Dividing gradient yarn

How I Divide Scheepjes Whirl

If you'd like to use all the colors from a gradient yarn cake for a smaller project, you can divide it into separate color balls and label each one with a number. Another method is to work a set number of rounds with one color, wind the remaining portion of that color into its own ball, and repeat this for the entire project. To keep everything in order, cut a small tag, write the number of the section, and attach it to the ball with a stitch marker.

In a Scheepjes Whirl cake, color transitions are usually marked by a fuzzy joining point -often called a “fuzz-buzz” by regular users. When you reach this spot, gently pull the yarn in opposite directions to separate it cleanly. Scheepjes Cotton Whirl doesn’t have fuzz-buzz joins, so you’ll need to watch more closely for color changes.

A typical Whirl divides - though not always - into 27 color balls, so it's always best to divide the cake right from the start to avoid surprises.

The approximate weights are:

• First section: 17.8 g

• Next 25 sections: 7.8 g each

• Final section: 13.8 g

For example, if your project has 50 rounds, decide which colors you want to include (you might skip very dark ones) and divide the total number of rounds by the number of balls you plan to use. That will give you the number of rounds to work per color section.

As I crochet, I combine the leftover bits of each section into one ball to save for another project.

For my Petalique wall hanging, I needed about half of a Scheepjes Whirl 769 Blackberry Mint Chip. Dividing it allowed the design to use the full gradient—every gorgeous color in the cake!

Video: https://youtu.be/xmK7LhXQXR0

Click on the image below to access the pattern:

How to Divide Scheepjes Cotton Whirl

Cotton Whirls have tiny little knots instead of fuzzy joins.

For years, makers have complained about them. But guess what? Those fuzz-buzzes were actually your best friend if you wanted to chop up your cake, because they made it incredibly easy to see exactly where one color ended and the next began! (See photo below)

Scheepjes listened to the community and completely eliminated the fluff! Instead, the color transitions are seamlessly joined with a microscopic, tiny knot.

The catch? It is now incredibly hard to find where the color changes happen if you are trying to divide the cake! (Take a look at the photo above - you practically need a magnifying glass to spot it!)

The Moral of the Story: We must be very wary about our wishes because they might just come true! 😂

My Advice: I highly advise against trying to divide your Cotton Whirl cakes. It will cause you a massive headache trying to hunt down those invisible transitions.

I haven't divided a Cotton Whirl yet, but if I am desperate, I would do following:

The first and last color sections in regular Whirls are usually larger. I'd locate the first two knots - since the second section represents the standard color section weight (about 7.8g in a regular Whirl) - and then divide the rest using a kitchen scale. You can look for a knot once your yarn ball reaches 7.8g, or simply cut the yarn. It won't be exact, but it will be close enough!

If you want to grab one of those pretty cakes, feel free using my affiliated links (I receive a small commission at no cost to you):

Scheepjes Whirl:

Amazon (Whirl), Amazon (Cotton Whirl)

Wool Warehouse* (UK, US)

Love Crafts (UK, US)

Jimmy Beans (US)

Caro's Atelier (Nederlands)

Breiwebshop (Nederlands)

KnitKat (Belgium)

Parrot Pattern

Another example is my Parrot Bag/Pillow. For this pillow, I used Scheepjes Whirl in shade 765 Lemon Cassis Cream, and I simply couldn’t bring myself to skip a single color - the whole gradient was too beautiful to leave any part out.

Click on the image below to access the pattern:

Dividing a Whirl takes a little extra time, but it lets you enjoy every shade in the cake and gives your project a beautifully balanced gradient. I hope these examples inspire you to try it in your next make. If you do, I’d love to see what you create!

Drop a comment if you’ve ever divided a yarn cake—did you love it, hate it, or end up questioning all your life choices somewhere around ball number 17? 😄