Quick answer: Mosaic knitting uses two colours but you only carry and work one per row. The second colour is only slipped, never worked — making it much simpler than stranded colorwork.
What it is
Mosaic knitting creates complex-looking patterns using slip-stitch colorwork. You alternate two colours every two rows — but within each pair of rows, you only use one yarn at a time.
When to use it
- Your first colorwork project
- Hats, cowls, and small accessories in bold graphic patterns
- Anytime you want colorwork without managing multiple live yarns
How to do it
- Read the chart — each colour gets two rows: one RS and one WS row.
- Work Colour A for 2 rows: knit the A stitches, slip the B stitches purlwise wyib on RS. On WS, purl A stitches, slip B stitches wyif.
- Switch to Colour B and repeat: knit/purl B stitches, slip A stitches.
- Carry the unused yarn up the side — don't cut it.
Common mistakes
- Slipping the wrong colour — always slip the colour NOT active on the previous row
- Pulling slipped stitches too tight — keep them loose or fabric puckers
- Cutting the unused yarn — leads to hundreds of ends to weave in