Ombre

It's time to learn about this unique thread: Kreinik Ombre™. You can use it in needlepoint, samplers, weaving, knitting, crochet, embroidery, cord making, Temari and bobbin work, among other techniques. It's a loosely twisted metallic designed to give a loosely woven effect in needlework. The core color range is variegated, going along with the origin of the word, which gives you interesting color effects. 

The word "ombre" in general refers to the gradual blending of one color hue to another. The color effect is popular in hair styles right now, as well as fashion (skirts, shirts, handbags), home decor (pillows, window treatments), and even nail polish.

In needlework, the Kreinik thread Ombre is best used in specialty stitches such as Satin Stitch, Herringbone, and others that show off the loose twist and the variegated color. It was one of the first non-Braid threads Kreinik made back in the company's early days, and was particularly popular when machine knitting was in vogue. Since the unique texture of Ombre became so useful to stitchers for creating various effects, the Kreinik family started making it solid colors as well as variegated. 

Ombre offers you a unique thread with elegance and texture. Get at least one solid color (we love 3200 Pearl for snow and 2000 Gold or 1000 Silver for Christmas) and one variegated color (1600 Misty Lavender is popular) to start experimenting in your projects. Read on to learn more.

What is Kreinik Ombre?

• An 8-ply softly twisted metallic thread
• In nine variegated colors
• Also in four solid colors (Gold, Silver, Pearl, Copper)
• Comes on 15-yard cards or larger cones
• Most often used in needlepoint, bobbin work, counted thread (samplers), card making, knitting, weaving, embroidery, Temari, cord making
• For an interesting look in cross stitch, use Ombre for French Knots — they'll be fluffier
• It is meant to be used straight off the spool, as it comes, not separated

Why would you want a loose twist?

• It creates a stitch that "lifts" off the surface of your canvas/fabric, creating added loft, texture, and dimension.
• In knitting and crochet, it gives you a metallic look but in a super-soft thread. It is one of the softest metallics you'll ever feel.
• In needlepoint and counted thread, it gives you a unique, fluffy texture—imagine snow drifts, jacquard fabrics, and other "risen" effects.

Why would you want a metallic?

• Adds elegance
• Makes a design look more expensive
• Adds light reflection
• Adds a different texture
• For visual interest

How to use Ombre:

• In hand stitchery, use it straight off the reel, with a #22 Tapestry needle or a #18 Chenille needle; longer or decorative stitches are best for showing off the fuzzy texture or variegated color.
• In crochet and knitting, use it as a carry along to dress up alpaca, cotton, wool, silk or any yarn.
• In bobbin work, use a coordinated color of #60 or #80 cotton, mono, or rayon thread in the top; makes lovely raised, nubby effects in particular with zig zag and decorative stitches—lengthen stitch length slightly. Lovely in digitized embroidery designs or programmed machine stitches (looks like you have stitched with glitter). 

This is a beautiful, vintage-inspired accessory for brides to wear. It is simply made with Kreinik metallics, touched off with an antique button. Kreinik Silk Serica and metallic Ombre are soft to the touch while working with them in your hands and while wearing the finished piece. Tip: use a non-greasy hand creme to keep the silk from snagging on rough spots.

Materials Needed:

• 1 spool (100m) Kreinik Silk Serica® 8000 Soft White
• 1 spool (100m) Kreinik Ombre 3200 Pearl
• 1/2 tube size 8 hex beads in silver
• 1 antique button from your grandmother, relative or friend
• sizes 2 and 6 steel crochet hooks
• "Big Eye" bead needle
• 1 large snap
• needle and matching thread

Instructions:

Gauge: 8 stitches = 1 inch; 7 rows = 1 inch

Finished size: 29 inches long x 1 1/4 inches wide

Note: the choker is worked holding 1 strand of Serica and 1 strand of Ombre together.

Bead Chain (bch) — With slip knot on hook, pull up a bead close to hook, yo, pull loop through; *pull up another bead, ch; repeat from * indicated number of times.

Bead Double Crochet (bdc) — Yo, insert hook into indicated stitch; (pull up 1 bead close to hook, yo, pull through 2 loops) twice.

Bead Double Triple Crochet (btrc) — Yo twice, insert hook into indicated stitch; (pull up 1 bead close to hoo, yo, pull through 2 loops) 3 times.

Bead Double Triple Crochet (bdtrc) — Yo hook 3 times, insert hook into indicated stitch; (pull up 1 bead close to hook, yo, pull through 2 loops) 4 times.

Bead Popcorn (bpopcorn) — Work 5 bdcs in indicated stitch, remove hook from last bdc and insert it in top of 1st bdc; sl st last bdc to first bdc; ch 1 to lock.

To Begin: Holding both strands together, with size 2 hook, ch 11.

Row 1 — Sc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in next ch; *sc in next ch; dc in next ch; repeat from * across; ch 1, turn. (10 stitches)

Row 2 — Sc in 1st dc; dc in next sc; (sc in next dc, dc in next sc) across; ch 1, turn. (10 stitches)

Repeat Row 2 until choker is 14 1/2 inches long or length to fit snuggly around neck. Fasten off.

Bauble: 

String 17 inches of beads on Ombre only. With size 6 hook, ch 5; join with sl st to form ring.

Work 2 bch; in ring work 7 bdc, 2 btrc, 1 bdtrc, 2 btrc, 5 bdc; ch 18 (2 1/4 inches); attach ch to center lower edge of choker with sl st; sl st in each ch back to bauble being careful not to twist ch; sl st in 1st bdc on back of bauble; ch 6, sl st in btrc on opposite side of back of bauble; ch 12 (for curlicue); 4 dc (no beads) in 4th ch from hook; 5 dc in next ch and each ch to end. Fasten off.

With back of bauble facing, sl st in last ch of ch 6 across back of bauble; 2 bch, 5 bdc popcorn in same space; sl st in next bdc on bauble. Fasten off.

With back of bauble facing, join Ombre with sl st in base of ch at top left of bauble; sl st in next stitch to left; 5 bdc popcorn in same stitch on bauble; sl st in same stitch at base of ch to anchor. Fasten off.

To finish: Sew 1 side of snap to each end of choker, one on right side and one on wrong side. To block choker, pin it to a padded board and cover with a damp towel. Let it dry overnight. Sew antique button to center front of choker.

Note: This item is not shipped

Designed by April Garwood

Finished Measurements: About 7” x 63”(18 cm x 160 cm)

Materials needed:

Yarn

• Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light (100% superwash merino wool; 420 yds (384 m); 3.5 oz (100 g); CYCA weight 2/Fine): Margeaux (MC), 1 skein; Wash (CC), 1 skein.
• Kreinik Ombre (100% metallic thread; 330 yds (300 m); CYCA weight 1/Super Fine): #1300 Misty Violet

Hook: G/6 (4.00 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions: Yarn needle

Notes & Instructions:

Gauge: 5 patt rep x 12 rows = about 4” in “Crown Stitch”.

Crown Stitch

• Ch 23
• Row 1: 2 dc in 3^rd ch from hook, (ch 2 does not count as a st), *ch 1, skip 3 chs**, 3 dc in next ch, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **, 2 dc in last ch, turn – 16 dc.
• Row 2: Ch 2, dc in first st, ch 1, sc in next st, *ch 1, skip ch sp, sc in next st**, ch 3, skip next st, sc in next st, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **, ch 1, dc in last st, turn – 12 sts.
• Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, skip next ch sp, *3 dc in next ch-1 sp**, ch 1, repeat from * across, ending last repat at **, skip last ch sp, sc in last st, turn – 15 dc.
• Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, *sc in next st, ch 3, skip next st, sc in next st**, ch 1, skip ch sp, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **, sc in last st, turn – 12 sc.
• Row 5: Ch 2, 2 dc in first st, *ch 1**, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **, 2 dc in last st, turn – 16 dc.
• Repeat Rows 2-5 for pattern.

Scarf

• Holding MC and Ombre thread together, ch 23
• Work in “Crown Stitch” for 162 rows. Fasten off.

Edging

• Rnd 1: With RS facing, join MC, without thread, in first dc of last row, ch 1, sc in each st and ch sp across, 3 sc in last st, turn to work along row ends, sc in first row end *2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in each of next 2 row ends, 3 sc in next row end, repeat from * to last row, 2 sc in last row end, turn to work along bottom of foundation ch, 3 sc in first ch, sc in each ch to last ch, 3 sc in last ch, turn to work along row ends, sc in first row end, *3 sc in next row end, 1 sc in each of next 2 rows ends, 2 sc in next row end, repeat from * to last row end, 2 sc in last row end, 2 sc in same st as first sc, do not turn – 616 sc. Fasten off.
• Rnd 2: With CC, (working in back loop only, join with sl st, ch 1, sc) in first corner sc, sc blo in each sc around, working 3 sc blo in each corner sc – 624 sc blo. Fasten off.
• Rnd 3: With MC (join with sl st, ch 1, sc, ch 4, sc) in first corner sc, *ch 4, skip 3 sts, sc in next st, repeat from * along each side of scarf to corner sc, ch 4, (sc, ch 4, sc) in each corner sc, at the end of last edge, join to first sc with sl st – 160 ch-4 sps.
• Rnd 4: Sl st in first ch sp, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each ch sp around, join to first st with sl st – 640 dc. Fasten off.
• Rnd 5: With CC (join with sl st, ch 1) in last dc of previous rnd, sc2tog over same and next dc, sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch sp, sc in next st, *sc2tog over next 2 sts, sc in next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch sp, sc in next st, repeat from * around, join to first st with sl st – 800 sc. Fasten off.

Finishing

• Block. Weave in all ends.

Note: this item is not shipped

You can find fabric headbands at dollar stores and discount stores, and they are perfect foundations for holiday embellishments. Here we added a simple length of crochet, but the sparkle of metallic thread really dresses it up for a Christmas party or holiday photo. This project is super easy and can be done in about half an hour.

Materials needed to replicate our model:

• fabric covered headband (we used a red version)
• white/red variegated yarn (we used a medium weight cotton yarn)
• Kreinik Ombre color 1400 (a red/silver variegated metallic)
• red sewing thread or Kreinik Silk Bella in 1117 Red
• sewing needle
• crochet hook (we used Susan Bates size 7)

Instructions:

Hold the Kreinik Ombre and your red/white yarn together (the metallic serves as a carry-along thread here). Chain 60, or enough to cover the length of your headband. Tie off

Using the red sewing thread or Silk Bella, sew the chain to the fabric headband, tucking tucking the ends underneath the last chain on each side.