This is the second post in a three part series on Demystifying Hand-Dyed Yarns. In this series, we’ll unravel the mystery behind hand-dyed yarn, exploring three distinct styles you’re likely to encounter. This post will focus on knitting with hand-dyed tonal yarns and offer some pattern ideas that make the most of this style. Each style has qualities that can make or break a project. Lets look into how those qualities interact with the qualities featured in patterns in order to better pair yarn and project for a finished item we are sure to love.
Learn all about variegated yarns, how to recognize them, and find patterns that feature them in this post.
Check out this blog post for a quick review of three dye styles of variegated, tonal and speckled plus an example of a pattern designed to feature all three and a look at kits created by a professional.
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Part 2: Tonal Hand-Dyed Yarn
Without going too deep into color theory, tonal, for our purposes and as defined by Miriam-Webster, is 1) a color quality or value, the tint or shade of a color or 2) the color that appreciably modifies a hue, a white or a black (and in terms of tonal yarn, it would not modify a hue but only a white or a black). In other words tonal yarn has only one color but many different tints and shades of that color. A tint is the pure color plus white while a shade is the pure color plus black - in technical terms a tone is the pure color plus grey but on "tonal yarn" we are referring to the application of a single color onto a base. It can range from near solid to highly variegated in appearance (given that the variegation is between more and less saturated sections of yarn, all with the same color).
Nanno Stitch Lab captures the deepest and darkest time of the year in their colorway Winter Solstice. This yarn will create a consistent fabric that may even appear solid from a distance. Rather than using different colors to bring in interest and movement, for this skein of yarn, there is flow between variations in saturation which is engaging to work with.
Tonal yarn is yarn that has been dyed by hand in a way that creates subtle variations in color, resulting in a single color with different shades. A shade refers to a specific variation of a color created by adjusting its depth and intensity. It represents one color within a spectrum of possibilities. The tonal effect is achieved by using techniques that vary the concentration of dye or by applying multiple layers of dye to create depth and dimension within the same color family.
Knitting Patterns Featuring Tonal Hand-Dyed Yarn:
Because Thicc Witch Hat by SunDaughter Designs features tonal yarn, the drama of the brim and the tall point demand all the attention. The inconsistency of the depth of color brings in a sense of elegance. The varying saturation within the same skein are highlighted in the second picture below and yet, when seen from a distance, the fabric almost appears solid.
Designer Jen Dollface, also known as The Stitchin' Witch, chose to feature a tonal yarn in their oversized shawl, Cerridwin. This shawl features multiple textures created by traditional shetland and victorian lace. The stunning interplay of stitches is highlighted and becomes the star, allowing the art of the lace to shine. As discussed above, had the designer used a yarn that had many contrasting color changes, the story told by the movement of the stitches in Cerridwin could be lost.
In the Bluster Shawl, we can observe how the simplicity of the broken rib fabric is highlighted by the tonal effect of the yarn dyed by The Frosted Stitch. Tonal yarns are equally ideal for allowing the more complicated stitch patterns in the fabric of the Cerridwin Shawl to receive the attention they are do as well as adding visual interest and a sense of calming rhythm to the fabric of the Bluster Shawl.
Tonal yarn is popular for projects where you want a sophisticated and nuanced color effect without the unpredictability of more random dye patterns. It can create a beautiful gradient effect and is often chosen for items like sweaters, shawls, and scarves to add depth and interest while maintaining a cohesive color theme.
There is one thing to watch out for with tonal yarns! That is that even though tonal skeins may have been dyed in the same pan, they will take up the dye differently and do have their own (very subtle) version of pooling. When working with tonal yarns in a garment, it is often advised to "stripe" between them when it is time to change skeins in order to prevent a line in the fabric that can be seen when moving from one skein to the other. You can read more about that in this blog post: Achieving a Seamless Finish: Alternating Hand Dyed Skeins For Invisible Transitions and a Stretchy Edge
Key Characteristics of Hand-Dyed Tonal Yarn:
Subtle Variations: Unlike solid yarn, which is one consistent color, tonal yarn features gradual changes in shade that can add depth and richness to your projects. And unlike variegated yarns, the visual inconstancy is created using a single color.
Color Consistency: The visual shifts in tonal yarn are within the same color family, giving a more uniform look.
Versatility: Tonal yarn works well for a variety of projects, including garments and accessories, and can enhance texture and pattern without overwhelming the design. As a new knitter I felt "safer" with tonal yarns, because I was better able to predict how my finished object would look.
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I would love to hear from you! Do you have a favorite dye style? Do you work with hand-dyed tonal yarn often and if so, who are some of your favorite dyers? How do you pair pattern and yarn in a way that lets them both shine? Share in the comments!
Happy Making! ~Sönna
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