Yarn Dominance in Stranded Knitting
In any two-colour row of stranded knitting, one colour will appear slightly more dominant than the other. The dominant colour is the one carried below (or held in the left hand, for two-handed knitters). Choosing which colour is dominant transforms the visual hierarchy of the colourwork.
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Why it matters
The dominant colour's stitches sit slightly higher and more forward than the non-dominant colour. The effect is subtle on a stitch-by-stitch basis but adds up dramatically across an entire colourwork pattern. The "main motif" colour is almost always the dominant one.
Two-handed method
Hold the dominant colour in the left hand (Continental). Hold the non-dominant colour in the right hand (English). The strands cross naturally as you knit, with the left-hand strand sitting below the right-hand strand on the wrong side.
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Single-hand method
Drop one colour and pick up the other for each colour change. Carry the dominant colour below; the non-dominant colour above. Slow but produces consistent dominance.
Common error
Inconsistent dominance is the biggest cause of "muddy" colourwork. Pick a dominant colour at the start of the project and never switch — even between rounds where the colour roles seem reversed.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MC | main colour |
| CC | contrast colour |
Tips
- Always pick a dominant colour at the start of a project and stick with it throughout.
- Two-handed knitters: dominant in the left hand.
- Single-hand knitters: dominant carried below the other colour.
In depth
Yarn dominance is the secret variable that distinguishes mediocre stranded colourwork from excellent stranded colourwork. The difference is subtle on each individual stitch but cumulative across thousands of stitches in a sweater. The most common pattern: the design motif colour is dominant; the background is non-dominant.