Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Simple Color Knitting

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simple color knitting

Patrice is the winner!

I’m a big fan of color knitting — I’ve written a book on it! — and I love books that help encourage knitters not the be afraid of using colors in their projects.

Erika Knight’s Simple Color Knitting does just that. It’s a pretty gentle approach to working with color that starts with things like stripes and working with two different colors held together to make an ombre effect.

It also covers stranded knitting, intarsia, slipping stitches and add color with duplicate stitch and embroidery.

In all there are 20 patterns (including one that’s actually a solid color), and these are pretty nice, entry-level, introduction to color knitting technique kind of patterns. It’s maybe not a book for people who are already comfortable with many of these methods for adding color to knitting, but if you want to stitch more colorful projects and don’t know where to start, this book is a good place.

One winner this week will get a copy of this book.

If you’d like it to be you, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Feb. 28. I’d love to know where you are in terms of color knitting experience. Have you only worked with multicolored or self-striping yarn, or maybe knit stripes or tried some other techniques? Or maybe you’re a pro and want to gift this book to someone else? Either way I’d love to know.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. I am a brand new knitter, and I am so hooked! I have made scarves, mittens and hats…all solid colors!

  2. I have done a tiny bit of color work, and have never been confident of my technique. I would really love to be able to make some of the beautiful designs I see. Please consider me!

  3. I have knit a few things where I have had to change yarns due to color but most often when knitting with color it is with yarn that changes.

  4. I have made projects with multicolored yarn and I have knit stripes. I am a novice with other color techniques. I could learn from this book. Thank you for the giveaway.

  5. I have used multicolored yarns and self-striping yarns. I have also knitted with stripes. I just finished a double sided fair isle cowl using 2 colors. I have knitted a very simple fair isle hat and a fair isle Christmas stocking. I knitted a cowl using 2 colors in the Mosaic method and a potholder in double knitting using 2 colors. I knitted a fall scene intarsia scarf.

  7. I’m *extremely* new to knitting. Just purchased my first loom and am looking forward to starting my first project. Kinda scared though, to be honest.

  8. I love seeing stranded colorwork projects. I’ve made a few. I wish I had more confidence in making my own color choices instead of just having to follow what is given in the pattern.

  9. I love knitting with color – I recently made an orange and purple cowl using a beehive stitch; it turned out looking like a sunset with little purple window frames. I’m looking forward to reading this book and seeing new ways to play with color.

  13. I must have picked “beige” as my favorite color as a child. I’ve no color UMPH at all. Maybe a book like this would help?! Fingers crossed?!

    from sunny and bright VT where the sap is running,
    thwe Vermonster

  16. As a fairly new knitter I have always admired things knit with lots of color. The thought of doing it myself is a bit intimidating to me, but I would love to try it!

  17. I haven’t tried color knitting and this book seems to be a great help. Thank you for having the drawing.

  18. I’m a new knitter with only one color work project under my belt. It was a knit along and fun, but I would love this book to help further my work.

  20. I’ve done stripes before, and worked a little bit with ombre yarns, but there are a lot of techniques that I’d love to try in this book!! What a wealth of information!! Thank you for the great giveaway!!

  21. I have a lot to learn about color work and believe this book would be a very valuable asset. Thank you for the great giveaway.

  22. I’ve done small projects with stripes or fair isle knitting, but want to learn so much more. Thanks for the opportunity!

  23. Love colorful knitting. I have knit a couple simple hats with two colors. Need to figure out how to control my tension better.

  25. I have been knitting a very long time. One of the first techniques my mother taught me was how to weave in colors when adding to a design. I’m working on wash cloths now with plenty of changing colrs!

  26. I love working with color but am not always confident in my choices, both colorwise and/or color placement. This looks like a great resource to boost my confidence! Thanks for the great giveaway!

  27. New to knitting so have only used solid colors but would love to learn how to incorporate multiple colors!

  28. Still a pretty new knitter… Although I am working on a brioche project. Would love to try stranded knitting and intarsia.

  29. I have worked a couple of projects with stripes and stranded knitting, but would love to explore further. I love color!

  31. I’m a color-works infant. I’ve used sock yarn and variegated, but haven’t done a whole lot of color changes like in intarsia.

  32. One of the true joys of knitting is that feeling I get when I look at a display of yarns! It’s like a candy shop for crafty people!

  33. I’m a knitter just beginning to explore color knitting. I have not been able to find a book that’s right for me to understand color knitting and which technique applies unless there is a specific pattern that literally spells it out for me! I’m looking forward to checking out your new book for reference. Thanks!

  34. I have used self striping yarn and have also done a little color stranding knitting. I am in the process of tackling the Koiku Magique Cloak. If and when I complete that, I will feel as though I have done something major!

  36. I have knit a few stripped pieces where I carried the other color; tackled a couple of fair isle projects; did that one stranded color hat because a friend really wanted a skull figure hat and he knew I could do it; even did a long illusion scarf once. With this history I can say I’ve attempted color knitting but I haven’t gain confidence in it.

  37. I love the look of it but have been afraid to try it. I am not intuitive about knitting and I struggle with anything that involves counting and correct placement. Not that I don’t try but need to fix most things like that after I work on it.

  39. The only striping I have done is with self striping yarn. I am still a beginner so intarsia is totally foreign to me.

  42. I’ve had a few try and fail color knitting experiences, but I am determined to conquer this knitting challenge!

  44. I’m not very confident choosing colors that complement each other so usually end up using only one. I have tried variegated yarn before but am not keen on the way the pattern of color emerges. I have a friend who made socks from colored sock yarn that made its own fair isle-like pattern- fascinating! (I’m from Australia so may not be eligible to enter this giveaway)

  45. I have some experience with knitting stripes and self striping yarn. I have also done a lot of double knitting, but I feel like I have a long way to go. I would really love to have this book

  46. I love working with different colors, whether it is self-striping yarn or some other kind of colored yarn. I also like using multiple skeins of different colors of yarn for the same project.

  50. I have knitted a striped Harry Potter scarf and a Fair Isle hat, but would like to experiment more with colours in my knitting!

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.