Exploring Color Knitting: 7 FREE Patterns

There are many ways to add color to your knitting, from using multicolored yarn to a variety of multi-stranded techniques. With this free color knitting collection, we’ll help you explore our favorite stranded knitting and colorwork knitting techniques. Color knitting is one of the most exciting and challenging techniques in knitting. We’ve gathered seven of our favorite color knitting patterns in one free eBook for you: Exploring Color Knitting: 7 FREE Patterns.

There is nothing like adding a pop of color or design to a hand knitted project to make it extra special. We want you to check out a variety of techniques, which is why each of these patterns were hand-selected to be included. Truly stunning the free Fair Isle knitting patterns in this collection are worth the effort. Start out with a vest that has beautiful shaping and designs, or try the hat/pullover combination that uses an easy zigzag pattern for a simpler color effect. Knit up a pair of mitts to keep the chill away, then take a look at the Fair Isle bag that uses color in a unique way. Next, give an intarsia-based design a try, including a soft, wearable sweater, and a fun little box that shows off your knitting skills and is functional. Then round out your color explorations with a mitered-square wrap, that’s as effortless as working in stripes. Whether you make one or all seven of these colorful knits, you are sure to enjoy knitting in color!

The Ivy League Vest by Eunny Jang: In this vest, Eunny combined a traditional Fair Isle knit border and peerie patterns with a body-conscious silhouette. Extra-deep armholes and V-neck shaping create a comfortably close fit in this stunning design. Four neutrals and two shades of blue look more complex when used with each other in different combinations. Mostly light ribbing at neck, armholes, and hem picks up just a hint of the body colors. You’re sure to master this colorful technique with the help of this striking pattern.

Tomato by Wendy Bernard: As comforting as a bowl of tomato soup but exponentially more exquisite, this intarsia knit is both fun and functional. It’s designed to be close fitting, with waist shaping and a seriously flattering deep scoopy neck. Featured in No Sheep for You (Interweave, 2007), this sweater is knitted in a soft cotton worked at a tighter gauge to improve the drape and wearability. And for a little spice, designer Wendy Bernard has knitted in a simplified herringbone stranded-knitting pattern.

Freyja Hat and Pullover by Courtney Kelley: The painterly knit-and-purl colorwork of the Bohus Stickning Cooperative inspired the Freyja Hat and Pullover. Five colors shift and blend from stitch to stitch in a soft, haloed yarn blended from camel, alpaca, silk, and cashmere. A zigzag pattern builds into shaping in both the crown of the hat and the pullover’s circular Fair Isle yoke, making them much easier to knit than you’d expect.

Modern Quilt Wrap by Mags Kandis: This comforting wrap is very loosely based on the traditional Log Cabin quilt block, and is worked as an oversized scarf square by square. The easy and satisfying technique of mitered color knitting is generally used for striping, but in this design makes squares instead. And because this project is worked one color at a time, it’s perfect for playing with a variety of color combinations. This is as effortless as working in stripes, but the results are far more impressive.

Narnia White Witch Mitts by Laura Rintala: These Fair Isle colorwork mitts were inspired by Laura’s third Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe experience. These mittens aren’t directly related to the White Witch herself, but instead respond to the need to protect oneself from her icy touch—Laura sees them as a wearable talisman or medicine shield against the coldness of evil.

Ebony Jewel-Wing Hat and Purse by Mary Scott Huff: Almost every time she knits a hat, Mary Scott Huff imagines what it would look like as a purse. Thankfully, hat and purse constructions are quite similar and easy to translate. In this colorwork knitting pattern, she reverses the usual coloration using a solid motif on a colored background. This Fair Isle knit is worked in the round with a folded hem, and is quite impressive.

Intarsia Box by Vicki Square: The super easy design is the perfect pattern to help you begin knitting intarsia. With an easy-to-read intarsia chart, even beginning knitters can be successful. Grab your needles and yarn and start practicing this technique with this fun little box. You can use it to hold pens and pencils, knitting needles or crochet hooks, or a cheerful bouquet of daisies.

What are you waiting for? Whether you are looking for an accessory in fun yarn colors or a functional and colorful item to add to your wardrobe, this eBook has something for you. Explore the many techniques for adding color to knitted items with the seven patterns in this collection. Click here to find this free Exploring Color Knitting: 7 FREE Patterns Using Intarsia, Stranded Knitting, and Fair Isle Knitting Techniques eBook and get started or keep reading to learn more about each pattern. Have a wonderful time filling your knitting with color!

Cheers,