Are gradient yarn cakes still “in”?

Hi everyone!

I’m curious to know if people still like to crochet and knit with gradient yarn.
I have a few ideas in mind that would go really well with gradient yarn, among other things. And since you always want to appeal to as many people as possible, I thought I’d just ask 😉

Best regards, Nina

I definitely do—I’m planning to make a jacket out of it, and maybe even a sweater; I already have the materials here.
That said, I don’t really care if others think it’s great—the main thing is that I like it.

I agree with you too, Veronika—no way am I letting anyone tell me what I should wear ;-) :-) I’m past the age where I follow trends and the like, which I rarely did anyway.
Color gradients are also a matter of taste—some people like them, others don’t. I like them on a shawl or scarf too, but when it comes to clothing like sweaters or jackets, I’m a bit too horizontally challenged ;-) :-) It just doesn’t look that good.

Best regards, Inge

Ha, there’s a trick to it! I crocheted my last sweater sideways—not from the bottom up or the top down, but from one side to the other—and presto, you’ve got slim, vertical stripes! 🤣

For example, I have this jacket on my wish list—it follows the same principle:
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/items/93193/sommermantel-mit-kapuze-haekelanleitung

That’s great, Veronika, but I can’t crochet anymore. Unfortunately, I can’t hold the hook anymore because my whole hand cramps up painfully, so I’d rather leave it and sew myself something to wear :-) I prefer that anyway.

Best wishes, Inge

I’m actually looking for a good pattern for a bobble right now. I got a package from a friend today, and there was a bobble in it 😍😍
I still love them, whether they’re “in” or not. 

My current project is also being made with a gradient yarn cake.
I’ve never really cared much about whether something is “trendy.”

I don’t let other people’s opinions bother me. I like the colorful bobbles and still have one lying around waiting to be used. I’ve also got a few new ones on my wish list.

I really like color-fade yarn, too. 

Yeah, exactly—and if you’re too “wide” for a single bobble, you start at one cuff and stop in the middle of the main body. Then you start with the second bobble at the other cuff and finally join both pieces together. Then you end up with a lengthening seam at the front and back too!
It never even occurred to me that gradient bobbles could be “out.” What I do find a shame, though, is that rainbow gradients are now overloaded with political meaning! I just think they’re beautiful, without any ulterior motives!

A quick aside, more of a side note: The rainbow flag, as a symbol of non-heteronormative sexuality and/or gender identity, dates back to a design by Gilbert Baker from June 1978 (which originally featured eight stripes instead of the more common six); it is therefore not a “new” phenomenon, and, given its origins, is less of a political symbol and more of a sociocultural sign of identification.

...then they should stick to the eight stripes.... 😉
And let a rainbow be a 🌈.... 

Sure, we could debate that. But I don’t think this is the right place for it.

So back to the topic: Are bobbels in or out? I think the trend is far from over, especially when you consider that Hobbii alone—with its Sultan, Twister, and, more recently, Friends Multi variations—offers what feels like a selection of gradient combinations easily in the triple digits. And then there are all the other colorful bobbels like Universe, Hurricane, Dahlia Mixo, and so on, not to mention the new Cascata and Tea Time bobbels.

In any case, the market is bursting at the seams, and it wouldn’t be that way if there weren’t significant sales. Personally, I find the long yardage practical, which makes them ideal for larger, flat projects like shawls, scarves, ponchos, capes, etc.

Right now, I have three projects using bobbels: a blanket made from three bobbels: Flowers Alpaca by Yarnart, combined with Manarola by Hobbii (WIP), a second Virus shawl made from one bobbel of Flowers Vivid by Yarnart (I made the first shawl from the same type of bobbel for my husband last year), and a cape based on the “Mielikki” pattern here, using 2–3 bobbels of Cookie by Järbo. And it’s only going to get more—I still have a few bobbels of Sultan, Twister, and Honolulu.

Whether it’s in or out of style, I couldn’t care less. I like it.

Hello everyone,

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. I think it’s still okay to say that until the 10th.
Well, I really love gradients and yarn cakes. I crochet and knit all kinds of things with them. Unfortunately, you can’t buy them at our local stores anymore. Apparently, there’s no demand for them. Too bad—I would have liked to support local retailers, but once again, I’m forced to shop online...
Warm regards from Saxony
Ellen

Thank you so much for all your responses to my question 😊
This encourages me to give the gradient yarn cake version a try 😊

I definitely like gradient bobbles—the more colorful, the better. I still have quite a few lying around, but I just don’t have the time right now to crochet them all up.
I’m planning to make another sweater for myself (RvO)—we’ll see.

Hi
Personally, I still really like gradient yarn. I love colorful things anyway, and gradient yarns offer a low-effort way to achieve beautiful color transitions. Otherwise, there’s always the tiresome issue of weaving in ends. My clear vote: yes to gradient yarn.

I love gradient yarn, but not unplied yarn. I just can’t get used to it. But plied gradient yarn is great. 

I’ve gotten into the habit of twisting plied yarn slightly as I work with it.