A very easy way to use two colors in knitting and learn how you can make your own charts to follow.. When I first learned to knit, one of the things (besides socks) that scared me was the intarsia. I thought it was so beautiful and was very sure that there was no way I could ever get to that point in my knitting skills. Then I happened to see this technique where I could use 2 colors with no bobbins or stranding, this is just too good to be true, but it is true !! It is very simple and does create a nice, looks like you worked very hard at it, piece. There are a few rules to follow and they are very simple to remember but they must be done in order to create your own mosaic knitting. Mosaic knitting consist of knitting and slipping stitches, by doing this you create the pattern. The trick to this type of knitting is knowing HOW to create a chart. You will not be able to just sit down and create just any chart to use but once I explain it, you certainly will be able to create and use your own charts. I used filet crochet software to create a chart but you can easily just use graph paper and a pencil , on to our rules.
1. Mosaic charts are always read from right to left EACH AND EVERY TIME.
2. The first and last square of each row will represent the color you need to use.
3. ALWAYS cast on with the opposite color of your first square on your chart. This means if we were using color A & B. On our chart the very first square is color A, we will need to do our cast on row with color B.
4. Each row of your chart represents 1 row of following your chart with your knitting and slipping the required stitches and a return row of knitting every stitch you just knitted and slipping every stitch you just slipped.
5. A good chart will have a “checkerboard” pattern up the sides. What I mean by this is that chart row 1 starts with color A, chart row 2 starts with color B, chart row 3 starts with A etc etc.
6. You will NEVER slip stitches that are the same color that you are currently using. For example if you are using color A, you can not slip that color stitch. You will understand this more when we do our sample chart.
7. Before you begin, decide if you want to use garter stitch or stockinette stitch
8. Be sure that you keep your yarn in the back for the first part of the row, and then in the front for the second part. This work does have a front and a back.
9. If you decide to use stockinette stitch, your first part of the row will be of course worked with the knit stitch and your return row will be worked in purl stitch.
10. Take a copy of your chart, use a highlighter to mark off rows as you finish them. This really helps and you won’t loose your place.
Hopefully I have not forgotten anything here , if I have then feel free to either correct me or let me know what I need to add. Now that you know the rules, lets try a chart sample. The best way to learn is by doing, here is a sample chart with explanations for Mosiac Knitting. Before proceeding to our sample, please see Mosiac Knitting, which will help explain in detail the rules of Mosiac. Below you see a chart that I have created, lets get started. You can use ANY 2 colors and any type of yarn and needles that you want to and in order to make it easier to follow along, I will refer to “black square” and “white square”, . Remembering rule #3, cast on 25 with “white yarn”, knit one row. Now attach “black yarn”, let’s start to follow the chart.
With Black yarn, knit the first stitch, slip the next stitch . Continue following across the chart you will knit the black squares and slip the white squares. Now let’s do your return row. Still using black knit all the stitches you just knitted and slip all the stitches you just slipped as follows: you knit the first stitch, yarn forward (this is what I meant by rule #8), slip the next stitch, yarn back, knit the next stitch continue across. When you come to a stitch that you previously slipped, put your yarn forward, slip the stitch, and then put your yarn at the back. This gets your yarn in position to “knit” the next required stitch. Now we are ready to do the next row of our chart. Because this row on the chart starts with white we will only be knitting the white squares and slipping the black squares. With WHITE, knit the first two stitches (white squares), slip the next stitch (black square). Knit the next 3 stitches, slip the next stitch, continue following the chart. Do your return row, remembering to put your yarn forward and back when necessary. Now isn’t that easy. When you get ready to create your own charts, please remember rules # 5 and 6. You can always knit over a corresponding color , you just can’t slip your current working color. Have fun.
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