In this video I demonstrate a technique for working one-round stripes (think striped hat) with clean color changes.

THE MATH:
Take your total number of stitches, and divide that number by the number of colors you want to use in your stripes. In my sample, I have 72 stitches and 3 colors. 72 divided by 3 = 24, so I have 24 stitches between each of my markers. If the number of stripes you want to use don’t divide evenly into your stitch count (ex, 80 stitches and three colors), that’s okay. It isn’t vital that the stitches between the markers are the exact same number of stitches – getting close is fine. In the example I just gave, I would put 28/26/26 stitches in my segments.

For two-color helix stripes, the technique is basically the same, but you only need one stitch marker at the beginning of the round. Knit around with your first color, then knit your second round with your second color. At the marker, switch back to the first color without wrapping the two yarns (same as using three or more colors). Keep in mind that the first few rounds look wonky, but it all starts to look much better after you are several rounds in.

The yarn in my “bad” example is leftover from my Om Shawl.

The yarn in my “good” sample is Berroco Vintage Worsted.

The needles I use are all Knitter’s Pride 16″ circulars from interchangeable sets.

My nail polish is Gelish, “I Or-kid You Not”.