Knitting in Technicolor
Using color charts in knitting patterns
Are you tired of knitting in one color only? Have you tried knitting with mixed color yarn, only to discover, there is no way to control which color you are knitting in? Do you want to knit a unicorn in your next project, but can't find a pattern or color chart you need?
I know I can say yes to all three questions.
If you can answer yes to any of those questions too, then it's time to talk knitting in color.
Here are some tips to help you break free of the monochromatic yarns and enter the land of multicolored knitting.
Fair Isle and Intarsia
There are two main ways to multicolor knit, Fair Isle and intarsia. Fair Isle knitting is done in the round, with one color used for the knit stitch while carrying the second color loosely behind the stitch. Fair Isle is used to change colors in small sections, like if you wanted to change color every two or three stitches. It also has tons of variations in the technique.
Intarsia knitting is the style used to knit in bigger sections of color. All you have to do is drop the main color you are knitting with and start a different color. To avoid gaps between the knitted colors, you must twist the two colors together before you start knitting.
Therefore, if your pattern calls for large sections of different colors then intarsia is for you. If your pattern calls for more intricate color design then Fair Isle is a better choice.
Choosing a Multicolor Pattern
Many websites have knitting color charts you can download. You can find everything from hearts to Che Guevara mapped out in color chart form for you to knit. A good thing to keep in mind while selecting a chart is width of the project you want to use the color chart on and the amount of stitches the color chart requires.
Once you are comfortable with the color changing process you may want to scale a chart to fit your pattern. We will discuss pattern altering later, for now let's just deal with changing colors.
I Want a "Unicorn" Knitting Chart
What if you can't find the knitting color chart you want?
I have been searching for a unicorn chart for some time now, and have not been able to find one. In the event that you cannot find the knitting color chart you want for your pattern, you could always make your own.
The first way to make your own is to download some knitting graph paper. Knitting graph paper's squares are rectangular, to accurately represent a knitting stitch. Once downloaded print a copy and map out the design you want to knit.
The second color chart option is to use an online color chart generator. It's super easy, all you have to do is find a site that offers a free color chart generator. Specify what needle art will be using, (i.e. knitting, needlepoint, etc.), then upload the picture or image file you want to use, and let the knitting color chart generator do the rest.
The third way to get the knitting color chart is similar to the second way. It too uses a knitting pattern generator, but instead of being available only online, this pattern generator is downloadable software. It has a few more tools to help prepare your knitting color chart.
A More Experienced Knitter
This is just a basic overview of multicolored knitting. Color changing in your knitting at first, may seem difficult. Then again so did knitting, and look how far you've gotten with that skill.
Multicolored knitting is an important skill to have because; it allows you to explore designs in your knitting, as well as makes your knitting look super complex and intricate. Learning to change color in knitting is a major step to becoming a more experienced knitter.
There are several ways to find the color chart you want. Understanding a knitting color chart will help you easily knit the pattern you want, so you too, can knit your own "unicorn".
