We are back after a few hectic weeks! It’s been so busy here, with preparations for last week’s LiveStream as well as birthday celebrations and lots of design work, as we finalise our collection for Rowan for Autumn / Winter 2020 and continue working on a new fabric collection, also to be released sometime next year.
This week, in our channel, it’s time for a Q&A! This one is a bit special, as the question about dominant colour came up again, and we decided to bring up this subject one more time. Check out the video here:
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In the end of the day – does any of this discussion about dominant colour matter? Probably not. If you are a new-beginner, we would recommend that you pay this whole discussion no mind! It’s just something extra to have to think about and consider, which, in the end of the day, won’t actually help you get started with your colourwork knitting. Our advice to you is to focus on your chart, work on your tension and make sure that you carry your floats no more than 3 or 4 stitches before you twist them in the back. That’s all you need to do! Relax, enjoy your knitting and with a little practice, you will soon be making beautiful colour work sweaters or accessories to pass down to the next generation!
ARNE & CARLOS
PS: The pattern for the sweater which Carlos is wearing in the video is available in our web shop. There is also a kids version of it available here and well as some accessories, available here.
OTHER NEWS
Our New Nordic Men’s collection for Rowan is now available. See all the patterns by clicking here.
We will resend our Official Tour Schedule to our mailing list in the beginning of September. The only way to see the schedule is to sign up for our updates!
Dream Knitting Cruise from Sydney to New Zealand. Yes!!! We are delighted to announce that we are returning to Australia and visiting New Zealand in 2020. Join us for this amazing 12 day, 11 night Knitting Cruise that departs from Sydney on March 27th, 2020 and visits all the amazing sights in New Zealand! More information is available here and here.
Check out our online store for great knitting patterns
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Hi Arne and Carlos,
I bought your book “30 Slippers to Knit and Felt” and I am looking forward to making some awesome slippers (brrrrr, the cold Canadian winter is approaching)!
I would like to knit these slippers for children as well but I cannot find a pattern.
I am not good at altering patterns or improvising. Can you please HELP!
Aggie from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dominant color…Thank you so much, I have knit with 2 colors and was so annoyed with the dominant color idea that I just stopped it. I agree with you…just knit, enjoy it and watch your tension. Blech, what a ridiculous thing!
I have knitted for over 50 years. Color work is my favorite. When i first started knitting color work i tried the “dominant color” style, but my knitting wouldn’t lay flat. I agree with you boys tension is what matters with color work. And floats are ok if only 2 stitches but more than that they get tugged and then you again have an issue with tension or even breaking threads. I have come up with a to knit that i never tangle my yarns and weave every other stitch so floats dont snag. I knit with 2hands and things turn out great! Tension tension tension!
I was so relieved when I watched the video when you said in Norwegian Knitting there is no dominate color. I struggled with stranded knitting and wanted to get better so badly. I watched closely how Arne used his right hand to knit and mimicked it the best way I could. It has changed everything! I now knit beautiful stranded work! Most knitters I meet that have seen this video cheered when they watched it as I did! Thank you for your videos! It has helped me to become a better knitter!
330 million people will never reach consensus on everything, except, perhaps, for our love for Arne and Carlos. 😉
I think you guys are great! The haters can stop watching.😁. I was raised if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
I am working on your Christmas Ornaments! They are addictive!! I love your videos and have made two of your hat patterns and 3 sets of mittens. Thank you for your inspiration!
My Very first colorwork project was a has for my 2 year old grandson, a few weeks ago. I did just as you both urged, and it came out beautifully. The tension is the most important thing. Now, I am excited to try a sweater and some mittens to match. I knit continental and my German friend taught me how to knit. Thanks for all your discussions, they are informative and entertaining. PS. I absolutely love the pillow patterns with all the flowers and beautiful patterns. PPS. I totally agree with you on the wool yarn–wool is the best.
Thank you for the video! Good advice.
Thanks for speaking your minds about traditional Norwegian color knitting. I love your work! My great-grandparents came from Nord Aurdal and I’m looking forward to your talk in Longmont, Colorado.
I am really enjoying your videos and have recently purchased several of your books. Your videos are very informative and have helped me improve upon my recently acquired knitting skills. I am glad that you stressed the importance of tension while knitting a project as this relates to the amount of yarn required to complete a project. I have finished knitting a Christmas Ball pattern from your book and have the toe of a sock to complete for my Pairfect pair of socks. My next project is “The Easiest Sock Pattern in the World”. You are correct in saying that the Christmas Ornaments are addictive…… I am frothing at the mouth with wool.
The first time I heard about “dominant color” was on your older video. My teacher here, in Washington state, taught color work the same way you explained it in this video – it’s all about the tension. Thank you so much for the blog and video posts and your Knit Stars segment, I have learned so much from you two! And I have rediscovered the joy of knitting.
I found it the same. When I tried this dominant technique my tension was ok but the mitten was too big. Even though I had the right swatch…..I could not figure out why that was….thank you. Now I know
O MY GOODNESS. thank you. Well explained and thought out. I knit continental and live and teach knitting in Canada and this comes up all the time. I knit like you guys and it just does not come up….however, the conversation does not die and it is a HUGE deal here…but again it is not an issue this way
Thank you for this video. Tension is the heart of the matter, and listening to those who are members of a culture is essential!
Thank you for this very informative video on dominant color. I’ve been knitting for 60+ years (American) and have never had a problem with my two-color or fair isle knitting. When everyone started screaming about dominant color, I never could understand. But, decided maybe I was wrong so I tried it … totally messed up my tension. Decided to just go back to my regular knitting and forget what they were preaching. Thanks for proving me right.
Hi there,
Loved the Q&A. The comment that you like the rain in summer! Great.
I also enjoyed the posts about the garden tour, I went to Highgrove Gardens in August.
In one post, you mention that your garden is covered in snow for about 6 months a year. I wish that was the same here, I think I could manage that. Looking forward to more posts about the garden, I might get inspired 😉
PS You both look much happier and more relaxed in the new photos for the Knitting Christmas balls book.
I’m in total support of you both. I enjoy your videos and seeing your piece of Norway. You keep me connected to my Norwegian roots. All my cousins live in Norway.
Thankyou for your positive creative energy.
Tusen takk!!
I am a Norwegian American knitting in rural Ohio below The Great Lakes. You two make me laugh, challenge me to improve with every project and make me proud of my Norwegian heritage. You are wonderful! Keep doing what you’re doing so well. Please sit where there are lots of geraniums or pull them closer! And cook again.
Thank you for all your efforts on our behalf. Kathleen
Thank you for all the information you guys share. I’m with you, the important thing is tension, carry the float and reading the chart. Every country has differ terminology. People should just chill and enjoy. Thank you guys for all you do when really, you don’t have to. 🧶🧶🇨🇦
Hi Arne & Carlos,
Now I finally get it and know which yarn to put on the ‘picking finger and which one to put on the ‘throwing’ hand! Thank you so much for this explanation!! 🙏💕😊
Love from the Netherlands, 😉
Jacqui
Americans are needing to be divided about everything these days.
I am a French woman living in The US. I am a self taught knitter who has looked at and tried many styles of knitting, and I made my own style.
In fact, I knit with the same philosophy: it is about what works for you, and even tension is everything!
So get there how you will, and be comfortable knitting.
I have been knitting for decades, I’ve never had a knitting injury because my tension is even and loose enough and my movement is easy. That’s what really matters if you’re going to enjoy knitting your whole life long!
Please ignore the haters, feel sorry for them, countless people just love what you do wiith yarn and just love watching your joy of living, your beautiful gardens and your wonderful Norway. 🙏🏻
Ha, ha! You guys may start a new trend of wearing colorwork onside out! I agree with you, tension is priority , not popping colors!
I wouldn’t worry about rules that don’t exist. Knit because you love it the way that suits you best. My German aunt was taught by her Swedish mother to knit the Russian way. My aunt taught me. She said that tension was the main thing. Get your rhythm with each yarn and you’ll get your tension…….and that’s it. A wise teacher, because then I focussed on that and not my mistakes. Love your enthusiasm for the pure enjoyment of creating.
Love your videos and I agree! How one person knits is theit own way. The wonderful thing about knitting is how forgiving it is. No need to grumble about this or that , just knit & be creative!!! I make up my own designs including color work designs and I struggle with my tension all the time. There is tension about the tension !!! I hope I improve soon in that area!! Thank you for stimulating my imagination I all things knitting, color & design!!
I took a class on fair isle knitting and the instructor talked about dominant knitting. But as a normally lose knitter my knitting was puckering and looked awful. So I gave up fair isle (or colorwork) knitting. I watch you guys and the no dominant color make so much more sense. And my work does not pucker anymore. Like you I try to keep my floats in check but don’t really care if they are two stitches or five stitches long. I only want the design to look nice.
Enjoy your videos and you have may my knitting more fun.