Helical Knitting

Helical or Helix Knitting solves one of the most annoying issues you get when knitting stripes in the round. Because of the spiral nature of continuous rounds, you often get a little glitch - often called a "jog" - where the last stitch in one color doesn't quite line up with the first stitch in the next color, creating a visual break in the color pattern. There are many ways to address the jog when knitting thick stripes but when knitting thin stripes that are only one round tall, helical or helix knitting is the solution.

There are two variations in the video - one is used when knitting with two colors and one is when knitting with three or more colors. In both variations I like to do one complete round in one color, especially if I am transitioning from ribbing to stockinette stitch as I would for a hat or a sock.
Two-color variation - knit the second round in the same color as the first round (Color A), stopping 3 stitches before the end of the round. Add the new color (Color B) and drop the old color (Color A). *Continue knitting all the way around until 3 stitches remain on the left-hand needle in Color A. Drop B, Pick up A (it will be there waiting for you) and knit until 3 stitches remain on the left-hand needle in Color B. Drop A, pick up B. Rep from * for pattern, noting that the beginning of round moves three stitches to the right for every round.

Three or more color variation - it's important that your rounds have a stitch count that is divisable by the number of colors you wish to use. If you need to add or subtract a stitch or a few stitches to make that work after your ribbing you can do that on the solid color round one mentioned above. Take the number of stitches in your round, and divide that by the number of colors you are working with - that number is your stitch multiple. For Round 2, knit your stitch multiple in the same color as Round 1 (Color A), then knit your stitch multiple in each of your remaining colors (B, C etc).

From here on out you don't really have to count! At the start of each round, knit the first stitch multiple in the same color as the last stitch multiple of the previous round - you will know when to stop because the color on you needle will change. Drop that color and pick up the next color in your rotation - you will know which color comes next because that yarn will be sitting there waiting for you - and knit the next stitch multiple.

Continue on in this fashion, changing colors at the end of every stitch multiple EXCEPT you will always knit the first multiple of any round in the same color as the last multiple of the previous round so it feels a little like you are knitting two multiples in a row with the same color. This technique works with any number of colors and is a great way to work with scrap yarn.