How to Knit: Color Dominance 101 | Brooklyn Tweed

Take your colorwork knitting to the next level with our Color Dominance tutorial!

When working stranded colorwork with two or more colors, one color will always be more prominent on the right side of your work (the Dominant Color) while the other recedes to the background (the Background Color). This effect is controlled by how the yarns are held in relationship to one another on the wrong side of the fabric as you work.

Paying attention to Color Dominance is important for achieving the best-looking results in your finished fabric.

Many of Brooklyn Tweed's colorwork pattern charts include columns showing which colors should be held as the Dominant Color and the Background Color – in this video, we also show you how to determine which color should be dominant if your pattern does not have a color dominance indicator.

Regardless of how a knitter holds their yarns when working stranded colorwork, the Dominant Color should always float below the Background Color.

When Holding One Color in Each Hand:
The Dominant Color is held in the left hand and strands below the Background Color on the WS of the fabric.
The Background Color is held in the right hand and strands above the Dominant Color on the WS of the fabric.

When Holding Two Colors in One Hand:
There is more than one way to work stranded colorwork with two colors held in one hand (left or right) — the important thing to be aware of is that the Dominant Color consistently floats below the Background Color throughout a project regardless of your individual method for carrying the yarns.

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[iris_nazarena_]

I wish more YouTube knitters valued delivery as much as content. Being an experienced knitter does not automatically make one a good teacher! I literally watched three videos that (poorly) explained what you all did so succinctly here. Thank you!

[alphabo]

One of the best demonstrations and explanation of colour dominance on the web. Thank you

[KarlSmith-pr]

Color dominance is real, folks! I once inadvertently reversed which hands was holding which color on the second of a pair of mittens I was making and the results were quite jarring. They looked totally different. There are some knitters though who deny the existence of color dominance and suggest it is all the result of poor tension. They recommend assigning each color to a particular hand based on which color will be used to work the most stitches in each round and that this will negate the effect of any kind of color dominance. Personally, not only could I not be bothered to keep switching like this (it would get confusing), but I don't think color dominance is something we should strive eradicate from our work. It is just something we need to be aware of know how to manage. Great tutorial. Thanks!

[vivianpowell]

Spending a quiet 2024 Memorial Day weekend devoted to conquering stranded colorwork. I watched dozens of YouTube videos that left me more confused and frustrated. Finally I found this perfect one from Brooklyn Tweed and am on my way knitting a hat in stranded colorwork. I am designing my own pattern as I go along - nothing requiring me to catch floats. I am a thrower, so I appreciate your segment here on working the pattern with both colors held in the right hand. Thank you for this highly professional tutorial.

[megananderson]

This is the first time I heard a decent explanation of background vs. pattern. Also, I was doing it backwards.

[annabelle]

This is so informative and well-explained! As good as a paid class. Thank you, it is much helpful.

[lmadore]

This was an excellent tutorial on color dominance. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in such a clear and articulate manner.

[drea]

I carry both in my left as I am a continental knitter who hasn't used her right hand to throw which is fine by me as I dont use 2 hands when I knit.stranded /fairisle but I Definetly have dominat below and background above. So I gotcha. Love the tutorial tips 😁

[katherinewilliams]

Though I've done quite a bit of color work, the clear explanation and examples that you've shown have really helped me take it to the next level. Thank you so much!

[rantaroamami]

You are such an amazing teacher! I feel like a student hanging off of everything my professor says because the class is so interesting and clear. I've done full cable sweaters, intricate lace tops, but I'm still such a beginner when it comes to colour work, you just made this so much easier for me :)
Thank you for the awesome lesson!!!

[robaaron]

Fantastic video. At around 15:15 Jared pivoted his hand to show the dominant-left background-right orientation even while throwing both from the right hand. That made everything click for me. Thank you!

[erinU]

Dang, a full tutorial! Loved it 😍 thanks for teaching us!

[chiarafattore]

This was so clear! As a visual learner I really appreciate that y'all add notes on the screen alongside the spoken explanation.

[manicspinner]

This is a great demonstration. Thank you for making it. I've been knitting (including colorwork) for decades and have struggled with this notion of color dominance, but this makes it very clear. AND I appreciated both the two-handed and single-handed demos.

[antoniomartinazzo]

Thanks for this video. I love your elegant hand movements and the way you explained the technique. Clear, informative and helpful.

[renatekonrad]

Thank you! Best explanation and demonstration . Now I understand the difference in the result. Glad having found your video.
Greetings from Tyrol/Austria!

[xianeley]

Watched this before starting my first ever color work project—so helpful! Especially as I am also a thrower.

[lisasweet]

Really excellent; I appreciate the multiple modes of explaining 'dominance, ' how to control/manage it and what appropriate technique looks like!

[beezee]

You are my saviour. Thanks a bunch for this detailed video. ♥️♥️♥️

[a.r.]

I watched this video and the one on color choices. You are really good at explaining these ideas clearly. Also your pacing is really good, and there is no distracting background music competing with the boys voiceover witch, which, for me anyway, makes it hard to learn. Thank you. Please do more.