Using Opal yarn how do you get both socks to match up?

Answer 1

There are usually about eight repeats of the striping pattern in self striping sock yarns like Opal. Use a ball winder to wind down about half of the ball. Cut off the first color band because it will be incomplete. Always start winding with a yarn end that is at a transition from one color to the next. Watch the striping pattern as you wind. Once you get the pattern, you can stop winding at the same point in the pattern where you started. Example: say the pattern is red, yellow, blue, red, yellow, blue, etc. You cut off the incomplete red band, start with yellow and wind about half of the ball, then stop when you reach the start of the next yellow band.

Use a postage scale to help you determine when you are about half way through the ball. First zero the scale then weight the whole skein. Divide that amount by 2 to know your target weight. Leave the skein on the postal scale as you wind. Occassionally check the scale as you go to see if you are close to the half way point. Then watch for the next start of the striping pattern.

This will not divide the ball exactly in half, but the ball has 400 yards or enough for more than two socks. For small feet, I've even gotten three socks out of one skein. Getting close to half is good enough.

Now cut the yarn and start winding a new ball with the cut end. This will create two balls that change colors identically. You can knit both socks at the same time, one from each ball, or you can knit them singly.

If you choose to knit two at once and are used to pulling from both the outside and inside of the ball to do this, your striping pattern will be reversed on the second sock. For example, one sock will be red, yellow, blue... and the other will be blue, yellow, red. Note: a good local yarn shop will divide the yarn for you if you request it at the time of purchase. This is handy if you don't own a postage scale or ball winder. It's also one more reason to support your local yarn shop. internet stores won't wind your yarn for you, answer knitting questions, or help you find the mistake in a project.