Mosaic Knitting Workshop Review

I was so happy when I was offered the chance to review Ashleigh Wempe’s book Mosaic Knitting Workshop because I had been eyeing the Saguaro Sunset Afghan for a while. Let’s take a little journey through this book together and I’ll give you genuine my thoughts on it.

What is Mosaic Knitting Anyway?

Mosaic knitting is a clever method of producing a colorwork pattern, or image, in your knitting while only working with one strand of yarn at a time. Whereas Fair Isle projects require that you hold two or more strands of yarn in your hands while you work mulitple colors in a row, mosaic knits use only one and slip stitches from the row beneath to bring in a second color.

So your yarn won’t tangle on the back of your project, and so become an unfinished lump in your knitting basket.

Impressive Colorwork the Easy Way

When I first saw the Saguaro Sunset Afghan (the one on the cover) my first thought was, ” Oooh pretty!” immediately followed by “No way! I’m not the kind of knitter who can handle complicated intarsia/ stranded projects.” Then I noticed it was in a mosaic knitting collection and it went into the wishlist.

One Strand at a Time

Ashleigh explains exactly how mosaic knitting works: using one strand of yarn at a time for two rows before switching to use the other strand. Only she goes into great detail. Even after realizing the afghan was a mosaic knit, I still thought it might be too challenging because it is a large project.

It wasn’t until I had the book in hand that I relaxed and knew I could knit this easily. It is a blanket, but eight skeins of yarn, used this way, means only 16 ends to weave. For such a graphic image on this afghan, that is a number of ends I can handle. I can honestly say it has been a relaxing, pleasant project.

Guidance for the Mosaic Details

If you are a new knitter, Ashleigh walks you through how to hold your yarn and if you’re experienced, you will appreciate how Mosaic Knitting Workshop offers different methods for handling the little details of mosaic knitting that I have always just fumbled through and knit “passably.” There are even multiple ways to accomplish a polished finish on the edges.

For instance, I had no idea that both left and right edges of my mosaic knit project could look identical when running yarn up the side. Ashleigh shows two ways to accomplish a consistent look. Thankfully, one was low-key for lazy knitters. Guess which one I chose?

You can see my edge comparison in the short video I made about this book.

My Experience With Mosaic Knitting Workshop

I don’t usually suffer from color choice paralysis, but I know knitters who do. I imagine it is especially difficult when you’re committing to large blanket projects — like the three in this book. I have, however, made poor color choices and had to rip back and re-knit a few projects because I didn’t have clear goals for contrast and complimentary colors in mind, or didn’t know how to realize them.

Choosing Colors Doesn’t Have to Be an Ordeal

Ashleigh’s book has a section in the beginning for choosing colors in either a careful, considered way or using a quick fool-proof method. I appreciated the additional guidance on colors because they make the project. However, I avoided this issue altogether by copying Ashleigh’s sample for Saguaro Sunset.

New Horizons in Color

I wanted an exact replica of the sample blanket because it so reminded me of family camping trips through West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Think: cactus country. The background color was a color-changing ombre that gave the feeling of a vibrant desert sunset on the horizon. This mood was powerful enough to get me to buy pink yarn. I’m not usually a high contrast or bright pink knitter, but the power of those color choices in that motif wooed me. Ashleigh made me step out of my comfort zone.

Mosaic Knitting on a Budget

The fact that the sample was knit in yarns I can easily access (Lion Brand Mandala Ombre and Wool-Ease) made them even more attractive. You know I love when knitting and crochet projects are approachable and affordable. It’s nice to know that getting the exact ombre colorway to match a sunset is as easy as a trip to my local craft store.

If you’re on a very tight budget, this blanket is still doable if you have 5 skeins of Wool-Ease or another green yarn on hand in similar fibers as your background ombre. And Lion Brand always seems to be having a sale. Aside from the affordablility of large projects, I was pleased to see lots of smaller mosaic projects that would be perfect for using up stash or for those odd skeins you may have laying around.

The Charts Are Fantastic!

In our excitement to knit something, we may not pay attention to chart layout. But a few hours (and some fist-shaking) into reading a chart in grey print that is crammed into half a page, we realize the importance of an easy to read chart. I know knitters who have cancelled suscriptions over light, small charts.

I put Mosaic Knitting Workshop to the test. I worked one repeat of my Saguaro Sunset Afghan while watching the Equalizer, by Equalizer I mean all three Equalizers (Yes, my husband owes me.) in a dark room over two nights. I had zero problem reading these charts. They are large and high contrast. In all of that knitting, I only made one mistake and it was holding the yarn to the wrong side when I slipped a stitch

Let’s Talk About the Projects

I have worked on several mosaic knitting projects in the past and I wondered if this book would seem like more of the same. It isn’t. I have never seen mosaic projects that were so pictoral and created such a variety of texture while “painting a picture.” I found a range of projects from stunning statement knits, to excellent beginner projects and low-maintenance gifts.

The Statement Pieces

I’ve already discussed the Saguaro Sunset Afghan, but there are a few more blankets and accessories that will elicit oohs and aahs from your friends.

Something for Neutral Knitters

Most of the intricate-seeming statement knits in this book make me nostalgic for road trip memories, woven tapestries, and southwest sunsets. If these colorways aren’t your style, Ashleigh has added color options and a glimpse of how changing the shade you use can change the feel of the whole knit!

Mosaic Knitting Workshop also has options for using less colorways than in the sample. I like the idea of substituting a color-changing or ombre as the foreground yarn in the Colorplay Triangle Shawl, if I wanted something that looks intricate but is actually pretty easy.

Dressing Up With Mosaic Colorwork Accessories

So I am more of a nuetral person. Many days I am wearing the most utilitarian of outfits to take me from my computer to a quick hike, if I get the chance. I often find that my knitted accessories are the one place where I “dress up” and/ or explore color. This is why I crave the Dancing Aspens Scarf in a navy and a honey color! I think it is the only way I’d indulge in a bright yellow, but it would be such a happy indulgence.

Smaller Home Decor Projects

Though the blankets I mentioned are definitely for the home, there are a few smaller home projects that might be a good way to gain your footing in mosaic knitting.

The whole book places a big focus on home projects and I am here for it. For all the knitting I have accomplished over the years, very little is evident in my home decor. Unless you count piles of WIPs in my chair as decor. – __- I’ve been meaning to amend that and Mosaic Knitting Workshop has plenty of good ideas for my place.

I have my eyes on the Wild West Pillow patterns to combine with a piece of handwoven cloth I brought home from a trip. It holds sentimental value as it was hand woven in the city where I stayed so I considered knitting an opposite side for it in a solid color. I think one of the Wild West motifs would make a companion to my souvenir cloth.

I’d also like to knit one as intended for a housewarming gift for one of my children moving into their first apartment, too. I could pare down the colors to just two or make one a blue ombre yarn.

I think having Zig and Zag Kitchen Cloths in my kitchen, in those very colors, would feel like a complete luxury. And of course, Desert Rose Vanity Towels are the ultimate indulgence. These would be a good way to spoil a friend or family member for Christmas.

As far as houseware gifts, I can see knitting the Berry Bramble Floor Mat as a housewarming gift for for friends moving into a new home or as a bath mat for me, in varying shades of green.

Excellent Christmas Gifts

This is a lot of big gift-knitting talk for someone who is not really that big on knitting gifts. (with the exception of the 2023 baby boom). I usually start too late and cram to finish the gift on time. Gift giving shouldn’t stress you out, you know?

But if you want a quick, useful gift for someone who may or may not be knitworthy, these smaller projects are the perfect solution.

New knitters or new mosaic knitters can get their feet wet by practicing chart reading and using multiple colors with these mini projects. They also make thoughtful, colorful Christmas gifts for teachers or coworkers.

The Tundra Tamer Cowl is a bit larger, but knit in bulky wool (some of which may be stashbusters) it is an easy weekend project requiring only 3 colors, or less if you use one of Ashleigh’s color substitution ideas. I’d like to knit this with one solid and one color-changing yarn — a quick knit with only four ends to weave.

The Comfy Cozy Mug Cozies and Deja Brew Coasters would make excellent gifts paired with a coffee mug or cocoa mix. I can see tying the cozies onto larger gifts with a card. Again, they also help whittle down that stash!

Do I Sound Like an Infomercial?

I planned to give an honest review of this book, even if there were some issues with clarity or layout. I can’t help that I had none. I am grateful for the opportunity to review it because I got my mitts on it before Christmas and just may eke out a couple of Christmas gifts from it. If I hadn’t recieved it to review, it was on my Christmas list, ha!

Win Your Own Copy Of Mosaic Knitting Workshop

There are still two days to enter my giveaway for Ashleigh’s book. Comment on my Youtube video about it, telling me which project you’d most want to knit. Leave your email, insta, or ravelry account names so I can find you if you win. The giveaway closes December 1st. Now, I have some cacti to knit…