Mosaic Knitting (Slip-Stitch Colourwork)
Mosaic knitting creates two-colour patterns using only one colour per row. The unused colour's stitches are slipped, allowing the previous colour to "show through" and create the mosaic pattern. It is the easiest entry to colourwork.
Recommended A printable technique cheat-sheet for your knitting bag.
How it works
Each row uses a single colour. Stitches in the working colour are knit; stitches in the other colour are slipped (with yarn held loosely behind). Two rows of one colour, two rows of the other, building the pattern by alternating.
Why it is easier than Fair Isle
No two-handed knitting required. No yarn dominance issues. No floats to manage. Just slip and knit, two colours alternating every two rows.
In partnership Tools and supplies that make this technique easier.
Visual effect
The slipped stitches "draw up" the underlying colour from the previous row, creating the mosaic pattern. The fabric is denser than single-colour stockinette but less dense than Fair Isle.
Best uses
Beginner colourwork projects: dishcloths, washcloths, blanket squares, simple hats. Barbara Walker's Mosaic Knitting is the classic reference and contains hundreds of patterns.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MC | main colour |
| CC | contrast colour |
| sl | slip purlwise |
Tips
- Always slip stitches with yarn behind on RS rows and yarn in front on WS rows.
- Pull the working yarn loosely across slipped stitches to prevent puckering.
- Mosaic patterns work best in solid, contrasting colours.
In depth
Mosaic knitting was systematised by Barbara Walker in the 1970s as a way to teach colourwork to knitters intimidated by stranded knitting. By slipping the stitches of the unused colour rather than carrying it as a float, mosaic knitting eliminates almost all of the technical difficulty of two-colour knitting.