Self Striping Yarn Studio by Carol Sulcoski, celebrates another beautiful book in Carol’s Yarn Studio Series and 
keeps us caught up with Carol at the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.
Carol’s life has been very busy. Her oldest has headed off to college, she has returned to the law profession to facilitate his education. She continues her creative outlet of Black Bunny Fibers, hand-dyed yarn.
She learned to knit as a child, and returned to the craft as an adult, as blogs and other resources in knitting became popular, she had three young children (a set of twins!). Like many she would tweak patterns as she made progress in her expertise, she worked in a yarn shop part-time, began a blog, starting writing patterns… She wrote her first book, called Knit So Fine, with Lisa Myers, in 2008, to encourage the multitudes of new knitters to try the finer yarns they’d been avoiding. She began teaching, writing books…
Her son was in elementary school, and loved the science experience, and she’d read about Kool-Aid dying and thought that may be a way for the two of them to find something interesting together. She related the experience on her blog and continued playing with it, readers were very complimentary and eventually that progressed into Black Bunny Fibers.Carol says that unlike other teacher/designers/authors she doesn’t favor a niche of knitting because so much of what is out there she finds interesting. That led her to the Yarn Studio series. For instance, the first Sock Yarn Studios, she wanted to demonstrate what could be done with them, more than just knitting socks. Then came Lace Yarn Studios, and again, she wanted us to see the lovely drape and airy loveliness. 
The Self-Striping Yarn Studio book came about similarly. She loved them, but others seemed to have issues with them. They didn’t like how the colors bunched up, or making the best of the colors. She set out to explain how they do what they do because to understand them can help us get the most out of them. A Self-Striping yarn has longer lengths of color that create stripes in our knitting, rather than just spots, or flecks of color. Carol explains how this happens in the creation of yarn both by a manufacturer and with hand-dyers. She also loves that you get a beautiful result without having to weave in ends. Multi-directional and modular knitting is something ‘self-stripers do really well,’ she says. Stranded knitting and ‘Faux’ Isle (which is the Fair Isle without having to change out balls of color) has also become popular with folks using Self-Striping yarn.
Marly’s Asymptotes Cowl
The book starts with the technical stuff, defines gradient, multi-colored strands, how to fix a sweater when the stripe width changes (from the yoke to the body for instance)… Then gets into the patterns. Amy Gunderson created a Hexagon Sweater, which is stunningly beautiful like stained glass. Fiona Ellis created an awesome Long Line Short Row Vest which combines the color fun with lacy panels. Sandi Rosner contributed a graphically advanced vertical striped Lightening Intarsia Cardigan. Erika Flory created the Tracks Scarf, in which it is the duty of the self-striping yarn to be the background of the dropped stitches. Marly added the Asymptotes Cowl uses both vertical color stripes with beautiful horizontal eyelet. (Just don’t ask anyone how to pronounce it!) Carol herself contributed a variety of fun pieces like the Vauclain Mitts (Carol says we’d be shocked at how easy to knit they are, knit flat with Zauberball), Wyldhaven Yoke Sweater, Barcladen Stole (which we think is the #SUPERSCARF of the book, also surprisingly easy), The Ramblewood Throw inspired by the quilting that Carol likes to play with and which can be created with stripes or an easy care yarn, in the case of kitty pukes. The Fairfax Baby Jacket is made with an easy-care rainbow yarn, too. It’s interesting to see where all the yarns come from, too, and still the book pays homage to Noro Yarns who is considered the master at Self-Striping yarns, as many of the patterns included used that brand.
Carol lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, their three children, a gorgeous (and he knows it) orange long-haired cat named Boris, and a pet bunny rabbit, Charcoal — the real-life bunny in Black Bunny Fibers. We can continue to follow her at her website: BlackBunnyFibers.com, she also has a Ravelry Designer Page, a fan Group there too, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
There are three previous visits that Carol has made to the Yarn Thing podcast that we have access too. Here they are: October 2012, April 2015 and February 2016 when she shared Knitting Ephemera with us.
If you missed getting to hear this visit LIVE it is still available where it aired originally as an archived episode https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/10/13/self-striping-yarn-studio-by-carol-sulcoski or with your favorite podcast catcher, like iTunes or Stitcher Radio. Also, you may find behind-the-scenes video available at Marly’s Facebook page.
Boris the kitty.
BORIS! This is my first time – I hope I’m doing it right. Love you, Marly! Swaantje
So cool to hear all the different designers featured. All of the patterns look amazing and I just couldn’t pick a favorite. I wonder which one Boris the cat likes?
I’m always looking forward to listen to the new episodes from Marlys podcast.
Twice a week is very nice.
Ofrene I listen to the podcast before going to sleep. That’s a good way to end my day.
My one-eyed cat Tiger says Hello to Boris the cat
I wish you all a creative day.
I can just imagine Carol and Boris the Cat brainstorming new design concepts!
Love self striping yarn. How is Boris the kitty?
Loved listening to the show, too bad we couldn’t see Boris!
I used some striping yarn on my first pair of socks. Just love them. Can’t wait to meet Boris the kitty!!!
Loved listening to the podcast. Glad I was able to catch you live. Where was Boris the happy kitty?
Love the podcast and Boris the kitty too.
I always love tuning into the podcast, even happier I can do it at work now since you are streaming on fb live!!!!! My coworkers thought I was totally ignoring them today until I laughed at something you said, totally in the zone while I listened to Carol talk about her insirations and Boris!
I knit a lot of self striping socks. This patterns in this book are an inspiration for me to try different projects. Boris the kitty sounds a lot like my cats who are also striped.
What a wonderful book! I have some self striping yarn that would be wonderful candidates to try some of these patterns. Great podcast and interview and tell Boris the cat ‘meow’.
Carol, have you knitted anything for Boris the Cat? Then again, he would probably just want your afghans or quilts for cuddling. Great podcast and thank you for the prizes.
I was listening to this episode while staring at my bag of Noro thinking, “I need these patterns so I can use up this yarn!” Maybe I’ll win. 🙂 But I think we all know the real winner is Boris.
I would like to find a skein of self striping yarn that looks like Boris the kitty. I love the projects in the book and can’t wait to cast one on
I love self striping yarn and have a cat but not named Boris.
Watched this podcast on YouTube! First time listener/viewer! This book sounds amazing and so does her lovely kitty Boris!
Hey, Boris! My kitty is also striped. It’s great when our pets are inspirational.
Have had unfortunate unplanned pooling experiences. I look forward to reading this beautiful book dedicated to Boris the cat =) Thanks for a great show again.
Love the patterns in the book! Too bad there isn’t a Boris pattern!
Loved learning about Carol and Boris the cat. Inspiration is everywhere & Carol has inspired me with her new book.
Thank you.
Fascinated with what can be done with a long thin “string”. I’ve maneuvered yards of fabric into 3 dimensional pieces for years and now I’m “hooked” on all these wonderful yarns…have two problems: Wally and Minnie….does Boris the kitty have any suggestions to divert cats from moving needles and yarn?
I love self striping yarn so this book is going to be a must have for me. I have 3 kitties maybe Boris the cat would like to come over for a play date!!
I just love self striping yarns and would love to try the patterns in this book. Boris the cat is always fun to hear about. I love to hear anout people’s pets.
Awww….Boris the kitty sounds so cute! We had an orange tabby and he was the coolest cat ever. Will definitely have to put her book on my wish list. Just started knitting after a couple years of crocheting so I’m slowly working through different knit techniques.
Since Boris, the kitty, was such an inspiration for this book, I hope Carol has set up an account for his royalties.
I hope my self striping projects turn out as beautiful as Boris the kitty!
There are so many lovely patterns in this book! Boris must be so proud to have this book dedicated to him.
Boris, what a great name for a cat.
I really enjoyed listening to this podcast. The patterns in Carol’s book are beautiful. I live on a farm and have many barn cats. All of them are named after cartoon characters from the 1960’s, so we also have a Boris the cat (and a Natasha, Top Cat, Snagglepuss, Tom and Jerry, Mr. Magoo plus too many more to mention!!)
I’ll bet I’m allergic to Boris the cat. Too bad because I love watching cats. The book sounds wonderful and I would love to win it.
Boris is a great name for a cat! The self striping book sounds amazing and the patterns are BEAUTIFUL!!!
Boris is the word!!!!
I love the stripey goodness of yarn and of Boris the super kitty!
I love to plan and strategize with a beautiful knitting book…with Boris the cat hanging nearby
Boris the kitty sounds like a fun companion! I love the idea of using self-striping for going beyond socks. What a great concept!
My friend is getting a new kitten and is looking for names. I will suggest Boris! Fun podcast. I love new ideas for using self striping yarn. I love watching the magic develop.
Boris is a well-loved kitty! Hearing about alternative ways to use self-striping sock yarn was exciting!
Boris is a perfectly striped cat! My cat Luna has a striped tail (white almost everywhere else)
So I wonder how Boris the kitty looks in a self striping sweater…will he even let you put one on hopim?
Great podcast…again! Boris the kitty sounds cool
I wonder if Boris loves self-striping yarn as much as I do?
We love Boris the kitty 🙂 We loved the podcast too
Thanks for this episode! And Boris as a self-striping cat to whom the book is dedicated makes the self-striping yarn book extra special!
Looking forward to checking out the book dedicated to Boris the cat!
Has Boris the cat attempted yarn pooling? Canada loves self striping yarns!
What kind of self striping yarn does Boris the kitty like?
I wonder if Boris the kitty prefers self-striping yarn to solids?
So cool that the book is dedicated to Boris the kitty!
I love the concept behind this book. And I love the Boris the kitty played a role in it too. 🙂
Boris is so luckily to have a book dedicated to him.
Listened to this podcast recently and I have the perfect yarn to do Faux Fair Isle. Venus and Molly say hello to Boris.
I love self-striping yarns. I’ve always wanted to try to dye my own, and now I really want to work with some after this podcast! I love the concept. And I’d love to meet Boris the cat lol.
Hi Marly and Everyone!
I loooove self striping yarns! Thanks to you Carol and Marly for giving us patterns to make the most of them! Also, thank you for explaining how they work ☺️
Loved the podcast, love slef striping yarn and love “BORIS THE KITTY!”
Have a great day!
Rose.
Borris the cat what a nice name. My Charlie and Susie Love that they live in a house full of yarn. I listened to the podcast and had to look up the sweater that looked like stained glass. It’s going to be in my things to knit list!
Really enjoyed the Podcast. Met Carol at Stitches East 2014. I won of her books at your pj party. Also nice to add to a growing collection. Hi Boris!!!
I love self striping yarn, less work for me. Boris is a perfect name for a cat
I love colorful yarn! And Boris is such an awesome name for a cat 🙂
Love that Boris the cat matches your knitting style. Everyone loves stripes!
After hearing the podcast I had to go search for some pictures of your cat. Boris is adorable and would be great friends with my cat Luna and her striped tale