How to Get Started with Mosaic Knitting

There are many ways to add color to your knitting. Striping, intarsia, and variegated yarn are a few ways- but have you heard of mosaic knitting? Mosaic knitting is a little known way to add color that is perfect for beginners and experienced knitters alike. If you are a fairly new knitter and have been afraid to dive into color knitting, mosaic knitting is a great place to start. 

What Is Mosaic Knitting?

One of the reasons why we love mosaic knitting for beginner knitters is because it doesn't require knitting with multiple colors at once. If you can knit and purl, you can add color with mosaic knitting. This method of knitting, invented by Barbara Walker, has only been around since the 1960s. The simple colorwork method involves creating geometric shapes using two or more yarn colors. Although slipped stitches aren't new, using them to add color was unheard of before Barbara Walker. 

Pros and Cons of Mosaic Knitting

There are many factors to consider when you decide which knitting technique to use for colorwork. There are a few pros and cons to mosaic knitting to think about before you get started.

Why We Love Mosaic Knitting

• Knit flat or in the round.
• Work with two or more colors.
• Uses less yarn than other color knitting techniques.
• Only work with one color per row.
• Produces a lighter weight fabric.

A Few Downsides of Mosaic Knitting

• Must carefully adjust needle size and gauge if puckering occurs.
• Requires blocking to smooth the finished stitches.
• Pay attention to tension when working with slipped stitches.
• Colors must be contrasting.

Tips for Mosaic Knitting

Once you have decided on a mosaic knitting pattern, selecting yarn color is important. We recommend using the color wheel to select contrasting colors for your project. When the colors are contrasting, it helps the geometric shapes stand out. Another way to add dimension to your knitted garment is to use variegated yarn and a contrasting color. The Electric Love Mosaic Cowl is a great example of this. Mosaic knitting works with one color at a time. Although you will notice both color stitches on your needles, one set will be slipped stitches.

If you are ready to get started with mosaic knitting, here are a few patterns we love:

• Dishcloths
• Geometric Pattern Gloves
• Mosaic Floral Pillow
• Mosaic Tote Bag
• Moody Shawl

Related:

5 Fun Ways to Add Color to Your Knitting

How to Knit Slip Stitch

How to Use Color Theory to Pair Yarn