What is Intarsia Knitting?
Intarsia is a term from woodworking for inlaying different types of wood into a piece to form a design. Instarsia knitting is a multi-colored knitting technique where you have multiple "live" strands of yarn active as you work. The yarn is usually wound on small bobbins and hang from the back of the work as you go along. The key to getting a good look to your knitting is to wrap the strands of yarn around each other as you change colors, this prevents holes from forming.
I use the Intarsia knitting technique to create the picture designs I use in my handmade doll clothes and handmade bear clothes that I sell at my website. I use the Fair Isle technique when putting names on sweaters, as I find its easier than running mutiple threads at once.
You can see three of examples of my work in my logo. All of my intarsia knitting is done by hand, but there are knitting machines that are designed for intarsia knitting in mind. It can be a much faster and easier way to create multicolored designs, if you can master it.
You can learn more about Knitting Essentials by purchasing tutorials like this one.
One of the things you'll need if you're going to learn either one of these techniques is yarn. I prefer to use Red Heart, and one place you can find it is Joann.com. You can visit their website by clicking one of the logos below, and check out their current promotions and sale items:
Intarsia vs Fair Isle Knitting
Why these two are confused, and what the difference is
With Fair Isle knitting you carry one color of yarn across the row, using it as needed as you go along the row, leaving the yarn in between stitches hanging loosely in the back. It needs to be a little bit loose otherwise it will add tension to your work and it won't lie flat. This is referred to as carrying the yarn.
With Intarsia knitting, you have a separate color bobbin for each section of color used in the design, and do not carry yarn from one section of the work to the other.
Which method of multi-colored knitting do you prefer to do?
They can both be used on the same kind of project, so which one do you prefer to use for YOUR projects when you have a choice between the two?
Make your choice, and please explain why you feel that way in the space provided.
Which method of multi-colored knitting do you prefer to do?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byIntarsia
Margaret_Schaut says:
I LOVE a good intarsia! I learned at an aunt's knee, and she was incredibly talented. It gave me a very logical approach to design and challenged me mathematically- as a kid, a really big deal! She did complicated designs that I've rarely seen matched, and in my estimation a complicated but beautiful intarsia is a true measure of expertise.
Posted June 04, 2008
Fair Isle
MerryM says:
Hard to choose, but I would have to go with Fair Isle because I like designing charts for Fair Isle almost as much as I like knitting it!
Posted November 01, 2008
badmsm says:
I love Fair Isle, because the color changes are so much easier. You can also do a lot by changing the main color, as in many of the new Nordic Fair Isle patterns.
Posted March 04, 2008
charlesgrimes says:
I like to use Kaffe Fawsett's patterns for many colors of fair isle. And of course, using alpaca yarn!
Posted January 23, 2008
sonia_simone says:
Fair Isle for me, because I knit in the round most of the time. I also usually like small repeated designs more than single bold ones. They both have their uses, though!
Posted December 10, 2007
What sorts of designs can you create using Intarsia Knitting?
The more colors, the more complicated the work
Simple designs that use only 2-3 colors are easiest to do, and can be done as excellent training mechanisms for beginners. Designs like the rainbow design shown to the right can be very complicated, as you have to keep a close eye on your active yarn strands to prevent knotting or twisting from occurring on the back side of your work. Designs like the Christmas Tree shown above is very basic - a triangle sitting on a rectangle, on a white sweater.
So how do you create a design?
Its best to be done in advance on graph paper or an Excel spreadsheet
By drawing out the design, you'll be able to see exactly how many stitches are done in which color, and get a feel for how large of a bobbin you need for each patch of color.Let me show you a picture of one example of a design I created for a customer of a dump truck:
You can see it by clicking on the following link: http://www.katiyana.com/dollclothes/dumptruck.htm.
The intarsia knitting method can also be used for putting words onto a knitted piece of work, although I generally use the Fair Isle method instead because its easier to work with two live strands of yarn rather than separate strands for each letter. This could be a word or phrase, a name, an initial, or a number. You can see how I've used lettering on a sweater to spell out names in the picture to the right.
Do you need some knitting supplies?
Lantern Moon Uzu Fiber Classic Yarn Knitting Caddy Storage
* Classic Caddy - great for knitting and sewing projects
* Uzu Fiber and Cotton Linen on black wood frame
* 14"H x 16"W x 8"D
* Folds away for storage
* Handcrafted product from family business
Amazon Price: $36.00 (as of 11/25/2009) 
28-Inch Adjustable Knitting Board
* 28" Knitting Board
* Solid kiln dried hardwood
* Use one board size to create small projects to sweaters
* Adjustable Wood Spacers
* Includes knit hook & instructions
Amazon Price: $44.00 (as of 11/25/2009)
Lantern Moon Blue Raw Silk Knitting Needle Case Holder
* Holds 9 Pairs Straight Needles and 8 Circular Sets
* Raw Silk with Taffeta Trim
* 15" x 6" when closed
* Zipper Pouch, Nylon Reinforced
* Needles sold separately
Amazon Price: $38.00 (as of 11/25/2009)
Lantern Moon Green Rose Raw Silk Knitting Needle Case Holder
* Holds 9 Pairs Straight Needles and 8 Circular Sets
* Red Raw Silk with Taffeta Trim
* 15" x 6" when closed
* Zipper Pouch, Nylon Reinforced
* Needles sold separately
Amazon Price: $38.00 (as of 11/25/2009)
Great Stuff on Amazon about Intarsia and Fair Isle Knitting
Teach Yourself Intarsia and Fair Isle Knitting (Leisure Arts #4146)
Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 11/25/2009)
Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 11/25/2009)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KNITTING: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, With an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works
Amazon Price: $23.89 (as of 11/25/2009)
Complete Knitting: Techniques & Projects
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
Not Your Mama's Knitting: The Cool and Creative Way to Pick Up Sticks (Not Your Mama's Craft Books)
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 11/25/2009)
Here are some additional knitting resources...
Knitting for Dummies
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
Teach Yourself Visually Knitting (Teach Yourself Visually)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 11/25/2009)
Knitting Techniques: Volume 1 (The Harmony Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color & Patterns
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
Just a few more resources for you to check out!
Knitting Heaven and Earth: Healing the Heart with Craft
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 11/25/2009)
Basic Knitting: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started (Stackpole Basics)
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 11/25/2009)
Knitting Handbook: An Instructional Guide to Knitting
Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009)
Knitting Stitches: Over 300 Contemporary and Traditional Stitch Patterns
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 11/25/2009)
DomiKNITrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/25/2009)
More Intarsia knitting items from eBay
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLinks to more information about Intarsia Knitting
Here are some links to how-tos and more detailed information about Instarsia knitting, as well as some neat knitting-in-general websites. If you are aware of other sources, please feel free to add them to the list.
Intarsia (knitting) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia's article about Intarsia Knitting1 point
Singer Sewing Machines
Offering Singer Sewing Machines at guaranteed low more...1 point
Singer Sewing Machines - Free Shipping
Carrying an extensive line of Singer machines, we more...1 point
Learn Intarsia Knitting
Learn Intarsia Knitting - includes demonstration p more...0 points
intarsia: Information from Answers.com
intarsia (knitting) Intarsia is a knitting techniq more...0 points
Maggie's Rags Knitting Tips - Intarsia versus Fair Isle
Description of differences between intarsia and Fa more...0 points
Tips & Techniques for ISM/Bond Intarsia Knitting
Machine Knitting & Intarsia0 points
Knittwit's Wooly Thinking
One Knitter's Blog about her knitting0 points
Custom Precision Router Bits, Saw Blades, and Brazing Services.
Great discounts on thousands of tools, and Informa more...0 points
Do you have questions about Intarsia knitting?
or just want to say hi?
If you found my lens helpful, please give it a favorable review in the Isle of Squid directory:The Isle of Squid
Don't forget, you can visit Joann.com by clicking one of the logos below, and check out their current promotions and sale items:
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- triathlontraining triathlontraining Nov 3, 2008 @ 11:29 am
- Huh! I'd never heard of it before. Thank you for sharing! :) Very nice job.
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- rms rms Oct 2, 2008 @ 8:37 am
- Congrats on winning the craftiest creations award! This lens is being featured at the Showcase today. www.giantsquidshowcase.com
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- Mar1anneC Mar1anneC Aug 22, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
- I haven't tried Intarsia yet. I only have even made one thing with 2 colors of yarn! Very inspiring lens.
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- sellingnicestuff sellingnicestuff Aug 20, 2008 @ 7:35 am
- Your lens inspires me to pull out my knitting needles again. Loved this informative lens, thanks!
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- beachbum_gabby beachbum_gabby Jul 1, 2008 @ 9:18 pm
- lots to learn from this lens about Knitting. 5* for you!
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