Tricks to Knit with Multiple Colors

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced knitter, everyone can benefit from learning new knitting tricks.

One trick I learned some years ago when working with many colors is to catch the floats on the next row. For example, let's say that you have 5 stitches from one red stitch to the next red stitch. Usually you would twist your yarns on the 3rd stitch or so as to not create a long float. Instead of doing that, carry your color not in use across without twisting it. On the next row, when you reach the halfway point of your float, place your working needle under the float and work your next stitch as usual. This will anchor your float in place. The only thing you need to do so that'll work successfully is to keep your float tension pretty loose so that you won't draw the yarn in too much when you anchor it.

Do you use any neat tricks when working colorwork?

(excerpts from a discussion group postings)

"For Fair Isle--One color in each hand, just like EZ. I usually carry the color with the greatest number of stitches on that row in my dominant hand, and the other in the other hand. I can knit English or German, so I don't swap hands until the next row." - Beth

"Even though stranded colorwork is my favorite knitting method, I have no tricks for performing it! The only thing I am always careful to do, which has become an automatic motion, is to pull the sts on the RH ndl away from tip, so as to extend the carried yarn loosely enough, before knitting with the second color. Happy Knitting!" - Dawn

"For Fair Isle, I carry both yarns in my left hand (I knit continental and find this easier than throwing one of the yarns). I thought I was the only one who did this until I saw Meg Swansen do the same thing. For intarsia, I find that I make fewer mistakes if I knit backward (instead of purling), since the picture side is always facing. My friend purchased a rectangular basket and fit it with dividers meant for a sock drawer. She puts all her balls of yarn for a Kaffe Fassett coat in it -- it really minimizes tangling and has sped up her knitting rate quite markedly." - Jamie

"I, too, knit with a colour in each hand but I always keep the background colour in my right hand to keep the colour balance throughout the garment. I carry my yarn on yarn bracelets, one on each wrist, to keep the colours separate. If I change background colours throughout the garment, I keep the light colour on my right. It helps to remind me to keep the colour balance." - Paulette

Note that the information quoted above may or may not be correct. It is posted here purely as a starting point from which knitters can begin researching knitting methods and be inspired by other enthusiasts.