5 Colorwork Knitting Techniques You've Never Heard Of

We’re big fans of colorwork and the variety of things you can do to express yourself using it.

But there’s so much more to explore beyond mosaic, fair isle, and intarisa.

So here are 5 types of colorwork knitting you might not have come across before.

Typographic Knitting

This technique is about more than knitting letters into your knits.

Developed by German graphic designer and knitting enthusiast Rüdiger Schlömer, Typeknitting is an exploration of typography and knitting.

It doesn’t focus on one style of colorwork knitting, but rather how different colorwork methods can be used to express typographic styles.

Twigg Stitch Knitting

This reversible technique was created by Vicky Twigg and explained in her 2014 book Twigg Sttich.

The technique is a little hard to explain, but it allows you to knit color patterns using ribbing.

There’s a lot more that’s possible with this method, so if you love the look of ribbing and don’t want to fuss with brioche, this might be the technique for you.

Bargello Knitting

My friend Patty Nance developed this technique back in the 2010s and even published a book on the topic.

This is a form of “Planned Pooling” which uses variegated yarns in a way that has more control over color changes.

It’s a clever way to create some very interesting color patterns while knitting with only one yarn.

Fusion and Fission Knitting

These techniques are a true modern innovation in knitting.

Created by designer Mary Martin, these reversible techniques have similar looks but are created in different ways.

Fusion knitting uses slipped stitches on both sides of the fabric to create design elements. These elements are the same on each side of the fabric.

Fission knitting uses marled knitting (two different yarns held together) and splits the marl apart with slipped stitches to create design motifs. Different designs can be on each side, while the fabric between them is made of both yarns.

Roosimine (or Roositud) Knitting

This is an Estonian inlay technique for creating colorwork pattern in knitted fabric. It’s created by wrapping different color yarns around sections of knitting, often in geometric designs.

It’s much easier than duplicate stitching and creates an interesting texture as well.

Conclusion

There’s lots of ways to do colorwork knitting.

Hopefully these inspire some new ideas for you.

But what do you think?

Have you heard of any of these before?

Have you tried any of them?

We’d love to hear about your experience. 😍