SEQUENTIALLY COLORED LOOPY YARN AND METHOD OF KNITTING NON-RANDOM DISCREET DESIGNS

Abstract

A yarn includes a continuous strand formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knitting a multi-colored design in a knitted work formed of “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentially pulling one loop in one row through a previously applied loop in an adjacent loop. The continuous strand is sequentially colored along its length with colors “Ci”, “C2” . . . “Cn” to correspond to the colors of the stitches of the design over said p courses and q wales. A method of producing a single strand of yarn formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops, segments or section includes creating a grid of “p” courses or rows and “q” columns or wales; mapping a non-random distinct design on the grid to be formed by stitches of one of n colors; translating the grid to color sequences in each row corresponding to the color stitches in successive rows in the grid; and coloring loops, segments or sections of the strand of loopy yarn with the color sequence represented by the successive rows of the grid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the art of knitting and, more particularly, to a sequentially loopy yarn and method of knitting non-random discreet designs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Continuous strands of yarn with substantially equally sized loops uniformly spaced from each other along their length or “loopy” yarn have been used in different forms of knitting. When the loops are sufficiently large to manually insert one loop through another loop such yarn has also been used for finger knitting. The physical construction of the yarn, per se, and the method of finger knitting with such yarn are known and exemplified in:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dyRIKZRDgw&t=18sHowever, such loopy yarns have normally been made available either in solid colors or intermixed colors that, when knitted, create random multicolored stitches that do not form any discernible non-random distinct designs.

Multicolored yarns are well known in the textile industry and are used in the manufacturing of various randomly colored textile products or simple geometric designs including stripes or plaids, such as woven, knit and tile fabrics. However, to create intricate non-random distinct designs in a knitted fabric or garment has been a challenge especially for beginner and intermediate knitters. Thus, if a distinct non-random pattern, such as a “heart shape” was to be knitted into a garment one would need to use two separate differently colored strands of yarn and use them together in a complex procedure to create the design.

It is also known to crochet or knit color works by using specially prepared so-called “picture yarn”. These yarns are standard or simple yarns that are colored by different colors along its length to provide predetermined color sequences so that a person using the yarn can create a knitted textile or work to simulate a desired pattern or design. However, these yarns have mostly been utilized to create geometric patterns, such as plaids and repeating designs such as snowflakes, polka dots, etc. However, the use of so called “picture yarns” have the disadvantage that different knitters apply different tensions to the yarn and this typically introduces irregularities in the designs that are not symmetrical or aligned as intended. The user may need to tighten up or loosen up to work the repeating designs into place as intended. The following links illustrate how the yarn is colored along its length:

• https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/color-pooling-in-crochet-4114940
• http://www.artisticyarnbyabi.com/picture-yarn-kits/

Colored yarns as above suggested have been used to create precise designs in machine knitting. However, machines have the ability and can be set to knit with precise tensioning of the yarn so that the knitting can be consistent and the patterns reproduced as desired. However, for hand knitting individuals tend to tension the yarn differently and not consistently as this varies from person to person. Thus, using a method of varying dye colors on different lengths of a typical yarn would not normally work since the patterns would not be consistent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enable knitting with on continuous loopy yarn to create non-random or discreet designs independently of the tension applied by a user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarn as in the previous object that is simple in construction and inexpensive to produce.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarn as in the previous objects that allows a user to create intricate non-random discreet designs in a knitted work or textile fabric economically and conveniently.

It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a loopy yarn as aforementioned that can be used to produce consistent accurate and precise designs independently of the person performing the knitting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of knitting non-random discreet designs using loopy yarn of the type previously suggested.

A yarn in accordance with the present invention comprises a continuous strand formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knitting a multi-colored non-random discreet design formed of “n” colors in a knitted work formed of “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentially pulling one loop in one row through a previously applied loop in an adjacent row. The continuous strand is sequentially colored along its length with colors C₁, C₂ . . . C_n to correspond to the colors of the stitches in the desired design over said p courses and q wales.

The invention also covers the method of coloring the single continuous strand of loopy yarn over its length and the knitted article or work formed by using the yarn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a section or patch of a knitted work or fabric utilizing a single continuous loopy multi-colored yarn after it has been knitted to create a non-random distinct or discreet design;

FIG. 2a represents the rows or courses in the knit fabric shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the sequence of colors in each row to create the non-random discreet or distinct design shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b illustrates the stitches in each of the rows corresponding to the table shown in FIG. 2a to create the non-random distinct design corresponding to the design shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a section of the continuous loopy yarn to create, for example, row 5 of the design shown in FIG. 1 comprising of 5 pink (“P”) loops and the remaining loops being white (“W”); and

FIG. 4 illustrates the method of finger knitting utilizing the loopy yarn in accordance with the invention sequentially inserting loops from a subsequent row through the loops of a previous row.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures, in which the identical or similar parts will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to FIG. 1, a knitted article or fabric is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The article 10 is knitted using the unique yarn in accordance with the present invention, as to be more fully described below.

The knitted article 10 is created by a plurality of knit stitches 12, in each row or course extending from one lateral side to the opposing lateral side, as viewed in FIG. 1. A plurality of columns or wales 14 from the top of the article 10 to the opposing side or the bottom. An important feature of the invention is that in the Article 10 is formed of loopy yarn dyed with at least two colors. In FIG. 1 a first color C₁ is designated as color 16 and another color C₂ is designated as color 18. An important feature of the invention is that the non-random discreet design is formed by knitting a single continuous loopy yarn that is subsequentially colored or dyed with a predetermined color sequence. The Article can be finished in any conventional manner such as with bindoffs or trails 22a and 22b. To assist a user to know when to commence knitting following the formation of the initial bindoff or trail 22a different approaches can be used. For example, referring to FIG. 2b, the first five loops or segments of the yarn can be made of a color different from the colors used to create the distinct design over the 18 rows and 21 columns forming a rectangular surface area. Also, a tag of any type can be used between the loops or segments in row 1, to the right extending beyond the rectangular area containing the distinct design or between loops or segments 5 and 6. Similar markings (different colors or tags) can be used at the end of the yarn to inform the user that the end of the design has been reached and to use the remaining loops or segments to create bindoff or trail.

Referring to FIG. 2a, a table is shown illustrating the sequence of colors in each of the rows 1-18. With the exception of rows 1 and 18, each row has 21 loops, segments or sections made up of an equal number of stitches in the work shown in FIG. 1. Rows 1 and 18 have 26 loops, segments or sections.

In the example shown the design is a non-random distinct design 20, shown in the form of a heart. In the example, the knitted work 10 is essentially a rectangular section made up of one background color 16 with the non-random distinct heart shape design 20 being in a second color 18. The color 16 in FIGS. 2a and 2b is shown as being white (W) and the color 18 is shown as being pink (P). The non-random distinct design is formed from one length of loopy yarn so that, when knitted, as one would normally knit a “solid” color of yarn, the pattern or design 20 will be created automatically without the need of special knitting skills and substantially independently of the tension applied by the user.

If a user wanted to hand knit the same non-random distinct design, not just a basic color stripe or plaid, but a heart shape, as shown, or a smiley face or logo it would require the knitter to have advanced skills to be able to work with two separate strands of yarn. The Table in FIG. 2a represents the sequencing of colors of successive loops, segments or sections between loops can be used as instructions for coloring or dyeing the continuous length or strand of yarn. FIG. 2b illustrates the desired resulting pattern formed by knitting the colored loopy yarn in accordance with FIG. 2a.

It will be appreciated that while the illustrated example shows a non-random distinct design formed by two colors more complicated or intriquite designs can be formed by using two or more colors C₁, C₂ . . . C_n. The continuous strand of loopy yarn only need to be dyed with the sequence of colors that are to be included in the final design.

Referring to FIG. 3, a section of colored yarn is shown, for example, row 5 in FIGS. 2a and 2b, that include 5 loops, segments or sections that are colored in pink (“P”) while the remaining loops, segments or sections are colored white (“W”). FIG. 4 illustrates how the yarn can be finger knitted by successively passing loops in one row through the associated loops in a previous row. What is unique and critical is the manner in which the continuous strand of loopy yarn is in a colored predetermined sequence to create non-random, distinct or unique designs or patterns other than stripes and plaids. The Table shown in FIG. 2a, therefore, is exemplary of information that can be communicated to a manufacture of yarn for coloring or dying the yarn. The exact lengths of the loops, segments or sections are not critical although they need to be small enough so that there are no holes in the end product. The Table can convey to a manufacturer what color each specific loop needs to be.

An important feature of the present invention is that the method and created design(s) are totally independent of the tension applied by a user. This is because the loops are “pre-formed” in the yarn and size of the loops and the size of each stitch is essentially fixed. In “normal knifing” the size of the loops are a function of the knitting needles and how big each loop is and how much yarn is taken up in each loop is subject to the user's individual or personal tension applied during the knitting process.

The yarn of the invention and the method of knitting with it to create non-random and distinct designs in the descried example uses finger knitting. While the yarn can be knitted with fingers, as done shown, this concept can also be used even if the size of the loops is made relatively smaller and typically knit with hooks instead of fingers. By making the loops smaller this would enable even more complex designs to be created with greater “resolution” and would make it possible to use different materials that would not need to be as puffy to fill the large holes.

While the yarn in accordance with the invention is formed by a continuous strand of yarn colored as described, it is also possible to join different color sections of yarn by splicing them or tying them end to end to create the desired sequence to create the desired color sequences. Ideally, the yarn is colored by printing along its length on a roll or printer so that sections of yarn need not be physically joined to each other but, rather, just printed on a continuous strand of yarn.

To create the yarn, a designer can make a grid as shown in FIG. 2b, akin to filling the squares on a grid with colors, and using the grid to describe and define the pattern as shown in FIG. 2a by simply defining, for each row, the color(s) of the individual stitches required to form the design and translating that information into a Table as shown in FIG. 1a.

Using the above invention one can create designs in a garment. The user can, therefore, knit intricate non-random distinct designs without relying on machines that control precise tensioning knitting. Without the yarn and method of the invention, the resulting designs would not be consistent and vary from person to person. The method of the present invention, of using “loop yarn” allows users to consistently and accurately create precise designs because the loop size is fixed and that makes individual tension a “non-issue”. Users can effectuate the method using finger knitting while producing machine precision quality.

It will also be appreciated that the method of the present invention can be scaled up or down to form, for example, a giant blanket, or a small scarf or a pull-up cover/blanket which is what is shown in FIG. 1. However, whatever is made must be predetermined in the printing of the yarn so that the skein can only make a square or other shape. However, the pattern can be redesigned to form a grid for a scarf and have hearts or any icon or distinct non-random distinct design(s) appear as the scarf is knit but this would require a different grid. Once the design and the size is mapped as suggested in FIG. 2b to show the colors of the individual stitches this information can be utilized to produce the instructions for coloring the yarn as shown in FIG. 2a. Using the resulting single continuous loopy yarn will automatically produce a non-random distinct design such as the one shown in FIG. 1. The present invention, therefore, is for a method of knitting the color sequences of a continuous loopy strand of yarn to produce a desired non-random distinct design by coloring or dyeing the yarn in accordance with instructions derived from grid of colored stitches. Two or more colors can be used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A yarn comprising a continuous strand formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops for knitting a multi-colored non-random discreet design formed of n colors in a knitted work formed of “p” courses or rows and “q” wales by sequentially pulling one loop through a previously applied loop to form a stitch, said continuous strand being sequentially colored along its length with colors “C1”, “C2” . . . “Cn” to correspond to the colors of the stitches over said p courses and q wales.

2. A yarn as defined in claim 1, wherein n=2.

3. A yarn as defined in claim 1, further comprising additional loops at the beginning and end of the yarn, beyond those required to form said stitches over said “p” courses and “q” wales, for forming bindoffs or trails at the beginning and the end of a knitted work incorporating a non-random discreet design.

4. A yarn as defined in claim 3, wherein at least two additional loops are provided.

5. A yarn as defined in claim 3, further comprising indicating means for demarcating said additional loops from said loops for creating said stitches over said “p” course and “q” wales.

6. A yarn as defined in claim 5, wherein said indicating means is a color for said additional loops different from said colors “C1”, “C2” . . . “Cn”.

7. A yarn as defined in claim 5, wherein said indicating means comprises a physical marker or tag separating said additional loops from remaining loops on said yarn.

8. A knitted article or work knitted of a single strand of yarn formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops, wherein the yarn is sequentially colored between adjacent loops to form, in a finished knitted work, at least a two color non-random discreet design.

9. A method of producing a single strand of yarn formed with equally spaced equally dimensioned loops, segments or section comprising the steps of creating a grid of “p” courses or rows and “q” columns or wales; mapping a non-random distinct design on said grid to be formed by stitches of one of n colors; translating said grid to color sequences in each row corresponding to the color stitches in successive rows in said grid; and coloring loops, segments or sections of the strand of loopy yarn with said color sequence represented in successive rows of the grid.

10. A method or producing a single strand of yarn as defined in claim 9, wherein n=2.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising additional loops at the beginning and end of the yarn, beyond those required to form said stitches over said “p” courses and “q” wales, for forming bindoffs or trails at the beginning and the end of a knitted work incorporating a non-random discreet design.

12. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein at least two additional loops are provided.

13. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising indicating means for demarcating said additional loops from said loops for creating said stitches over said “p” course and “q” wales.

14. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said indicating means is a color for said additional loops different from said colors “C1”, “C2” . . . “Cn”.

15. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said indicating means comprises a physical marker or tag separating said additional loops from remaining loops on said yarn.