Do you like solid color yarns? Or handpainted/varigated/striping?

**Early Bird** · 01-21-2009, 04:36 PM

I keep getting seduced by colorful yarns, but overall, I like the solid colors best.

How about you?

**vigilant20** · 01-21-2009, 04:39 PM

I like the solids too. They seem more useful to me. I have only used variagated for my one lonely pair of crocheted socks, and in some small cotton pieces...especially dishcloths because the variations (as long as they don't include dark colors or whites) mask a lot of the ick.

**nandmsmom** · 01-21-2009, 04:46 PM

It depends on what I'm making. I like the variegated yarns for socks, it's neat to watch them stripe up. I use solids for most other things, although the kids sometimes pick variegated for their hats and mittens.

**ladytoysdream** · 01-21-2009, 05:07 PM

Depends on the project ....
solids look better on some things.I really love black but am finding it harder to see the stitch openings I am looking for. I make sure I sit under a good lamp.

I REALLY like the varigated colors. Makes some neat pattern items. Never tried the handpainted ones, probably more $$ than what my budget can afford.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-21-2009, 06:35 PM

Varigated, hands down.

**Lady_V** · 01-21-2009, 06:52 PM

I love yarn... period!

I love the colorful look of variegated,(but there are days where I buy it and will find something to do with it later... must have pretty colors)

What I buy usually depends on what I have on my to-do list...

**YankeeMom** · 01-21-2009, 08:19 PM

All of them

Especially handpainted. In order of preference would probably be
1)handpainted
2)solid/semi-solid (like the STR water colors)
3)self-striping.

**danni** · 01-21-2009, 08:33 PM

All of them!! Different projects call to me to use variegated sometimes and solid sometimes.

**kmonokwe** · 01-21-2009, 10:30 PM

I have to admit, I'm not currently a fan of the variegated types. I haven't used them to any success, and I've got a rather plain sense of fashion, and wouldn't willingly wear things made with them. They are fun, for sure. Very interesting, and I am amazed at the way they create stripes when used for socks - I think they're pretty cool, but I guess I'm too picky to really enjoy them. So, solids for me!

**Dave'sGirl** · 01-22-2009, 04:41 AM

What Kwonkwe said

**dcompton** · 01-23-2009, 08:09 PM

I don't make clothing items so what I can tolerate to wear is not an issue (it would all be boring navy, black, gray.)

I have to confess to a 5 year old's love of bright color and have to remind myself that subtle is also good. There have been plenty of times when rather regretted a too intense choice of color.

I love the old mile a minute afghan patterns, and the variegated yarn often looks good for the centers of the strips with its colors picked up in the rest of the pattern. But I don't like it when the dye and the pattern conspire to make it look too stripy.

For everything else, I always go with solids.

**peanut** · 01-24-2009, 12:47 PM

I like them all, for different purposes. I've knit socks in solid and variegated. Solid lends itself better to various stitch patterns. Variegated is great for when I'm in a hurry and want to knit a 'pattern' that looks good. I must admit though, I'm picky about the variegated I use.

I also like to combine them in projects...like a plain cuff/band with variegated knitting on hats/sweaters/etc.

Jean

**Grainlady** · 01-25-2009, 08:39 AM

Love them all. Variegated and hombre yarns can hide a multitude of "sins" for beginners, but if you are making something that has a pattern or figures in it, as Peanut pointed out, it will get lost in the color changes.

FYI - since yarn is sold by weight, the darker the yarn, the more dye is in it. Therefore, dark yarns don't always have as much yardage as light yarn, so purchase 1 extra skein to compensate for it.

Hombres and variegated yarns also tend to have less yardage than solid colors.