet patterns that showcase self striping yarn:
If you’ve never tried working with self-striping yarn, I encourage you to pick up a skein and see what all the excitement is about. It’s colorful, fun, beginner-friendly, and makes every crochet project feel like a little adventure.
Happy crocheting,
Jennifer
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