Is anyone knitting selbu mittens along with me? I spent the weekend working on the mitten I’m filming for the tutorial, which was a nice activity given that I’ve been ordered to stay off my foot. I gave several pairs as gifts to friends and family this year, but I still have a few more pairs to make, which is why I’m getting a head start as we start heading into fall. (I wish the weather felt more like fall. I am over the humidity.) Anyway, this post and video are part two of the selbu/nordic mitten knitting tutorial. In this video, we’ll get into colorwork knitting. I’ll show how to start the pattern and how to make increases for the thumb.
You can find the selbu mitten knitting tutorial part one HERE. In that post and video, we review the materials, cast on, learn how to work on double-pointed needles, and how to start the cuff.
The cool thing about colorwork knitting is that it looks complicated, but it really isn’t much harder than knitting with one color. Here are a few tips I’ve learned from doing colorwork knitting…
colorwork knitting tips | start with two colors
Two-color colorwork is what you’ll see predominately in traditional colorwork knitting patterns, but there are patterns with more colors. If you’re new to colorwork, I would suggest starting with a two-color pattern to keep things simple as you’re learning.
manage the yarn floats
One of the practical benefits of colorwork knitting is that you end up with a layer of insulation behind the pattern. When you’re not using one color, the yarn strand “floats” behind the pattern, adding warmth. You do have the manage the longer yarn floats, though. For any stretch longer than about six stitches, tack the floating yarn into the working yarn so that you don’t have a large stretch of yarn flapping around inside the mitten. I show this in the video in case my description isn’t making sense! The idea is to prevent large loops inside the mittens that could get caught on a finger when someone is putting them on.
keep it relaxed
I first started colorwork when I was knitting hats and I realized that I needed to relax my knitting a bit more when switching colors. Especially if you’re a tight knitter, practice loosening up when you’re switching colors for a finished piece that lays flatter and stays more uniform in size.
manage the yarn balls
The biggest difference between knitting in one color and colorwork knitting, other than following a pattern, is managing two balls of yarn instead of one. As you’re alternating colors, it’s easy for the yarn to get twisted, tangled, or for one ball to get away from you. I like to put one ball on my right and one on my left to see clearly if the strands are getting twisted. It really helps the knitting co smoother if you’re not having to stop all the time to get yourself (and your yarn) straight.
The pattern I’m making in the video is from page 138 of . You can find the specific materials and yarn used in this tutorial in part one HERE. And here is the video tutorial showing how the start the pattern, knit a colorwork pattern, and increase for the thumb…
Part three will be coming soon…
13 Responses
Beautiful mittens, am looking forward to trying them, but for me it’ll need to wait until Fall or Winter….which will involve my own foot surgery, and require staying off my feet. Kitting is perfect for staying inside during a Minnesota Winter.
My great grandparents were pioneers from Norway, and I’m told that both men and women knitted their socks and mittens during the Winter.
Yes! A lot of men knitted (and still do), too!
Eu adoro fazer croche eu só não sei fazer tricor eu tô querendo aprender
Love the color blue mittens ! I do not knit now used to and just the thought of handling all that yard in this heat is annoying me to no end. But you keep knitting away because love all your completed projects! Cannot wait to hear what state you will settle in and most of all see your “New” home ! ! Especially all the before & after pictures ! ! Stay COOL !
Ha, I get it! I’m knitting in the A/C and, since mittens are small, it doesn’t make me hot having them on my lap.
Its wonderful how everything done back when was an opportunity to create a work of art.
I’m sorry your foot is healing so slowly. Take care
Great tutorials, and yes, knitting isn’t hot while working on small projects. Just one mention from me…I was told long ago that you shouldn’t carry the unused yarn more than three stitches without catching it with the yarn in use. It’s a practice that keeps the back side of the project neat and even, and there are no long stretches to catch fingers, etc. More like a double-thickness knit. Keep up with the good work. I hope lots of your followers are knitting along. It’s a great opportunity to learn.
That is probably good practice! I think it depends a lot on the yarn and size of the stitches. With these smaller stitches and yarn, I think that around 6 is when I need to knit in the float, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to do it more frequently.
Hmmm, you are probably right, considering the yarn and needle size. I hadn’t taken that into account. That would certainly make a difference. Worsted yarn with a 5 or 6 needle is a whole different animal. 🙂
Yes, but I’m glad you brought that up since it would vary depending on the yarn size, needle size, etc. The key is you don’t want large loops that fingers or anything else could get stuck in.
My favorite tip for working two colors is to carry one color in each hand. I first learned to knit from my German grandmother (left hand, picking), and then taught myself to knit with the wool on the right hand (English, throwing).
It never tangles, and becomes much faster, since you don’t need to drop and pick up yarns.
There is a learning curve, but I think it’s worth it.
I’m knitting my mittens, too, Marian. Thank you for this wonderful tutorial!!
One thing I did notice and thought I’d mention. You said inches several times instead of stitches. I do think even beginners will know what you mean, tho 😉