Create your own jacquard pattern (free pattern included) – The complete Knit-sis guide

Do you want to personalize your knits with your own jacquard designs ? 💡
Perhaps a floral pattern that reminds you of your grandmother's garden... or a small, discreet heart to give to someone special? Jacquard is the gateway to a unique knit, totally your own.

When we were little, our aunt taught us how to read a jacquard grid... but more importantly, how to invent our own. As a result, we spent entire afternoons transforming our math notebooks into patterned notebooks 🖤. Today, we're sharing our step-by-step method for creating a jacquard pattern from A to Z , with a free downloadable template as a bonus .

What is jacquard and why create your own?

Jacquard is a technique where you knit several colors in the same row, passing the threads behind the work. It's perfect for :

▪️ Add a graphic or figurative pattern.

▪️ Play with colors.

▪️ Customize an existing template.

💬 Creating your own design is the guarantee of having a unique piece that no one else will wear.

📌 See at Knit-sis : our Mondrian sweater – a perfect example of modern geometric jacquard.

Step 1 – Choose inspiration and format

Before even drawing:

▪️ Determine the size : a small repeating pattern or a large central pattern?

▪️ Choose your style : floral, geometric, animal, symbol…

▪️ Set the number of stitches and rows you have on your piece.

💡 Knit-sis tip : for a size M women's sweater, a central pattern 30 to 40 stitches wide works very well.

Step 2 – Draw your jacquard grid

You can :

▪️ Use checkered paper (1 check = 1 mesh).

▪️ Use free software like Stitch Fiddle or Chart Minder.

▪️ Color directly on a printed diagram.

🎨 Don't be afraid to test multiple versions. Sometimes a small tweak to color spacing makes all the difference.

Step 3 – Choose and test colors

The rendering of a jacquard depends enormously on the contrast:

▪️ High contrast = clear and legible patterns.

▪️ Soft contrast = more blended effect, ideal for a pastel look.

💬 In our Sunrise Sweater , we play on sunset-inspired pastels that blend delicately.

Step 4 – Knit a swatch

Before you start on the final project:

▪️ Knit at least one 15x15 cm square .

▪️ Check the legibility of the pattern.

▪️ Adjust the size or colors if necessary.

💡 Never skip this step: a perfect pattern on paper may turn out to be illegible once knitted.

Step 5 – Manage the wires for a clean look

In jacquard:

▪️ Do not let your yarns float over more than 4-5 stitches.

▪️ Catch the idle thread behind the work regularly to avoid snags.

▪️ Maintain regular tension.

📌 If this part stresses you out, reread our article on how to avoid holes in jacquard.

🎁 Free model to discover

We imagined the Chroma Vest , a sleeveless vest with a retro and colorful look, developed in partnership with Katia and knitted in their magnificent Super Merino wool 🎨

The pattern is available for free (PDF format + printable jacquard chart) so you can get started right away!

Perfect for:
▪️ Add some pep to a look with a sleeveless vest
▪️ Test jacquard on a simple and accessible project
▪️ Enjoy quick and soft knitting thanks to Super Merino

📥 Check out the free template here

To remember

▪️ Plan your pattern before knitting.

▪️ Always test on a sample.

▪️ Play with color contrast.

▪️ Have fun: jacquard is art applied to knitting!

Conclusion

Creating your own jacquard pattern offers the ultimate freedom to personalize your projects. With a little planning and our tips, you can create unique pieces that tell your story.

👉 Get started today with our jacquard and intarsia collection
💌 And to make sure you don't miss any of our upcoming free tutorials, subscribe to our newsletter.