Avena.

Jennifer Steingass is a designer known for her colorwork yoke sweater patterns, and her latest has been popular here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop.

“Avena,” by Jennifer Steingass, photo © Jennifer Steingass

“Avena” calls for worsted weight yarn in three shades – one main color and two contrast colors that are similar in value – but we’ve already met several knitters who are planning intriguing variations. Some are holding two strands of fingering weight together to create their own marled shade for the contrast color, one picked out a Neighborhood Fiber Co. Ombré Mini Bundle for the contrast color, and others are working the sweater in just two solid shades. It got me thinking of another idea – why not pair a solid main color and a marled, self-striping contrast color, the likes of Malabrigo Rios Solidos and Reynolds Odyssey?

Reynolds Odyssey is a marled, self-striping wool in low-contrast color combinations, so it reads almost solid from a distance. Above is a swatch Anne knit with Odyssey, so you can get a sense of how the colors gently fluctuate. Here are some color combinations I came up with!

Malabrigo Rios Solidos: worsted weight, solid, industrially dyed colors (no need to alternate skeins!), 100% superwash merino wool, 210 yards/100g; $15.95 each – you’ll need  5-9 skeins for the main color, depending upon your size

Reynolds Odyssey: worsted weight, marled, self-striping, 100% merino wool, 104 yards/50 g; $10 each – you’ll need 2-3 balls for the contrast color, depending upon your size

Want to knit an “Avena” of your own? Look for these and many other options here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – we’re happy to help you calculate yardage and brainstorm color ideas!

Comments

  1. Dee Jackson on said:

    Hi Ann and Julia. I am remiss in telling you how much I love the yarn, Kelbourne Woolens Scout, 309 Juniper Heather, that you suggested for Avena. The color is great, and it is knitting up beautifully. If I am brave enough, I will show you the finished sweater. Thank you so much for your help. Dee

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