There are so many color knitting techniques to learn because adding color to your knitwear is so much fun! It adds interest and a little challenge as you knit, which is always welcome, right?
Today's "Learn Something New" technique is Roositud knitting, which is kind of like embroidering while you knit. Roositud knitting is a great way to add an isolated motif to your knitting.
Roositud is
an Estonian inlay technique in which groups of stitches are wrapped with a
contrasting color yarn, following a charted pattern. The groups of stitches are
wrapped from right to left in a series of two-round sequences.
One of my favorite designers, Kate Gagnon Osborne, designed a simple, beautiful beret (shown at left), which includes a stunning Roositud inlay.
Here's a quick tutorial on how to knit Roositud.For the Norquin Beret, use
the inlay yarn held doubled for better coverage.
Round 1: Work to group of sts to be
wrapped (Figure 1 shows 3 sts being wrapped). Lay contrasting inlay yarn
from back to front between needles. Knit group of sts with main yarn, leaving inlay
yarn hanging at front of work. Pass inlay yarn between needles to back,
wrapping sts, then cont working with main color to next inlay group—1 inlay
completed. Adjust tension of inlay yarn by gently tugging on yarn from back of
work.
Round 2: Note: For each group of sts
on this rnd, yarn must first be moved to right side of group before sts can be
wrapped. Work to group of sts to be wrapped (Figure 2 show 2 sts being wrapped).
Lift inlay yarn from back to front over top of left needle, then from front to
back between needles, leaving a loose loop of inlay yarn at front of work.
Knit group of sts with main yarn, bring loop of yarn between needles to back
and cont knitting with main yarn to next inlay (Figure 3)—1 inlay completed. Adjust tension of inlay yarn. Rep Rnds 1 and 2 for patt.
—Adapted from Vintage Modern Knits by Courtney
Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborn, Interweave, 2011
Kate and her business partner and fellow designer Courtney Kelley demonstrated Roositud knitting recently on Knitting Daily TV. Here's a clip:
Fore more color knitting idea, check out our new Knitting Daily Workshop,
Knitting Seamless Colorwork with Courtney Kelley and Kate Gagnon Osborne.
And I hope you'll try Roositud inlay; it's such a fun, unique knitting technique.
Cheers,
