Stranded colorwork in the round: 7 tips and tricks for beginners

[@sarahchellew8244]

I have a tip for people doing colourwork in the round if they keep getting their floats too short when the work switches from being on one needle to the next needle because the floats take a short cut across the gap, you can turn the work inside out so you are still working knit stitches and still seeing the front if the work but you are viewing it from the inside of the tube rather than the outside

[@ukegirl13]

Thank you soooo much for this tip!! I came to this video for just that problem and was happy I just caught your comment!! Thank you again my knitting friend!!

[@tamarafaurot]

I always use the last two stitches on the needle to catch the float regardless of when I last caught it.

[@nataliehowe6213]

The upsizing of the needles during color work sections is genius! I have never heard of this before, but it makes so much sense. My first colorwork project was a hat. I knit it with Lettlopi, and I was so proud of getting the chart right. Like many knitters, my tension was too tight. I finished the hat, but can't wear it because after about 20cm, it won't fit over my head. I'm about to make a Lopapeysa, so this is a great tip for needle size. Also because I am learning to knit continental, so my tight gauge is even worse. :)

[@christinevalentine3373]

Your Graerup colours are beautiful. My face lights up with pure visual joy each time I see that combination. It’s like swimming underwater in Fiji or Wine Glass Bay in Tasmania and a cloud comes over. Then, the sun breaks through as you head to the surface and all those blue and green colours shimmer in the sunlight. Life. Thank you.

[@bonnadowns524]

I am a new color work and so glad that I just founded your podcast🙏💝 Thank you for sharing with us

[@Anna-mh9pg]

Thank you for these tips! I’ve been using the “stretch your right hand needle stitches” tip and it works magic. But also I need to go down a needle size on my colorwork 🙈 as it’s always looser than the rest of my knitting. Might be that I’m stretching the stitches so my floats are nice and even? Funny thing... I’ve knitted a hat as my first project (or was it a sweater?) I’ve knitted a cotton sweater 🙈 and it worked beautifully (killed my ndls), so there’s no right project to start - (go big or go home 🙈) I would say, just knit what you really love and it will come out just fine! Currently I’m in love with colorwork mittens (Norwegian style) but as a test knit for myself I’m knitting the owl mittens (Harry Potter) ... just to get back to it.

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

I think that once the "stretching" is done properly the "larger needle" advice becomes debatable. As far as first projects, it's great that you had success with those! I think for many people, it might be more of a gamble, especially with possible beginner tension issues. But I definitely think that where there's a will there's a way ;)

[@pamelamazzella672]

Thanks so much. I ordered a cowl with 10 colors! I just got it in the mail and Panicked! I am an advanced beginner. I appreciate your help. 💐

[@nadinedonovan989]

Thank you for sharing. I am new to color work and this video was very helpful

[@tamarafaurot]

These tips are great-thank you! I’m working on my first colorwork project-three color socks. Arg! But I’m going to carry on and use your tips. I may redo some of it, but it will be great-I’m confident!

[@Enig_Mata]

Hi. I just started my first colorwork project last night and your video has been very helpful. I can't wait to move on to a larger project once I complete this cowl. Your sweater is beautiful and your color choice makes it even more stunning. Thanks for sharing.

[@kmhoneycutt1551]

My tip involves using both hands so that the yarn doesn't tangle. Cc goes in the left hand and mc goes in the right. Unless the pattern says otherwise you don't change it

[@onwardbe]

A thank you for your tutorial. You not only have taught me some tricks but your words are very inspiring. Thank you I will be checking out your designs..

[@lifeandhair]

this was really helpful, thank you. I'm getting ready to start my Alpine Bloom and feeling a bit nervous

[@k.embers]

Thank you for showing how to stretch the yarn across the needle before catching the yarn. I’ve read this tip in a few places but they didn’t show an example and had a hard time visualizing what they meant and/or why it would work. I hope this helps with my tension!

[@ennarey128]

Your video gave me the confidence finally to start trying colorwork. Great help. Thank you :)

[@NedaMay]

One thing I found worked well, knitting with two strands for the main colour, like one of merino/linen and one of mohair, is to catch the contrasting float using only the mohair strand. It is very strong and prevents a dark contrast from showing through a lighter fabric.

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

Great tip! Thank you for sharing :D

[@kellefecker7192]

Thank you for the tips. I love your patterns. My grandkids wear many of them. Last week I ordered my first Lopi Icelandic yarn to make a Ridarri (not sure if that is the pattern you are wearing. Your sweater is beautiful!

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

I'm so glad you are enjoying my patterns! And yes, the sweater I am wearing is the Riddari :D I also made one for my husband for Christmas, which I discuss in my latest "vlog" on this channel.

[@JustWriter]

It's definitely better to tie and weave in ends (or to just wind/carry my strands) than it is to tie and glue them with fabric glue. The glue is scratchy and uncomfortable and the type I tried especially doesn't adhere well to acrylic yarn. Instead of saving yarn, I ended up using 2/3rds more, just to make an inner layer to separate the glued pirtion from having contact with the skin. Lesson learned, better to use twice as much than thrice as much. But, weaving in the ends may just be the way to do it. I only know one way NOT to do it now. Also, I really like your general information and tips videos. I'm more of a loom knitter, so these valuable insights into yarn garment construction are very much appreciated, especially since there's much less of that available, that I've found, for loom knitting than needle knitting. But, since they're basically the same thing, just with different tools, I've been branching out to needle knitting vlogs and blogs for more insight. Do we also need to make certain our different yarns have an as similar as possible wraps per inch around one inch of a ruler? One important distinction between swapping needles and swapping looms, is that doing that with looms is much more tedious. One thing I've thought of, to help with the temsion, is to perhaps knit slightly looser loops in the colorwork section than the body of the rest of the sweater. Is that a doable fix?

[@rebeccaanderson9598]

I am working on my 2nd colorworks project and this one has long floats. Thank you for the tips for catching the floats. This video was very helpful.

[@bethr5273]

Excellent tips & tricks, Lisa! I am saving this video to refer to again for my first colorwork project! Thanks!

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

That's good to hear! I'm sure it will turn out great :D

[@allisonhodge4576]

I actually use that color trick looking at them with a mono lense for sewing with fabrics! And yes yes YES!!! Now I just have to use the SAME levels as opposed to when sewing fabric using different levels! 😂 Terrific video! Thank you

[@Piaknits]

Very helpful tips and tricks. Thanks for sharing. It is my mission this year to “perfect” my colorwork. These tips will be very helpful.

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

I'm so glad you found the video helpful! Best of luck with your future colorwork projects!

[@littlebigknits]

This was great Lisa!! I’ll be sharing your video on my next podcast episode!

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

Oh thank you! That would be awesome!

[@caroleloft6639]

I love the sweater you have on now...do u have a pattern for it that I could purchase?

[@nancyanderson1820]

Thank you so much!!! I wish I had watched this yesterday morning as now I’m removing 8 rows of 156 stitches. 12-17-2022 20:07

[@eileenchealy]

A good knitter is also a good unraveler, I’ve been there too!

[@dorothybyzewski9279]

When you get a chance, do you think you can do a video tutorial on knitting pattern repeats in stranded color work? especially if the pattern repeats is not in a red box. Thanks and thanks for doing this wonderful video

[@berneemartin8859]

I love your beautiful sweaters! You mentioned how yarns with saturated colors can sometimes run and bleed into a nearby light-color. And that you can prewash problematic yarns and rinse them with vinegar to help set the color. Does anyone have any suggestions on exactly how to best prewash yarn so that it doesn’t get tangled up or something?

[@ctm0661]

Thank you very much for your clear & simple explanations I really enjoyed listening to you 🙂I also really love the sweater you are wearing! Is it one of your own designs & if so, is it available to buy?

[@ILS986]

Is there a colorwork sweater you suggest to start with? I'm a advanced beginner and haven't had issues with following charts or patterns, but I haven't done colorwork yet. I have knitted various items, including sweaters.

[@susiehumbeutel5439]

What do you think about using acrylic yarn? The price is lower, less pilling and it's washable.

[@lisamont8182]

Thank you for your encouragement.

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

You're welcome! I think that it's always good to just go for it! With knitting the great thing is that it's always possible to frog if there's a problem ;)

[@kimpolhemus4025]

Thanks!

[@annmariebusu9924]

Thank you for the tips. I sometimes forget to spread my stitches and my right hand background colour becomes too tight and makes the stitch disappear 🤧. The sweater you are wearing is nice. Can you share the name of the pattern.

[@annmariebusu9924]

@@Enig_Mata no I hadn’t. Thank you so much 😊

[@ctm0661]

@@Enig_Mata thank you so much for this information - my sister in law is Icelandic and I know she would love this sweater, as do I! 🙂

[@donnawelch3548]

Great tips. Thank you for sharing.

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@tinablair4277]

Thanks Lisa. I'm working on the sleeves of my first colorwork sweater. What is the name of the sweater you're wearing?

[@KnittingWithFrogginette]

Great that you're working on your first colorwork sweater! Good luck :D The sweater I'm wearing is called "Graerup" and it's by Camilla Vad. I have a couple vlogs on this channel where I discuss knitting it, if you are curious.

[@yayoos6070]

I like your ideas

[@melaniekay3647]

I’m trying to research how to avoid a “jog “ in the pattern when the rounds spiral up; any tips?

[@mysticmoth1111]

I saw a video that suggested knitting in the stitch below when you're at the BOR

[@Serenity-fu8xz]

Thank you for saying that that’s just what I needed to hear ❤️🙏

[@debraclay163]

Too wordy