Mosaic Knitting for Beginners

Mosaic knitting and crochet has become my latest obsession. Looking at the intricate patterns that you can create with simple stitches mesmerizes me. I can TOTALLY understand that when you look at one of the mosaic knit patterns as a beginner that they can seem intimidating. That doesn’t have to be the case anymore. The Beginners Guide to Mosaic Knitting by Melissa Leapman is here to help you make your first mosaic knit project.

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What is Mosaic Knitting:

Mosaic knitting is a great introduction to colorwork. Although it may appear to be an intensive process, really these beautiful designs are worked with using only ONE color per row!

Colorwork can be a scary word for some knitters. They start to think of floats and which way to twist their yarn so that they don’t get holes. Yes, these are two concerns when working fair isle or intarsia knitting, but not with mosaic colorwork.

Have you tried to knit the brick stitch before? That is mosaic knitting!!!

Techniques of Mosaic Knitting

Are you ready for this…there are only four things that you need to know to get started with mosaic knitting!

• knitting
• purling
• slipping
• changing colors

I bet you thought that the list was going to be longer! Four things you need to know before you get started that you most likely already know. So what are you waiting for!

Pros and Cons of Mosaic Knitting

Pros

1. Easier than stranded knitting (think fair isle and intarsia)
2. Finished fabric maintains most of the stretch, unlike stranded knitting
3. There are no floats (particularly the hard to maintain long floats) and you don’t have to worry about maintaining your tension with the floats (like fair isle)

Cons

1. Working slipped stitches from previous rows — in order for a stitch in the non-dominant color to be slipped, the stitch below it in the previous row must be the same color
2. Mosaic knitting doesn’t allow for lots of colors to be worked in the project. Because you are only using one color per row you won’t be able to get the same look as you would with fair isle or intarsia

Mosaic Knitting for Beginners

Looking to learn how to start mosaic knitting? Melissa Leapman has put together a great beginner book to walk you through all of the steps you need to know.

The only ‘scary’ part of mosaic knitting is reading the charts. Melissa walks you through how to read the charts so that you have confidence. Did you know that you can work the stitches in stockinette or in garter? Learn how easy it can be with Melissa’s help.

Get started with these eight great mosaic knitting for beginners patterns.

Purchase Your Copy of the Book

You can purchase this wonderful book through Amazon or directly through Leisure Arts. Grab your copy today!

Other Resources:

1. Art of Seamless Knitting by Faina Goberstein
2. AlterKnits Stitch Dictionary by Andrea Rangel
3. Mosaic & Lace Knits by Barbra Benson
4. Mosaic Knitting Basics with Joanna Johnson Video Download
5. Video Tutorial Slipped Stitch Mosaic Scarf

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly IS mosaic knitting?

Honestly… mosaic knitting is a super fun way to do colorwork where you only use one color per row! It looks really intricate, but it’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. Think of it like knitting the brick stitch… that’s mosaic knitting!

Is mosaic knitting hard for beginners?

Yes! You might think it’s scary, but the amazing thing is that there are only four basic techniques you need to know… knitting, purling, slipping, and changing colors. You probably already know all of those!

What are the best things about mosaic knitting?

So here’s the thing… it’s way easier than stranded knitting, and your fabric keeps most of its stretch, which is great. Plus, no annoying floats to worry about!

Are there any downsides to mosaic knitting?

Well… you do have to be a little careful when you’re slipping stitches from previous rows. Also, since you’re only using one color per row, you can’t get quite the same look as you would with multiple colors in every row like in fair isle.

Where can I learn more about mosaic knitting?

Melissa Leapman has a fantastic book called “The Beginners Guide to Mosaic Knitting” that walks you through everything, including how to read those charts… it’s a real lifesaver!