What do you need to keep in mind when using gradient yarn?

I now have a knot in my skein, and since I’ve already started all my other skeins, I have to search quite a bit before I can continue knitting with the right color. What should you generally keep in mind when planning? Do you have any tips?

A knot in the yarn is really annoying!
With gradient yarn, I have to trust that the color gradient won’t be disrupted—I can’t see inside the ball, after all.
When it comes to socks, I’ve become pretty lenient—they don’t all have to look exactly the same. But for a larger piece, like a shawl or a sweater, the colors have to match. In that case, I’d only start with brand-new skeins so I can be sure to maintain the color gradient.

I also crocheted a scarf using gradient yarn. With the second ball, I had to search for a long time until the color matched again.

  I’m now making wrist warmers with the rest of the yarn, but they’re allowed to look different.

If you bought it at a craft store, I’d suggest stopping by and showing them the skein and your work. I don’t think that should happen with a gradient skein—the color should change or repeat consistently. 

I actually wind my gradient skeins before I start knitting with them—that way I can plan better... I check beforehand to see if there are any knots (it’s super annoying when they’re knotted in different colors) and figure out the order in which I’ll use the skeins. 
And something that really annoyed me once: one skein had the color gradient “backwards” inside the skein. It took me a while to figure out why that one skein just wouldn’t match the others. ... In the finished shawl, I’m probably the only one who’ll notice that the gradient doesn’t “match”.... 

All the skeins started with the same color, which is why I started them all at the same time. The color gradient is quite extensive—the repeat doesn’t even fit on a single sleeve. The sleeves didn’t turn out exactly the same; the colors are offset by 3 cm (I couldn’t get any closer). It doesn’t bother me—it’s just my first sweater with gradient yarn, and my standards aren’t that high yet.

One skein started with a different color—I’d bet there was a knot in it. If that’s true, you can tell from the outside which skein has the knot.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue from the right spot—one skein only has about 1 1/2 repeats, and I’m already at the shoulder. The knot is in the absolute worst possible place. Now I have to rip out all the sections another 5 cm and continue knitting in a different color so the contrast isn’t too stark. Otherwise, I could just buy another skein, but that’s too much of a hassle for me.

The saleswoman knew I was a beginner. Maybe she slipped me that skein on purpose. And to a new customer, no less. I didn’t notice it when I bought it and hadn’t even thought about how I’d work it into the project. The next time I shop there, I’ll definitely bring it up and show her the sweater. As far as I know, though, a knot like that isn’t a manufacturing defect. If I’d noticed it in time, it wouldn’t have been such a big deal.

From now on, I’ll do exactly what you do, Steffi. What led you to this—experience, or is there maybe a basic guide on the subject? It’s just as annoying the other way around—great tip. I’m slowly starting to expect anything.

That’s just experience…
I’ve been crocheting and knitting for ages…
It’s really annoying when the color gradient doesn’t line up. My last project was a pretty big blanket—color-gradient yarn in 150g skeins—with a relatively short gradient, but with a blanket, it’s not as noticeable if it doesn’t quite match up.
I don’t think the saleswoman did it on purpose. She wants—and needs—happy customers 😊