Alternating Skeins While Using Hand Dyed Yarns - When and How
Should I Alternate My Skeins When Using Hand-Dyed Yarns?
If you’ve ever treated yourself to beautiful hand-dyed yarns, whether semi-solids or bold variegated colourways, you may have wondered: Do I really need to alternate my skeins?
Short answer: yes, most of the time, and here’s why.
Hand-dyed yarns are part of what makes knitting so special. Each skein is dyed in small batches, often by hand, which means natural variation is part of their charm. Understanding how to work with that variation will help you get the best possible finish in your knitting.
Why Do Hand-Dyed Skeins Look Different?
Even skeins dyed in the same colourway can vary slightly. This is completely normal and happens because:
- Dyes absorb differently each time
- Water temperature and timing change subtly
- Yarn placement in the dye bath affects the colour uptake
With semi-solid yarns, these differences can be subtle but still noticeable. With variegated yarns, the colour placement can vary a lot from skein to skein.
If you knit straight through one skein and then switch to the next, you may see a visible “line” or colour shift in your fabric—especially in garments like jumpers or cardigans.
What Does Alternating Skeins Mean?
Alternating skeins simply means switching between two balls of yarn every row (or every couple of rows). This blends the colours gradually and prevents obvious colour blocks or striping.
This is especially important for:
- Jumpers and cardigans
- Large shawls
- Blankets
- Any project where colour consistency matters
Small items like socks, mittens, or hats often don’t need alternating, but it can still help depending on the yarn.
How to Alternate Skeins (Easy Method)
- Start knitting with Skein A
- On the next row (or round), knit with Skein B
- Keep switching back and forth from row to row
When knitting in the round, its usually best to use the Helical method.
The helical knitting method creates seamless, jog less stripeswhen knitting in the round by having each colour "chase" the previous colour in a spiral, rather than making a sharp colour change. Instead of knitting a full round in one colour, you drop the yarn a few stitches before the start of the round (often 3 stitches before the previous colour change), slip those stitches, pick up the next colour, and continue, creating a gradual, blend, spiral effect without floats on the back. This technique works best with stocinette stitch and is ideal for using up small amounts of yarns or blending hand dyed colours smoothly
Tip: if you want to altenate rows when using only one skein, then just make 2 50g balls when you wind them.
Should I Alternate Variegated Yarns?
Yes - but with intention.
Variegated yarns behave very differently from semi-solids, and alternating skeins can help avoid unwanted pooling or sudden colour changes. However, alternating can also break up colour patterns that you might actually like.
Before committing, it’s a good idea to:
- Knit a small swatch
- Try alternating for a few rows
- Try knitting without alternating
- Compare the results
How to Knit Successfully with Variegated Hand-Dyed Yarns
Variegated yarns shine when they’re paired with the right stitch patterns and project types.
1. Choose Simple Stitch Patterns
Busy textures can fight with bold colour changes. Stockinette stitch, garter stitch, and simple ribbing usually work best.
2. Let the Yarn Be the Star
Avoid complicated cables or lace unless the colour changes are subtle. Variegated yarn already brings plenty of visual interest.
3. Understand Colour Pooling
Pooling happens when colours line up repeatedly, forming patches or stripes. This isn’t a flaw - some knitters love it! If you don’t, alternating skeins or changing needle size can help disrupt the pattern.
4. Consider Project Size
Variegated yarns often look fantastic in:
- Shawls
- Cowls
- Socks
- Scarves
For large garments, alternating skeins is usually a good idea to keep colour transitions smooth.
When You Can Skip Alternating Skeins
You might not need to alternate if:
- Your project only uses one skein
- The colour differences are extremely subtle
- You’re knitting small items
- You like the visible colour shift (totally valid!)
Knitting is personal and there’s no single “right” way.
Final Thoughts
Alternating skeins when using hand-dyed yarns—especially semi-solids—is one of the easiest ways to achieve a professional, cohesive finish. With variegated yarns, it’s a tool you can use creatively to control pooling and colour transitions.
The most important step? Swatch, observe, and trust your eye. Hand-dyed yarns are meant to be enjoyed, quirks and all.
Happy knitting 🧶
