Adding colour work

Hi

When I want to add a second colour, stranded colour work I think it’s called, can I just find a chart I like, find a basic sweater pattern and combine the two?

I imagine I need to work out if the chart number of stitches fits as a repeat on the sweater pattern and adjust the stitch count accordingly without making the sweater far too big or small… but is that all?
Do I do a gauge with the charted colour work thrasher than plain stocking stitch?

Anyone have a fav basic sweater pattern (small adult) they like to use for adding their own colour work to?

One extra thing to bear in mind is that stranded knitting often has less lateral stretch than fabric made from one continuous strand. (Due to the floats at the back lying horizontally rather than following a stitch path). So it’s important to knit a swatch in the colour work to compare it to the single colour section gauge. Some people find that they need to go up a needle size for the stranded portions. It’s worth watching a few YouTube videos on stranded knitting as they give good tips for not having the floats too tight, such as spreading the stitches out on the needle every few stitches and when you change colour.

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Thank you.
I’ve had some practise with carrying the floats and my tension isn’t perfect but I think it’s ok. I’m comfortable with the practise bits I’ve done, holding the yarn etc.
I can read a chart okay and do the knitting part. But the pattern aspect of it is where I’m having difficulty.
I can draw my own chart for a pattern or use charts available but how to put them on a sweater?
Just choose a basic sweater and put them on?

I feel like I’m missing something vital.

I think it depends where on the sweater you plan to add the colour work. If you’re adding it to the yoke, you’ll need to factor in shaping and how the charts need to change as the stitch count increases ( for a top down sweater) or decreases (for a bottom up sweater). If you’re adding the colour work around the bottom of the body or sleeve cuffs where no shaping is needed, you won’t have to do that.

Do you have a particular chart design in mind? I think you can add it to any basic sweater pattern, given that your stranded gauge matches the pattern and your chart takes account of the shaping.
Maybe I’m not understanding your question? There are so many beautiful colourwork patterns in Ravelry covering many different yarn weights and sweater styles. Would there not be one that matched what you’re after?

Thank you for your help.

I have looked through ravekry and various other pattern sites too, I keep browsing trying to choose my next project. I bought yarn for a pattern I have (lace not colour work) and didn’t like the swatch so rather than go ahead I have been considering other ideas.

You’re right there are so many beautiful patterns… but I feel drawn to so many of the motif charts I see available online which are not on a sweater. Or I see a motif on a sweater but don’t like the shape of the sweater and would like to use that chart but not the sweater pattern (eg some lovely colour work on 80s patterns with huge shoulders, big blouson body and wide sleeves with tight cuffs… Great if you like 80s fashion but it’s not for me. But the colour charts are available and lovely).

I don’t think you’ve misunderstood my question, I think the problem is that I’m not sure what the question IS!
But I might be getting closer.

Should I chart out the whole sweater on paper with the correct number of stitches and rows so that I can set out the motif/chart and work out how the repeats fit and what to do at any shaping?
I don’t have chart paper but I could get some.
I’ve seen and used stitch fiddle to draw out my own motifs but not an entire sweater front. Do people use that sort of digital chart to set out a whole sweater??
Do one chart for front sweater, another for back, another for sleeves?

I am probably not using the right words for a search for information or tutorials.
When I look I can find lots of charts and I find lots of tutorials of how to physically hold and work the yarn, catch floats etc, but I have not found a tutorial or page on how to add the colour charts to a sweater.

I understand what you say about adding to the bottom where there is no shaping, I could do that I think, but moving up a sweater, I’d rather know how the motif would fit and look in advance in case I need to alter it somehow to fit. How do people go about that aspect? Is it with a full size chart with all the shaping marked on so stitches can be counted and motifs set out?

Golly, sounds like advanced designer skills to me!! I hasten to add that I do not have these!!

Personally, I would start with a plain coloured sweater in the style and weight and size that you would like, and then write out the stitch counts for the body, sleeves and yoke shaping as they are knit. At the end of the day, the style and fit are probably the most important!

Then I’d go to the charts I want to use.

If it is a fixed stitch motif which would be difficult to adjust, you could place it around the base of the sweater. If it’s more of a fair-isle style, i.e. lots of variation throughout, that is easier to place on a yoke as you can move between 2,4,6,8 etc stitch count repeats - there are lots of stitch dictionaries with motifs to mix and match - as you work the shaping. Some patterns have discreet repeats, such as floral or geometric designs, and you can add plain stitches between them to accommodate your extra stitches for shaping.

I once had to alter an Icelandic yoke sweater mid knit as it was apparent that the yoke would be too short and it was a lot trickier than I expected!!

Can you attach the motif you want to use? I am having trouble picturing what you want to use and its degree of complexity!!

I think this is what I need to do, yes.
And measurements and perhaps a sketch if not a full size drawing or chart. Sewn patterns have full sized paper patterns don’t they, so I suppose it wouldn’t be so unreasonable to make something similar on which to place motifs where I’d like them and work out the row, stitch count, and measurement.

I’ve been pondering this for a while, when I see a chart I like or my son likes but I can’t find that chart on a sweater so I would need to work out how to do it myself.
I have 2 different sweaters in mind, the on going design project which would be for my son, for which I am frequently asking if he likes this or that but ultimately I think he needs his own individually designed item (incorporating available charts and some I make myself)! Then the other for me which I have some ideas about.
This is one of the charts I might use

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/potholder-fish-pattern

Maybe this

Love the fish! I guess you could do the lower part of any sweater quite easily with this design, and if you like a dropped shoulder shaped sweater with minimal shaping, an all over design should be straight forward too. Lucky son !! :rofl::kissing_heart:

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This one is quite cool too but maybe not for a boy!

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Thank you. You been helpful.
I’m going to keep switching, charting and pondering.

Thanks again