You know my love for complex multicolor shades! I've been through all the stages with them:

• I bought them all the time at the beginning of my crochet journey. It was impossible to resist all those beautiful color repeats and melange colorways.

• Then I became disappointed when I started actually crocheting with them...

• Later, I gave many of them away or used them for knitting projects instead.

• And now I deeply appreciate these beautiful skeins!

To me, they are always a chance to add something new to crochet, whether it is a stitch, a technique, or a different way of using color, and to open the door a little wider for multicolor yarns in crochet projects.

Multicolor yarn is always a challenge for us, crocheters, and there is a reason for that.

Knitting stitches look like a bent line (∼ or V), so the colors flow smoothly along the strand from one stitch to the next.

Crochet stitches, on the other hand, consist of multiple strands twisted in different directions, and several colors gather within a single stitch. Instead of smooth color transitions, we see a dense mix of colors inside each stitch - and the whole fabric.

But once we understand the reason, we can look for solutions. ◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍

Stitches

I gather stitches, tricks, and techniques that help control this color complexity and create a more balanced look.

The less of the stitch is visible, the better. Whether it is a loop, one strand, or only part of the stitch being highlighted, it will work much better than a fully visible stitch.

• For example, instead of regular sc, sc in BLO (single crochet ribbing ridges) works better. In this stitch pattern, part of the stitch is hidden, while the front unworked loop is highlighted. As a result, we see horizontal color dashes (kind of ~) rather than a mix of colors within each stitch.

• Linen stitch and spike linen stitch create the V-look, allowing the colors to spread more naturally.

• Stitches worked around the post can also help, but not necessarily for texture (like front/back post ribbing, alpine stitch, waffle stitch, etc.). They can be used to highlight the top loops, as these create clearer color lines.

• Colorwork using the right stitch structure can also soften the multicolor effect by controlling how the colors appear within a stitch.

Recently, I faced another multicolor challenge with the newly released Torzal yarn by Malabrigo. And it was a completely new adventure!

This yarn is not just multicolored. It is made by twisting two strands together, and each strand is multicolored on its own.

So instead of having one changing color along the strand, you have two different colors appearing together at every moment, and both color changes are gathered within a single stitch.

I had five skeins in different multicolor colorways for my experiment.

I wanted to use all the colors in one project, combine them somehow, and use all the skeins equally. And if I had five skeins of the same multicolor colorway, or a good amount of one dominant color for traditional colorwork, the solution would be different.

I tried to organize the colors into stripes and colorwork, I even created new stitches… but then I stepped back and looked at these beautiful colors in a different way. Because the solution always exists, and often it is quite simple.

• I kept using single crochet ribbing in the back loops because it works so well for multicolor yarns,

• and I isolated the colors by creating large color areas, giving each colorway enough space to stand out. Instead of hiding parts of the color changes, I chose to show more of them (and create a different visual effect!).

This is a variation of the Moonwalk shawl stitch, with smaller, gentler diamond inserts. ⁠Here is how the original stitch pattern looks in solid colors:

This stitch pattern uses the regular crochet stitches (sc, hdc, dc, etc) and you can see below how the complex colorways behave in tall stitches, it's a very intense mix of colors inside each stitch.⁠
⁠
But if you divide the colorways (in my swatch - in two ways: horizontally with sc ribbing ridges, and vertically by keeping them inside the ridges), the effect becomes much softer and each diamond has now its own multicolor palette.

Instead of seeing colors mixed inside each stitch or whole fabric, we start seeing these individual (and colorful) color areas. I find it so charming! ◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍ ⁠

I ended up with a cowl design and a really lovely colorwork solution for multicolor yarn.

My swatch reminded me of the way watercolor paints dissolve into water and blend together, so I decided to treat the skeins like paints: not overthink my color choices and let them create their own magic. Whatever color felt right for the next ridge or diamond row, I simply picked it.

It was very refreshing and joyful creative process, because I never knew exactly how the next colors would come together, but somehow they all worked beautifully.

You can see the fabric, texture and colors in this reel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbs74_mMxqq/

The pattern is already written and includes instructions for both:⁠

• working in the round (for a cowl)⁠

• and working in flat rows (for any rectangular project).⁠

The only thing left is to choose a name for it. ⁠

My inspiration came from landscape views: seascapes, mountains, fields seen from above, like a bird's-eye view. Different color palettes may create different landscapes, reflecting the places we love.🌈🏞️⛰️

But I still cannot find the word that feels right for this design. If you have any ideas, please comment on this Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DbumGILFuEa/) or simply reply to this email. Not necessarily related to the landscape theme, I’d appreciate any ideas!

Thank you ♡ ~ Lena

A Little Heads Up

The discounts on my website usually stay longer than on Etsy or Ravelry. I update the prices there only when I release a new design or unpdate an existing one.

The latest releases (Flavia top and Soda shawl), as well as Maraska sweater, Limeade shawl, and Porcelain Berry shawl, are still 20% off on my website.

Just a little reminder before the new pattern release!

P.S. If you bought the pattern through my website but would like to have it added to your Ravelry library as well, just send me a message and I will be happy to add it for you.