Fusion knitting is a reversible colourwork technique where slipped stitches are placed on both sides of the fabric to create design elements. The design on one side of the fabric is mirrored on the back — in other words, the designs from each side are fused together.
The designs are grouped below into Original and Modified Fusion Knitting. Both techniques create the same fabric but the Modified Fusion Knitting is significantly easier to work.
Modified Fusion Knitting
These patterns (published 2022 or later) are easier to knit. They follow the 4 Rules of Fusion Knitting as follows:
- all background stitches are purled. These present as knit stitches and are in the opposite colour from the working yarn;
- all design stitches facing forward are are knit through the back loop. These are the stitches in the same colour as the working yarn.
- all design stitches facing the back are slipped with your yarn in front. These present as purl stitches and are in the opposite colour from the working yarn;
- design stitches are beside each other after all CC/even numbered rows.
The Follow the Leader Cowl is the best pattern for getting started with this technique.
Original Fusion Knitting
Original Fusion Knitting may be less intuitive to knitters because half of the cables are worked with the wrong side of the cable facing forward. Working cables this way opens possibilities for different fabric constructions.
The Reversible Step Series helps knitters become familiar with the stitches used in Original Fusion Knitting. Please also see the Fusion Knitting Playlist on YouTube.
Non Cabled Fusion Knits
The designs without cables are constructed in a variety of ways. These are easier to work.
See the Fusion Knitting Patterns
Mary W Martin 