How to Read a Knitting Pattern With Multiple Colors of Yarn

Reading a Knitting Pattern with Multiple Colors

If you see various colors in the photo of a knitting pattern, the pattern might call for at least one ball of yarn for each color. (There are exceptions, and I'll talk about them later.)

The confirmation is in the Materials section of the header of the knitting pattern. You might see something like the following:

A: Black - 1 ball
B: Red - 1 ball

In this example, A refers to Color A, the first color, the color that is probably used most, and B refers to Color B, or the second color.

The two colors might also be called:

MC and CC (for Main and Contrasting colors)
MC and CA (for Main and Color A)
CA and CB (for Color A and Color B)

Yes, pattern writers will say what they want - there are no standards. But the list above covers most cases.

Of course, if there are more than two colors, then the list of letters will get larger.

MC, CA, CB, CC, CD would be for a main color with 4 different contrasting colors.
A, B, C, D, E would be for 5 colors. There is no hint as to which is used most.
The MC and CC combination is only used for 2 colors, a Main and a Contrasting color.

Color Choices

Of course, you do not need to follow the color choices as written by the pattern designer.

As an example, most Halloween projects feature black/white/orange - but maybe you want to create a black pumpkin with an orange mouth!

Otherwise, do what you want - let your own imagination shine through.

In the Instructions Section

The knitting pattern will usually have the word WITH before whatever color code letters are used. Examples:

Row 1: (RS). With MC, purl across.
Row 1: (RS). With A, K2. With B, K3. With A, K2.

The Exception: A Single Ball of Yarn with Multiple Colors

Years ago, if you saw a knitting pattern photo with lots of colors, you knew immediately that you would need balls of yarn in each of those colors.

These days, there is always the possibility that the pattern designer is taking advantage of one of the many multi-colored yarns that the manufacturers provide. They may be variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning. One type of yarn is especially designed for sock knitting, so that an interesting color pattern emerges as you are knitting.

You will know this to be the case when you see a reference to only one color in the Materials section of the header of the knitting pattern. And usually that will be a specific yarn. If you substitute yarns, you will likely not be able to duplicate the effect.

Scandalli Accordion