Skein & Tell: Red Heart Bitty Stripes in Unicorn Mane

If you’ve ever picked up a gorgeous multicolor yarn and wondered, But what will those colors actually look like once I crochet it? — Skein & Tell is for you.

In this series, I’m putting colorful yarns to the test, with a special focus on what I love most: COLOR!

We’ll look at how a yarn catches your eye in the skein, how those colors actually work up, how they flow together, what they look like in different crochet stitches, whether the yarn is worth the price and, most importantly, whether I’d buy it again.

And we’re kicking things off with Red Heart Super Saver Bitty Stripes in Unicorn Mane.

Spoiler: We’re starting this series with a 10/5.

Yes, I know that’s not how a five-skein rating system is supposed to work.

Unicorn Mane deserves it anyway.

A quick note before we get started: I purchased this yarn with my own money. This post was not sponsored, and all opinions are completely my own and honest. This post does contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Colorful Stitches! Click here to see my full affiliate disclosure.

Meet the Skein

I’ve been dying to find a bright, colorful rainbow yarn that feels a little different.

There are plenty of traditional rainbow yarns out there—you know the ones. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

They’re pretty, but I wanted something more fun.

Think less traditional rainbow and more brand-new giant box of markers. Bright turquoise. Purple. Pink. Blue. Green. Unexpected little pops of color that make you want to keep crocheting just to see what’s coming next.

That’s what drew me to Unicorn Mane, and I can happily report that this yarn did NOT disappoint.

Red Heart Bitty Stripes at a Glance

Colorway: Unicorn Mane
Weight: #4 Worsted
Fiber: 100% acrylic
Skein Size: 10 oz / 283 g
Yardage: 515 yd / 471 m
Recommended Crochet Hook: 5.5 mm / US I-9 (but I like to use a 6.0)
Care: Machine wash warm on gentle cycle and tumble dry low

Want to Try Unicorn Mane?

Shop Red Heart Bitty Stripes at Yarnspirations → here

Shop Red Heart Bitty Stripes on Amazon → here

The Skein & Tell Scorecard

Time to see how Unicorn Mane stacks up.

Each colorway gets rated in four categories—Skein Appeal, Worked-Up Wow, Color Flow and Value—before getting its final Overall Skein Score.

And apparently we’re breaking the rules on review number one.

🧶 Skein Appeal: 5/5

This one was an easy 5 out of 5 skeins.

Unicorn Mane is exactly what I want from a colorful yarn. It’s bright, happy and packed with color without looking like a basic rainbow.

There’s enough variety that I kept noticing different colors as I looked through the skein.

If you’re the kind of person who walks through the yarn aisle and buys something simply because the colors make you happy, this is dangerous territory.

✨ Worked-Up Wow: 5/5

This is where Unicorn Mane could have let me down.

We’ve all seen those yarns that look AMAZING wrapped neatly in a skein…and then you start crocheting.

Suddenly, the magic is gone.

Not this one.

Unicorn Mane is just as pretty worked up as it is sitting on the shelf.

I’ve already made a small baby blanket using the Suzette stitch, and I’m currently working on another project using a modified moss stitch that I can’t wait to share.

Both stitches give the yarn a different look, but the colorway shines in each one.

And that brings us to one of my favorite parts of Skein & Tell…

🪝 Stitch & Tell

One of my favorite things about colorful yarn is seeing how completely different the same colorway can look depending on the stitch.

So in Stitch & Tell, we’re taking the same skein and seeing what happens when we change the stitches.

Same yarn. Same colorway. Different stitch.

Here’s how Unicorn Mane stitches up.

Suzette Stitch

I used Unicorn Mane to make a small baby blanket in the Suzette stitch, and I love how much texture it gives the yarn while still letting all those bright colors take center stage.

The stitch gives the finished fabric plenty of visual interest, but it doesn’t compete with everything already happening in the colorway.

Modified Moss Stitch

I’m also currently working on a project using a modified moss stitch, and I can’t wait to share this one.

The stitch gives Unicorn Mane a completely different look from the Suzette stitch while still showing off those smooth color changes.

I’m working on a pattern using this stitch, so I’ll add the link here as soon as it’s available.

The Stitch & Tell Takeaway

Completely different look. But just as pretty.

That’s part of the fun of experimenting with multicolor yarn.

A colorway isn’t going to behave exactly the same way in every stitch, so seeing it worked up in more than one stitch can give you a much better idea of what it might look like in your own project.

As I test more stitches with Unicorn Mane, I’ll add them here!

🌈 Color Flow: 5/5

This may actually be my favorite thing about Unicorn Mane.

The transitions are incredibly smooth.

The individual colors change fairly distinctly rather than creating one long, gradual ombré, but somehow the overall effect still feels blended and cohesive.

I also really like that the different color sections seem relatively similar in length.

You don’t get one color completely taking over the project while another appears for only a handful of stitches.

Instead, you keep moving through the spectrum.

That creates enough change to make the yarn exciting to crochet with without making the finished project look chaotic.

And let’s be honest: there’s something very satisfying about sitting there thinking…

Okay…just a few more stitches so I can see what color comes next.

💰 Value: 5/5

I’ve seen some complaints that Bitty Stripes is “expensive” compared with other Red Heart yarns, but I don’t think that’s quite a fair comparison.

These are BIG skeins.

A skein of Bitty Stripes contains 515 yards and weighs 10 ounces.

So yes, you may see a higher price on the shelf than you would with some other Red Heart yarns, but you’re also getting a lot of yarn in that skein.

And when I compare it with other rainbow, multicolor and self-striping yarns, I think you’re getting a lot of yarn for the price.

For the yardage, color effect and versatility, this gets another easy 5/5 from me.

Is There Anything I Don’t Like?

Yes.

As much as I love this yarn, I wouldn’t describe it as incredibly soft.

Like some other Red Heart yarns, Bitty Stripes can feel a little scratchier than some acrylic yarns.

That said, I’ve worked with other Red Heart yarns that I find considerably scratchier, so this one really didn’t bother me.

For me, it’s nowhere near enough of a drawback to outweigh everything I love about the colorway.

But if your number-one priority is an ultra-soft yarn, it’s something I’d keep in mind.

🎨 Plays Well With Others

Absolutely.

White is probably the most obvious pairing. It would give all of these colors a clean backdrop and really let them pop.

But I think black or navy could be AMAZING with Unicorn Mane, especially if you wanted to give all those bright colors a little contrast.

The other fun option is simply pulling a solid directly from the colorway.

There are so many colors in Unicorn Mane that you could choose a coordinating pink, turquoise, blue, green, purple—or plenty of shades in between.

I’ll also say this:

Unicorn Mane doesn’t need a friend.

There is enough color and movement happening that I’d be perfectly happy making an entire project using nothing but this yarn.

👀 Does It Live Up?

YES.

It’s pretty in the skein.

It’s JUST AS PRETTY worked up.

And that’s probably one of the highest compliments I can give a multicolor yarn.

The colors don’t lose their magic once they’re turned into stitches.

If anything, crocheting with it lets you appreciate the color changes even more.

🛒 Would I Buy It Again?

1000% YES.

This isn’t just an “I’d use it again someday” yarn.

This is a keep-a-backup (or 5)-in-the-stash yarn.

It’s the kind of yarn I want sitting on my shelf for the moment inspiration hits, and I suddenly decide I need to make something bright and colorful.

I can see myself reaching for it for blankets and other projects where I want a relatively simple stitch to look far more interesting without constantly changing yarn colors myself.

🧶 The Final Skein Score

Let’s tally it up.

Skein Appeal: 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶 5/5

Worked-Up Wow: 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶 5/5

Color Flow: 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶 5/5

Value: 🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶 5/5

OVERALL: 10/5 SKEINS 🧶

I know.

We’re starting a five-skein rating system by immediately giving something 10 skeins.

But Unicorn Mane is everything I wanted from a bright rainbow yarn and more.

It’s colorful without looking like a traditional rainbow. The transitions are smooth. The colors feel balanced. It’s fun to crochet with. It looks just as good worked up as it does in the skein. And there’s enough yardage in one skein to actually make something substantial with it.

So I’m doing it.

Unicorn Mane officially earns the first-ever Skein & Tell rating of 10/5 skeins.

Maybe I’ve ruined my own rating system on review number one.

I’m okay with it.

Does It Live Up?
YES — just as pretty worked up.

Plays Well With Others?
YES — especially white, black, navy or solids pulled directly from the colorway.

Would I Buy It Again?
1000% YES — STASH WORTHY.

Want to Try It?

Ready to see what Unicorn Mane looks like in your own project?