Three-Color Stranded Knitting

This video is part of my Colorwork Series.
Actual demonstration 5:15
Fair Isle knitting, which is a specific form of "stranded knitting," uses no more than two colors in any given row. Other types of stranded knitting may use three, even four colors in a row which can add more dimension to your work. In this video, I demonstrate how to knit using three working yarns at once.
There are a variety of ways to hold your working yarns with the objective being not ending up with a tangled mess. The key to this is in how you hold the yarns in a particular order.
Thank you for watching my video and please be sure to subscribe to my channel for additional tips, tricks, demonstrations and “How-To’s.” Feedback and comments welcome.

[@karenbochinski]

WOW the best tutorial I have seen for 3 color work

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much! 😀

[@lallyladyoflallybroch]

Thanks for this Video to Show a realy simple Methode of knitting with 3 colors, that can somtimes realy frustable. Thats realy clear Show. 👍 Greetings from Germany LG lally 😊

[@DeborahWolf-ed6eu]

Great, clear tutorial. Beautiful patterns! Thank you

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Deborah! 😊

[@NancySc010]

Such a great video, thanks!!!!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much!

[@LaMoulinRouge]

Oh my God, it finally makes sense! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge 💖

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you, Yung! I'm glad you found this helpful. Thank you for watching and happy knitting to you! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@carmenwhitman7816]

Thank you for helping me to visualize organizing three colors.

[@Clubkidknitter]

You are very welcome, Carmen! Thank you for watching and taking time to comment! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@AndrewReinert]

This is a great, concise video. Beautifully clear, close-up views of the work in progress illustrate your eloquent commentary. I’ve been teaching myself Continental knitting technique, And it was extremely helpful to watch your approach to that as well.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Andrew: thank you for taking time to comment. I'm happy to know you found this helpful. Thank you for watching and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@elizabethcartner2005]

Thank you for a very clear instruction on this colour way.

[@knittingthestash]

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I had not thought of looking at the strands in this way . . . very helpful!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much for your comment and feedback. I really appreciate it. I'm so glad you found it helpful. Thank you again for watching and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@carolynlambert4543]

Just absolutely LOVE your colour choices for each pattern

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Carolyn! And thank you for watching! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@pialindeg]

Thank you - what an informative video - you are such a good teacher!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much! I appreciate that. Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@joannehenkie2781]

Very helpful. Understanding colour work so much more now thanks!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you, Joanne! I'm glad this was helpful. Thank you for watching and happy knitting to you! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@madcats1231]

This was so helpful! Excellent tutorial! Thank you!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Kate F Thank you Kate!

[@VirgsB]

I am very new to your channel and to knitting in general. I am so pleased that I found you. Thanks so much for teaching me about stranded knitting as your work is just beautiful! I look forward to watching your older videos. Thanks

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you for your kind words! I'm elated that you find my videos helpful! Happy knitting and thanks again for watching! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@karenfret]

Thank you so much for this excellent presentation. I have looked at several videos on this style of knitting and have found the others a bit confusing. This has really helped me. Thanks again.

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're so welcome and thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!

[@lisawheeler447]

Thank you! Very clear instructions!!!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you for your kind feedback, Lisa! Thank you, also, for watching! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@pamelamckenzie2685]

your work is stunning and lovely and colourful, keep up with the great work.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Pamela! That is very kind of you to say! Happy knitting!

[@canndell]

Really great instructions!!!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Cindy!

[@marilouabramshe1571]

Thanks ERl, that makes sense and I will try it

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're welcome Marilou!

[@thumphreydable]

Thanks. This is a great help.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you, Theryl and you are most welcome. Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@leneprior9392]

Beautiful and helpful

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you Lene! I'm glad you found it beneficial. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@sandraruble454]

Your video was exactly what I needed. My pattern, the throwback, has several rows of three colors. I can hold one in each hand without any problems but I just couldn’t get the hang of three yarns. Thanks for making this easy for me!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Sandra!

[@TheNightFlower]

This has helped me so much. I was trying to tie the floats at the back sort of together to keep my tension but I’ve realised I don’t have to. Thanks for explaining it so clearly. I was also holding my working strands incorrectly and they were tangling with each other, every few rows I was unable to knit because my leading yarns were in such a mess. I just did 3 rows using your method and it’s tangle free (mostly, still have to practice). Thanks so much for this video. New subscriber.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I am happier to hear that it has been helpful to you. Thank you for taking the time to comment and thank you for watching (and subscribing)! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@rosannazerafa3422]

Getting ready to knit a Lopi pattern and wanting to be sure of techniques! Thanks for a very helpful video.

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're very welcome.

[@newmoonjlp]

That was so useful, thank you

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're most welcome and I'm glad this was helpful! Thanks for watching and for the feedback. Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@tmgukcatfan]

Thanks very much! I’ve done lots of two color stranded knitting, but I just encountered my first pattern with three colors in a row. I was totally flummoxed. I’ve watched several videos and tried to imitate what they suggested, but it still didn’t work for me. Your video makes it crystal clear. I am so excited to try this technique. With other methods I don’t think I was able to keep the dominance consistent. This seems very straightforward. Fingers crossed that it works for me.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much for the feedback, Teresa! I'm glad you found this helpful as that is always my goal. Thanks again for watching and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@bpurly7775]

You make it look so easy. I just started fair isle and need more practice. Great video.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you! :)

[@Chloe-qy6hn]

don't know if you are still active on youtube but just wanted to say you have a great eye for color, i love how bright and vibrant your work is!!! so gorgeous!!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Chloe!

[@dianneunderwood8456]

Your work is absolutely beautiful! Thank you for your very informative demonstration - I am tackling a pattern that has 3 colours in some rounds and wondered how to do it.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you Dianna! I'm so glad to hear it was helpful! Thank you for watching and thank you for taking the time to comment! Stay safe and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@luzdosol1]

Så Nice tank you😊

[@beniordonez4767]

Precioso 😍

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you! 😊

[@eg_daria4689]

Very helpful. I made a Christmas stocking that had 3 colors and I wasn't sure how to handle all the yarn and just winged it. I'm definitely going to try keeping the yarn separate.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you!

[@culinarygurly987]

This was helpful and well done. I just made a pattern for a coworker that has been flip flopping about colors

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you Culinary Gurly! I'm glad they were helpful. Happy Knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@irishflutegirl9022]

Excellent 👌🏻😊❤ ty

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much! I'm glad it was helpful! 😊

[@irishflutegirl9022]

@@Clubkidknitter life saver! I wouldn't have been able to continue on without your video! My first 20 rounds were 2 colors and then they sneakily threw in 3 colors on just 2 rounds at the end of my sweater yoke! 😊.Grateful for your help. Have a great day!

[@Clubkidknitter]

@irishflutegirl9022 My absolute pleasure. I'm always glad to hear that my videos are useful. It's exactly why I make them. You are inspiring in what I do with videos. Thank you for taking time to share your feedback and thank you for watching! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@rozieknits7559]

I will tru this method thanks

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're welcome and thank you for watching! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@Merikanova]

Thank you

[@Clubkidknitter]

You're welcome. :)

[@Mcshanda]

Nice work🤗 new subscriber 💗

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you! :)

[@jesslwessl]

This is actually the best method I tried yet, especially with catching the floats. As I am knitting a sweater in stocking stitch, I wonder how to keep the colors of yarn correctly aligned keeping in mind the dominance when turning my piece around for the purl stitches?

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much for your comment! 😊 To answer your question, when you turn your work, just make sure those three working yarns remain in their respective positions (top, middle, bottom) and the same yarn-dominance will be maintained on the purl side as in the knit side! Thanks for watching and again taking the time for your comment and question! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@aacegeo]

When you finish row 2, which has all three colors, then work the next two rows without the lemon color, do you float the lemon color horizontally along row 3 and 4? Or do you drop it, and pick it back up when you get to row 5, like a vertical float? (Assuming youre working in the round)

[@Clubkidknitter]

Excellent question! I float it vertically and pick up with it in the next round it's called-for. If I don't need it for another, say 10 or 15 rounds, I detach it and then reattach it. Either method works. Thanks for watching, and happy knitting!

[@dorothybyzewski9279]

Hello, thanks for making these videos I’ve been subscribed to your channel for years, I wanted to know if whey you had the time if you can make a video about knitting repeats in color work,thanks so much!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Hi, Dorothy! Thank you for your message and for being a subscriber. I believe I might have one on my channel called, "Fair Isle Knitting in the Round." It's for a gray and hot pink hat with a repeating argyle design. Take a look at that, if you haven't already, and let me know if that's what you meant by "repeating pattern." If it's not, I'm absolutely delighted to make something. I'm presently working on a mini series for Latvian mittens where I discuss and demonstrate a different knitting technique I discovered this summer about "rotating floats." I'd be happy to make a video on your topic if it's not addressed in that video I mentioned. Also, you may email me with any additional details about the video you'd like me to create at [e-mail]. Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment! Happy knitting! 😊 - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@dorothybyzewski9279]

@@Clubkidknitter thanks so much for your reply,you rock! Happy knitting and happy Friday and September!

[@lkogirl9869]

Thankyou for this video..I think its a great idea to keep the less used middle yarn in front, as use when needed. So, is.it safe to assume, the left hand yarn will be most dominant , front yarn the 2nd most dominant, and the rights( throwing ) yarn is the background yarn?

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you for your comment! I appreciate you taking the time. I'm glad you found it helpful. You are correct. The left yarn will be held in dominance because the float will always be under the other two. Essentially, they are stacked one above the other going from left to right. The right-most being on top. Thank you again for watching and Happy Knitting! -Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@abgates56]

Thanks so much for your great stranded knitting videos. I'm learning so much. Could you tell me what software you use to create your paper patterns? Thanks again!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much! I use Microsoft Excel because of its features and flexibility!

[@rawforyou5514]

How would you advice to knit three threads which are too far apart to just knit (loops forming). So in fact you end up sort of twined knitting??? Do i have to switch threads over each other every other 5th stitch?

[@Clubkidknitter]

Yes. You would want to catch floats longer than 4 stitches. This will not only help with regard to tension, it will prevent the floats from becoming snagged on jewelry, rings, etc. I just released a video in my Hexagonal Knitting Series, "Carrying & Catching Floats/Tension Tips." This may help you in that department. Happy knitting and thanks for watching and commenting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@keith.paulahyde5537]

How do you catch long floats with three color stranded knitting

[@Clubkidknitter]

@keith.paulahyde5537 I would twist the yarn of the long float around the yarn of one of the other two you are going to make a stitch with. That's probably the easiest way I've used in that very situation.

[@mickeyhoyle]

Very nice patterns! Do you have them on Ravelry? Also, what kind of yarn are you using for this piece?

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you Mickey! These are ones that I did in Excel. I actually posted these in the files section of a Facebook yarn group called "Knitting Worldwide." As far as the yarn I used with this scarf, it's Caron Simply Soft 6-oz. It comes in a HUGE color selection. Thank you for watching my videos and happy knitting! Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@mickeyhoyle]

@@Clubkidknitter Thanks for the reply. I joined the Facebookgroup and found your pattern :). I;m always hungry for new yarn, but first let me finish my other projects.

[@marilouabramshe1571]

HI Earl, this video was helpful for short spaces between colors. How do you handle three stranded knitting when there are longer spaces between the colors? For example. wbwwwbybwwwbwbwwwbyb with y(yellow) being the pop color? How do you catch the strands?

[@Clubkidknitter]

Marilou Abramshe Hi Marilou! That is an excellent question and I should have addressed that in this video. Let's say you carry the yellow for 7 stitches. Go ahead and do so. On the very next round, halfway into the section with that really long float, go in to knit your stitch as normal, while at the same time, passing the needle below the yellow bar to "catch" it. Complete the knit stitch. This will trap the really long yellow float. Keep in mind, when you make that really long yellow float, make it a little looser than normal. That way, when you catch it on the next round, you won't strangle the actual yellow stitch on either side of the float. I hope that makes sense. Thank you for that question and I'm going to make an appended section at the end of this video to address that. :)

[@niffer62]

I would very much like to see that catching technique for long floats. I am doing my first colorwork (Christmas stocking) that uses 4 colors in a row. Very frustrating! Thankyou - I am subscribing now :'l

[@fish8cat]

I love your channel! You are the best. I have a pattern where it calls for three colors, but I think I should be catching floats on the back. Do you have any tutorials on that? Thx

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much for the feedback, Renee! Great question about the 5 stitch float or longer. What I do is make that float looser than normal. On the very next round, I insert my right needle into the stitch that sits somewhere in the middle above that long float, and then continue with the right needle going below that long float and then pull my working yarn through to complete the stitch. By doing so, you effectively trap that float (just in the round above it). It's important to make that particular long float much looser so that "gathering" doesn't occur. Also, if it's longer than say 10 or so stitches, simply do that twice or more above that particular float, spaced along..Hope that helps! Also, check out my video on Tension Tips for stranded knitting. Thank you again for watching and commenting! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@fish8cat]

@@Clubkidknitter Thank you so much! I will do that!

[@alalonde2869]

Hello! I love your tutorials. Is there any way you could do a video showing how to do this method your speaking about in this comment? I’m working with three colors and following your video with how I hole the 3 yarns but catching floats at the same time is killing me! Lol. I would love to try it this way. Even a pic or two of how you do this? Thanks so much for all of your help. Hope your doing well! 😊

[@Clubkidknitter]

@@alalonde2869 Absolutely!

[@alalonde2869]

@@Clubkidknitter Thank you!🙂

[@tsonus]

What yarn are you using please?

[@Clubkidknitter]

In this video (and for the infinity scarf), I'm using Caron Simply Soft 6-oz. The colorways are splendid. It's very soft. It's acrylic and used it on this project for a friend who is allergic to lanolin and has a sensitivity to wool/wool-blends. Thank you for watching and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@kikizag]

It’s possible to have 4 or more multicolor yarn like 2 dominant colors and 2 background colors in a same round? yarns are MC1- MC2-AC1 & AC2? I'm so confused which hand to hold each. 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@Clubkidknitter]

There's really only one true dominant color and it's always the one that is in the left-most position of the left hand, Continental. If you are a two-handed knitter and hold two colors in each hand, again, the second most left color in the left hand is dominant. The reason it's dominant is because it sits the lowest or furthest from the top of the needle relative to all of the other colors. That being the case, those happen to be the longest stitches, compared to the other three, hence they are the most prominent and therefore, dominant. Once you establish a position for all four yarns, they should remain in those specific positions for the entirety of the knit. If you switch them during, your design will look wonky. I hope this makes sense. 😀

[@kikizag]

@@Clubkidknitter can I send you an email? Thank you for answered me back. 😌

[@kikizag]

@@Clubkidknitter I wish you could make a video explaining this using 4 colors or more. There’s Not any information on internet about it. 😩😩 I love your tutorials are very details and well explained ❣️

[@pamelaturnbull6164]

I'm over the moon I've found your videos. Can you or anyone following help me with the setting of a fairisle pattern. The one I'm following says knit first 9 stitches then the 16 stitches of the main pattern, this sets the pattern. But try as I might it just won't work. The stitches for the 16 after the 9 don't make the pattern right, so consequently it isn't right all the way along. I gave up eventually and just make it work, though it still looks good I'm totally flummoxed with it.... Thanks 😁

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you so much, Pamela for your comments and feedback. I'm glad you found this helpful. With regard to your question, is the pattern knitted in the round or flat? It sounds as if this is a 25-stitch repeat? Fair Isle patterns are often "offset" with the repeat. This has to do with where the actual pattern sets in relationship to the beginning and ending of a round. In other words, the beginning and the ending of a repeat section lies across the beginning and ending of the round. Across, rather than spot-on. I hope this helps, but if not, give me some other specifics and I may be able to help. Thank you again for watching my videos and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter / Earl

[@pamelaturnbull6164]

@@Clubkidknitter Thanks very much for your reply, sorry for the delay in answering. It’s knitted flat. I still can’t work it out, there’s different start points for different sizes for my size it seems to be 31 for row 1, 12 stitches then the 16 pattern that is repeated 3 times to last 9 stitches, but the last stitch of the pattern repeat and the first of the 9 is out of sync. Row 1 is all just cream colour then it starts with pattern on row 2. For the sleeves it’s over even more stitches. If it’s right at the start, it’s wrong after the pattern repeat. I’ve tried searching reading patterns for colour work but haven’t found anything as yet on google or on KZbin. So if it’s off set like you say are the stitches out of sync for the first 2 rows to set it up? Sorry I know I sound totally stupid I just don’t get it....🤨

[@Clubkidknitter]

@@pamelaturnbull6164 Is this a free pattern or a paid one? If it's free, let me know where I can download it. Even if it is a paid pattern, let me know the name of the pattern and I'll check it out, regardless. I'll see if I can figure it out and then get back to you. :)

[@pamelaturnbull6164]

@@Clubkidknitter it’s a paid one. I could take a screen shot and send. It’s a Wendy pattern number 5722 thanks very much. I’ve started the sleeves and progressing better 😁

[@BM-zq9kz]

Very pedagocic

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you 😊

[@lilyt5855]

thank you for this demonstration! I like the idea of keeping the third color in front of the work, to help keep everything separate. Now, here's my question: Say you've got three different colors, but the third color is not used in every row. So, for instance, the pale yellow color in your chart is used in rows 1 and 2, and then not again until row 5. So, do I carry the yarn with me by catching a lot of floats, pull it up vertically to row 5 when I get there, or just cut the yarn and attach it again when I get to row 5? And is there any "rule of thumb" for how long you should carry a third color before just cutting it and re-attaching later? Thank you! I'm using my quarantine to learn color work- it's been on my knitting to-do list, but always seemed so complicated with all that yarn tangled up.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you Susan and you're quite welcome. With regard to your question, I carry the unused yarn and catch it at the beginning of every third round, I'm not using it. That way, if it's maybe 6 rounds, you don't end up with a vertical float longer than three rounds as that could become snagged on something. Great question, by the way. Thanks for watching and for your comment! Happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter/Earl

[@lilyt5855]

@@Clubkidknitter I've been finding it surprisingly difficult to find this issue addressed anywhere. All the three color tutorials I've seen have only been for three colors used in the same row, not what to do if the third color is not used every row. Maybe it's just a really obvious question, but not so obvious to me! thank you so much for your reply, that helps so much

[@DanandDonna1]

Actual knitting begins at 5:55.

[@traumaresponsereprogramming]

Why nobody showing how to do this on purl side!

[@Clubkidknitter]

Typically, this type of knitting is always done in the round (scarves, hats, socks, etc.). When knitting in the round, there is no opportunity to purl. I've not seen stranded knitting in this type knitted "flat." Thank you for watching and happy knitting! - Clubkidknitter

[@knitordi]

I like your technique of placing the colors in their own place, but I found it so distracting trying to watch your shaky hands. Knitting is supposed to relax you so.....breathe... and relax. If you are a tense person, decreasing your caffeine might help. Thanks for the video.

[@Clubkidknitter]

Thank you, so much, Diana! That bothers me, too and I am self-conscious about it. It's from some of my nerve medications for my neuropathy as well as Albuterol for my lung disease. I'm trying to control it more. :)

[@knitordi]

@@Clubkidknitter Understandable! Take care and keep on Knitting. Your work is wonderful!

[@Clubkidknitter]

@@knitordi Thank you, Diana and thank you for watching as well as feedback. :)