🧶 How to avoid holes in jacquard: our tips for a clean and even finish

September 4, 2025 Knit Sis

Do you love colorful jacquard patterns, but do those little holes that sometimes appear between color changes spoil the fun? 😩 Don't worry, you're not alone!

We've been there too (hello, first sleeves with unintentional polka dots 💥). But after years of colorful projects, we've gathered our best techniques for avoiding holes in jacquard and achieving a knit that's as even as it is joyful. Ready to put an end to unwanted polka dots? Here we go!

✨ Why do holes appear in jacquard?

Before solving the problem, a quick detour to the origin of the problem is necessary 🔍

Uneven tension = guaranteed holes

In jacquard, we knit with several threads, often alternating (e.g. 5 stitches in color A, 3 in color B, etc.). If the tension of your floating thread (the one that we do not knit but that we follow behind the work) is too tight , this pulls the fabric and creates holes between the patterns.

Conversely, a yarn that is too loose can cause your knitting to warp or cause visible loops.

Floats that are too long or poorly managed

When you let a thread run over more than 4-5 stitches without trapping it at the back, it tends to make a large bridge... and therefore cause a visible gap between the blocks of color.

The change of ball or section

Some jacquard patterns feature isolated motifs. If you don't remember to lock the threads or cross them, bam 💥 a small, unexpected hole right in the center of a pretty star.

🛠️ Our 5 tested tips for a jacquard without holes

Here are our favorite methods, the ones we use in all our jacquard projects (and we've done a lot of them 💃).

1. Learn how to manage floats well

✅ Never let a yarn run over more than 4 stitches without catching it at the back.

Technique: Slip the yarn you are not using over the yarn you are knitting, every 3 to 4 stitches . This helps keep it in place and prevents holes.

💡 Lenny's Tip : I always cross the threads in the middle of the section rather than at the beginning or end, so it stays invisible.

2. Knit looser than usual

Jacquard is tight. Really. We recommend:

▪️ either go up a needle size for the jacquard sections

▪️ either release your tension manually by spreading the stitches a little on the right needle while knitting

🧶 Always test on a sample!

3. Practice the two-handed method

This is a life-changing tip:

▪️ One hand for each thread = more even tension, smoother knitting, less risk of pulling a thread.

4. Knit in the round when possible

Why? Because you're always on the right side , so your threads naturally float in the back and don't go from side to side unnecessarily.

👉 This is what we recommend for all our modern jacquard models, like Mon Amour or Le Tulipe .

5. Prefer patterns designed for this purpose

Some models incorporate intelligent color changes : regular alternation, short floats, well-placed changes...

🎉 This is the case with our sweater Splashie , a cheerful model in colorful intarsia, which precisely avoids tension problems.

📌 Keep on hand: jacquard hole-proof checklist

🧾 Quick memo sheet to save:

✅ Do not exceed 4 stitches without catching the floating thread
✅ Cross the threads regularly and discreetly
✅ Knit looser than usual
✅ Avoid sudden voltage changes
✅ Practice on a round sample
✅ Opt for well-thought-out patterns (like Splashie or Mondrian )
✅ Prefer knitting in the round if possible
✅ Cross the threads in the middle of a colored block

💬 What if despite everything…?

Still have holes? Don't panic: steaming and carefully blocking the knit flat will smooth out many small flaws. And sometimes you can even mend them neatly with a wool needle and a bit of the same yarn.

Because we're not here to make perfect knitting, but to have fun 🤗

🎁 To go further: perfect models for testing jacquard

If you're looking to get started on a fun, colorful, and pressure-free project, here are three perfect models to learn how to manage your color changes:

▪️ Tulip – To celebrate spring whether it is here or not with floral Jacquard

▪️ Mon Amour – Jacquard hearts for a sleeveless sweater full of love

▪️ Elmer – ColorBlock and basket stitch; a model that dares