Mosaic knitting is a type of creating geometric motifs without the need to carry multiple strands of yarn, as required in Intarsia or Fair Isle. To create colorful, multicolored fabric, all you need are different colors of yarn and the ability to knit, purl, and slip stitches.
What Is a Slip Stitch?
A slip stitch is abbreviated as SL.
Slipping a stitch simply means transferring a stitch from the left needle to the right needle without wrapping the yarn or working it as a knit or purl stitch. This action does not depend on whether you are working on the right side or the wrong side of the fabric.
Two things matter:
- The direction of the slip: knitwise or purlwise
- The position of the working yarn: in back (wyib) or in front (wyif)
Many knitting patterns use different abbreviations for slip stitches, depending on the writer’s habits or preferences. You may come across the following commonly used abbreviations.
| Abb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sl | slip |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| slp | slip 1 purlwise |
| sl1p | slip 1 purlwise |
| slk | slip 1 knitwise |
| sl1k | slip 1 knitwise |
| wyif | with yarn in front |
| wyib | with yarn in back |
| wyon | with yarn over/ with yarn on |
| slk wyif | slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front |
| slp wyib | slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back |
Difference Between Purlwise and Knitwise
Have they ever confused you?
It’s easy to mix them up, but don’t worry. Once you see how each one works, everything will become clear.
To slip a stitch knitwise
Place the right-hand needle into the next stitch as if you were preparing to knit it, but do not knit it. Instead, slide the stitch off the left needle and transfer it to the right needle. At this point, the stitch that hasn’t been worked will be on the right needle.
To slip a stitch purlwise
Insert the right-hand needle into the next stitch as if you were about to purl it, but don’t actually work the stitch. Then, slide it off the left needle and onto the right needle. The stitch that hasn’t been worked will now be on the right needle.
In fact, when a knitting pattern instructs you to slip a stitch without specifying the direction, it is generally worked purlwise. All mosaic stitch patterns use this technique.
Mosaic Stitch Patterns
Simple geometric motifs to enjoy mixing and matching your favorite colors.
