Book Review: Mosaic Chart Directory for Knitting and Crochet

November 26, 2025 by Sarah White

I’m a big fan of mosaic knitting, which is a way to make colorwork designs in two colors while knitting with only one strand of yarn at a time. You slip the stitches that show as the second color, and each “row” is what you’d normally consider a row and the return on the wrong side.

It’s pretty logical once you understand how it works and there are lots of designs you can make with this technique. (One of my favorite patterns of mine that uses mosaic knitting is this mosaic knit cowl.)

Anna Nikipirowicz is a crocheter and knitter who loves the look of mosaic, too, and her book, Mosaic Chart Directory for Knitting and Crochet, includes 75 different charts you can use on projects for both knitting and crochet.

The book opens with an overview of mosaic knitting and crochet, basic tools and how to read charts. The main thing with reading and following a mosaic knitting chart is that each row has two numbers. If you’re working flat you work from right to left first, then left to right on the wrong side. Each of the patterns in this book includes written instructions for both the knit and crochet versions, but it’s good practice to learn how to work from the charts.

The 75 designs are arranged into themes: geometric, Aztec, general, nature and seasonal. I guess they had to be organized in some way but these classifications are pretty vague. You’ll just want to flip through and see what you like.

Patterns are also given skill levels from 1 to 3 needles or hooks. Many of them are level 3, but there are few in each section that rate a 1 or 2. I would have liked an index of projects by skill level, or just having them arranged by skill level, but you’ll want to look at all of them anyway.

Some of these designs are classics (like the little squares I used on the cowl linked above, brick stitch and chevrons) while others Nikipirowicz developed. There are no patterns in the book showing how the stitches look in a finished project, just the swatches to use as inspiration for adding them to your projects.

It’s fun to see how different the same pattern can look when worked in knitting or crochet (this is mostly due to the stitches being different shapes/sizes). If you know how to both knit and crochet you can play with these designs in different projects and in different kinds of stitching to come up with the perfect project to make!

About the book: 176 pages, paperback, 75 patterns. Published 2024 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $26.99.

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles.

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram.

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm.

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world).

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry.

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.