Planned pooling with Marriner Mermaid Yarn - complicated made easy

We all have thought of trying to make something with the planned or intentional colour pooling technique but most of us dread it. So have I. The technique requires appropriate tension, changing hook sizes and there is no way we can see if we are doing it right up until we are at least 15 rows into our work and to be honest you are not sure even then.

However, using www.plannedpooling.com  makes all this so much easier. This programme allows you to visualise your work and follow with each row with precision. The website has a video as well on explaining how the programme works.

I have so far made quite a few planned pooling hats and scarfs but in this entry I will focus on Marriner yarns available at a very reasonable price in the UK.

The yarn is available from this website: Marriner Mermaid DK Knitting & Crochet Yarn 100g | Cheap Wool | Knitting Yarn (marrineryarns.com) and it cost a fraction of other yarns we are familiar that can pool.

I will give an example of planned pooling inclusive of the pattern I have made below.

I have entered the colours and the number of single (double crochet in the UK) in the required field and voila – I have the pattern in front of me guiding me visually. Remember to turn your graph upside down as the start is on the top left corner. Only do sc/dc in the Uk, do not chain 1 when you turn your work.

The only tricky thing with this programme is the patience you should have in order to make it work as you are working in sc/dc.

Note that each coloured square is one sc/dc. Hook 5mm.

Planned pooling with Marriner STARFISH

Plannedpooling.com

Turn your pattern upside down - You need to start with the first colour on the chart which is black.

Finished Scarf

For this scarf I have chained 38 stitches.

If you would like to make a blanket – calculate 38 X3 for instance to get 114 foundation chain (or if it a larger blanket more times)  and work the diagram with sc.dc.

This programme can be applied to hdc/ htc or even dc/tc – just have a feel of the programme and you will see how easy and addictive it is. 

Another example is the following scarf:

Marriner Yarn Carnival

Plannedpooling.com

Ypside down image of the pattern

Finished scarf

I know that this pattern looks very scary since it has so many colours. But in fact I found it easier to work with since I followed only the yellow stitches – all other stitches were in between.

So I started with one pink as the chart suggests and made 20 stitches in total so the 21 st is yellow. Then made 5 stitches and then yellow. Then 20 stitches and yellow, 5 stitches and yellow.

I repeated this pattern and it worked even faster than the first example.

I hope this helps many chocheters with Planned / intentional colour pooling.

TBC…

Happy crocheting!

Gordana