Mosaic Loom Knitting

Hello loom knitters and welcome to our color series! This is topic 5, Mosaic & skip/slip stitch colorwork.

Color is everywhere...it affects our mood, inspires us and makes us feel more creative!

Above loom knitting Patterns Can be found Here!

This is the 5th in a series of blog posts and accompanying videos, pictures discussing different methods of using color in your loom knitting. Check back for future articles or subscribe to our mailing list to be the first notified of the new posts in this series. This post is about Fair Isle loom knitting.

The series will include

(the current topic is highlighted below)

• Topic 1: Beginners! Simple Colorwork on the loom including, self-striping, variegated yarn, stripes and color changes, vertical and horizontal colorwork (post link)
• Topic 2:  How to fix the jog!
• Topic 3:  Fair Isle loom knitting
• Topic 4:  Intarsia on the loom
• Topic 5:  Mosaic & Slip Stitch Loom Knitting
• Topic 6:  Finding color inspiration
• All the topics will include pictures/video links, charts where applicable.

What is Slip/skip Stitch colorwork?

Slip/skip stitch colorwork is a technique used to make different color placement effects in knitted fabric. By skipping stitches/pegs, you can create beautiful waves, blocks, mosaics and color effects.  

How do I do a skip/slip stitch on the loom?

You take the yarn behind the peg(s), ignoring 1 or more sts/pegs. It will usually be written like this, skip1 wyib, slip1 wyib, slip1, skip1 or some variation of those. Pegs can also be skipped/slipped by placing the yarn in front of the work, adding texture, but for the purposes of todays color series we are only referring to skipping the pegs with the yarn in back of the peg. The pictures below show examples of slip/skip stitch color patterns. All the projects below were done on the loom. Video/ Skip/slip stitch on the loom

What is Mosaic colorwork?

Mosaic colorwork is a pattern created in the knitted fabric using slip/skip-stitch using 2 colors. 2 different strands of yarn are used but only 1 is knit with at a time. Two rows are worked in one color, then 2 rows are worked in the other color and so on.

Is Mosaic colorwork hard to do on the loom?

No, it is well adapted for the loom as the loom knitter never has to handle more than one color at a time. Beginners can create exciting, complex appearing designs with very little experience. If you know how to read a pattern/chart, do the knit stitch (k) and skip a peg with the yarn in back (skip1 wyib), then you are ready to do mosaics!

What are the principles of Mosaic colorwork?

• Mosaic colorwork is simple enough for a beginner! It's also faster than Fair Isle/Stranded colorwork.
• Skills needed:  Knit stitch, chart/pattern reading, skip/slip stitch with yarn in back and working with 2 colors (similar to making stripes as each color is worked separately)
• Always work with two colors. Although you can add other colors in different sections as was done in this beautiful needle knitting blanket pattern. See the Pattern!
• Work each color for two rows.
• You will work 2 identical rows for each color. Example; row 2 will be worked identically to row 1, with the same sts being skipped and the same stitches being worked. The patterning will usually change with the color change.
• Always skip or slip your stitches with the yarn in back of the peg (wyib).
• Mosaics may be worked on any number of stitches, although your patterning may be slightly off center.
• Because 2 rows are identical in mosaic knitting, the charts are usually compressed (but not always, if the designer wishes to help out beginners by showing the entire pattern) to show every other row. Each single horizontal row represents 2 rows of knitting.
• There is no stranding (locking in floats) in Mosaic colorwork. Using skip/slip sts eliminates this need. Occasionally, you will see a mosaic pattern with longer color gaps of more than 4 sts, in this case your knitting will be neater if you lock in your floats.

Are there resources for mosaic charts?

• Yes, Barbara G. Walker has an entire book dedicated to Mosaic Patterns/charts, it's awesome.  See the Book!
• Here is a cool resource for creating your own Mosaic charts Go to link! There are rules to making your own Mosaic patterns, this makes it easy.
• Detailed and interesting article on Mosaic knitting (needle knitting is not much different in colorwork except that we don't have a wrong side to our knitting) Go to Link!

How do I read a mosaic chart?

Lets walk through a couple rows of a Mosaic chart! All Mosaic charts are worked in the same manner.

Chart explanation:  Mosaic charts are different then Intarsia or Fair Isle charts. Each row counts as two rows. Row 1 is actually row 1 and 2. Rows 1 and 2 are knit in the steel color. Rows 3 and 4 (the next rows on the chart, written as just row 3) are knit in white only. Note that the chart is worked differently in the round or if flat knitting. The selvage sts are eliminated when knitting in the round.

Flat Knitting (multiple of 6 sts + 2)
Rows 1 and 2 (right to left, knitting flat):  K1, *K2, skip1 wyib, k3, repeat from * to last st, k1 (in color Steel only).
Rows 3 and 4 (left to right, knitting flat):  K1, *skip1 wyib, k5, repeat from * to last st, k1 (in color white only).
Keep working in this manner until end of chart, then repeat, changing colors every 2 rows.

In the round (multiple of 6 sts)
Rows 1 and 2 (right to left, knitting in the round):  *K2, skip1 wyib, k3, repeat from * to end of row (in color Steel).

Rows 3 and 4 (right to left, knitting in the round):  *K5, skip1 wyib, repeat from * to end of row (in color white).
Keep working in this manner until end of chart, then repeat, changing colors every 2 rows.

That's it! Mosaic and Skip/slip stitch knitting is fun and easy and gives a dramatic result. Please leave any questions you may have on this topic in the comments below and I will update the post as needed to add helpful information.