How to Use Mosaic Patterns in Sweaters
Many knitters want to use color in their knitting, but do not like the complicated Fair Isle or intarsia techniques that use two or more colors in each row. A simpler choice is a mosaic pattern that uses only one color per row, using slip stitches to create a color pattern. The patterns generally have geometric shapes that resemble tile mosaics. There are commercial sweater patterns that use mosaic techniques, but knitters with experience in sweater design and construction can easily incorporate these colorful designs into any sweater pattern.
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Things You'll Need
- Yarn in at least two different colors, any weight
- Knitting needles in several sizes
- Stitch dictionary of mosaic patterns
- Ruler to determine stitch and row gauge
- Calculator and paper for notes
Instructions
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Choose one or two mosaic patterns that appeal to you from a stitch dictionary. If you do not have one, check your local library.
You can use these color patterns as an accent, as in a yoke or front panel. Or use one as an all-over pattern. Get inspired by the stitch dictionaries.
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Choose a sweater design. A simple boxy pullover or cardigan is a good choice for the geometric shape of the mosaic patterns. Or consider a raglan sleeve sweater that is knit in the round. Most patterns have a range of sizes, so also identify the best size for you.
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Practice the mosaic patterns by knitting a swatch. Cast on enough stitches to repeat the pattern a few times and knit the all the pattern rows at least twice. If you are knitting a sweater in the round, your swatch should also be knit in the round. Use the swatch to experiment with needle sizes and yarn color to get the fabric you want. If you are using a mosaic pattern as an all-over design, this will be your gauge swatch.
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Use a ruler to measure the swatch for the stitch and row gauge. For an all-over design, use the gauge numbers to determine how many stitches and rows you need to make a sweater that fits.
To use a mosaic as an accent, the gauge should match the pattern's gauge. For example, if you are knitting a cardigan in stockinette stitch and using the mosaic pattern along the bottom edge, your mosaic pattern swatch must be the same gauge as the stockinette stitch.
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Cast on for your sweater, and start knitting.
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Tips & Warnings
While most mosaic patterns use two different colors of yarn, you can use more colors. Consider using one color as a constant color, and change the other for each pattern repeat. Or use a variegated yarn for different effect.
Adjust the mosaic pattern for circular knitting if you are knitting a seamless sweater in the round. All mosaic patterns use one color for two rounds, and in circular knitting, the right side of the fabric is always facing you. So for mosaic patterns based on stockinette, you knit all rounds. For garter stitch, knit one round and purl the second.
Mosaic patterns are also referred to as color slip-stitch patterns in some stitch dictionaries.
