Roxanne such great tips. I sure have learned a lot to help me from getting so frustrated at times. You're such a GREAT teacher. I've learned so much from you and really appreciate it. Thank you🤗
This has been so useful to me Roxanne. I’m new to intarsia. What I’ve also found works well for my pattern, which has a solid background colour with a singular contrast colour motif in the centre, is to use the same ball of background yarn but pull the yarn both from the centre and the outside. I find this saves time by not having to estimate the amount needed and winding onto bobbins. Thank you for explaining the different methods which will help me for more complicated colour changes.
I was on the verge of giving up when I found this video. Thank you so so much. You won't believe that anyone could be so dense, but It was a revelation to me that my bobbin threads could be short, thus eliminating tangling! Well, duh! I thank you, and my little grandson will thank you as well, when he receives his doggy sweater.
I love that you present a wide array of options, and some tips on deciding which option might be best in a particular situation. Intarsia seems to be having a moment this spring. A lot of the younger makers are trying it out.
I find bobbins hard to work with - they distract from my tension. But, if you use bobbins, you can make your own with cardboard. The method of measuring yarn estimates for intarsia is useful. My friends are thanking me for recommending your channel. Hi, Priscilla!
So so helpful! I'd almost decided my first intarsia project would be my last because I've spent more time untangling yarn than knitting. Now I have options!
Roxanne to the rescue! I was having trouble keeping my yarns from tangling in an intarsia project. I remembered seeing something about it on your channel recently and managed to find it. Such a thorough run through with all the different permutations. Thank you!
This is so informative and helpful as I prepare to do my first intarsia project. I had no idea how to estimate the yarn I would need. And your explanation of how to make butterflies is so easy to follow! TY
What an excellent video! I am working on a Kaffe Fasset sweater and feel vindicated (validated?) that I have balls, butterflies, and strands - up to 20-ish across the flower centers. I have to work at my desk (& of course, the cat needs to help 🙀) Thank you so much for these tips!!!!
I just wanted to say thanks for the tips, it proves your never to old to learn new things. I;m working on first adult fair isle knitted hat and i had to take out rows so many times and untangle yarn it's not even funny lol. thanks again your great🙂
Just so that you're clear: there are multiple types of colorwork. This video is about intarsia, or colorblock, knitting. Fair Isle is a subset of stranded colorwork, where the same (usually) two colors are alternated across the row or round. I have a 3-part series on stranded colorwork that you might find helpful, if that's what you're doing. You can find those videos near the top of this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PL1AZxTfSCe2ciu_XbYOVClammwvqVzIiy
A few years ago I knitted my first attempt at Intarsia and tried all of your suggestions. The best solution I found was in the kitchen area of our local store - ice block sphere makers. Little plastic balls with a snap lock that are filled with water to make round ice blocks.
So then, what do you do with the sphere makers? Are they sitting on your lap? In a box? Lined up on a table in front of you? Are they center pull balls, or are balls that would otherwise roll around if they weren't contained?
Not sure if they are still available. They are individual plastic spheres halves that snap together and have an opening for water that is closed by a snap lock. I wound the yarn for a centre pull placed the yarn in each mould, hreaded the yarn through the hole that is used to fill with water then partially closed the snap lock and snapped both halves together. Sat them in a shoe box on my lap while I knitted. The yarn had slight tension coming through the hole so came out smoothly.
Amazing! I just taught myself intarsia (of course I had to complicate matters by doing it in the round with multiple colors). And these are some great tips! I'm going to troll the comments to see if I can find a link to the silicone bobbins . . .
Thanks for this timely video-I am knitting my first sweater with intarsia now! Would you consider covering shaped intarsia in a future tutorial? I will continue vertical stripes around a v-neck and want smooth looking bands of color. There isn’t much information on this that I can find. Your thorough and well-organized approach is always much appreciated!
Thanks Roxanne. This is my first intarsia project, but will it be ready for Christmas? What I have decided to do to completely avoid tangles is set up a second chair opposite me when knitting. I don’t turn the work at all ... I turn myself by moving to the opposite chair. It seems to be working. Now I’ve just got to live with a random chair in the middle of the room for a week.
I picture a tangled mess for myself with embroidery floss cards lol. Those collapsible silicone things look interesting but like you said, add weight. Nice technique tips today.
Hi Roxanne thank you for this. Can you tell me if it is possible to work intarsia in the round and then steeking so one is always knitting (not purling)???? I would like to work a colorwork pattern for a blanket!
It isn't possible to knit intarsia without purling. There are intarsia in the round techniques (working back and forth, but linking the end of row to beginning of row in order to form a tube). The point of that is to avoid seaming, not to avoid purling. If you want to knit colorwork in the round without purling, you need to work a stranded design, not a color block (intarsia) design.
Thank you so much! I was just wondering how I could estimate the amount of yarn needed for a certain portion of colour, that was super helpful! I also prefer to use the balls of yarn, I put them aligned in a tray and when I turn the work I turn the tray and untangle each one (much less elegant than your method ha ha!)😅
I love that sweater with the poppies! have you made more of those intarsia-projects? when was that? do you have the feeling that they are out of fashion? I like to watch the older knittingbook of Kaffe Fasset, but I never have the courage to start such an 'immense' project. your tips are shaking up the dream again. thanks! (I don't expect answers to my questions, but maybe it could sometimes be a topic in your casual fridays)
Thank you for these helpful technique videos. I would like to request some tips on fixing mistakes. Particularly fixing a hole from a missed yarn linking at the color change. I didn't see the hole until I was quite a few rows past the error. I also wonder if you will share your sewing machine repair shop. I'm local to the Twin Cities. Thanks!
I'd fix the hole by taking a strand of one of the two colors, and using reverse duplicate stitch on the back of the work for a couple of sts leading up to the transition, and then linking this strand to the the other color at the back of the work. For sewing repairs I use Johnston's Sew and Vac in Richfield (66th & Queen). They have another location in Bloomington called Valley West Sewing.
Roxanne such great tips. I sure have learned a lot to help me from getting so frustrated at times. You're such a GREAT teacher. I've learned so much from you and really appreciate it. Thank you🤗
This has been so useful to me Roxanne. I’m new to intarsia. What I’ve also found works well for my pattern, which has a solid background colour with a singular contrast colour motif in the centre, is to use the same ball of background yarn but pull the yarn both from the centre and the outside. I find this saves time by not having to estimate the amount needed and winding onto bobbins. Thank you for explaining the different methods which will help me for more complicated colour changes.
You can knit backwards instead of turning the work to purl back. I do it all the time. Easy peasy. :) Greetings from Evergreen, Montana.
I was on the verge of giving up when I found this video. Thank you so so much. You won't believe that anyone could be so dense, but It was a revelation to me that my bobbin threads could be short, thus eliminating tangling! Well, duh! I thank you, and my little grandson will thank you as well, when he receives his doggy sweater.
I love that you present a wide array of options, and some tips on deciding which option might be best in a particular situation. Intarsia seems to be having a moment this spring. A lot of the younger makers are trying it out.
I find bobbins hard to work with - they distract from my tension. But, if you use bobbins, you can make your own with cardboard. The method of measuring yarn estimates for intarsia is useful.
My friends are thanking me for recommending your channel. Hi, Priscilla!
So so helpful! I'd almost decided my first intarsia project would be my last because I've spent more time untangling yarn than knitting. Now I have options!
Roxanne to the rescue! I was having trouble keeping my yarns from tangling in an intarsia project. I remembered seeing something about it on your channel recently and managed to find it. Such a thorough run through with all the different permutations. Thank you!
This is so informative and helpful as I prepare to do my first intarsia project. I had no idea how to estimate the yarn I would need. And your explanation of how to make butterflies is so easy to follow! TY
What an excellent video! I am working on a Kaffe Fasset sweater and feel vindicated (validated?) that I have balls, butterflies, and strands - up to 20-ish across the flower centers. I have to work at my desk (& of course, the cat needs to help 🙀)
Thank you so much for these tips!!!!
Great hack! It really works. No more yarn monster. Thanks so much!!
Very generous of you! Amazing!
I just wanted to say thanks for the tips, it proves your never to old to learn new things. I;m working on first adult fair isle knitted hat and i had to take out rows so many times and untangle yarn it's not even funny lol. thanks again your great🙂
Just so that you're clear: there are multiple types of colorwork. This video is about intarsia, or colorblock, knitting. Fair Isle is a subset of stranded colorwork, where the same (usually) two colors are alternated across the row or round. I have a 3-part series on stranded colorwork that you might find helpful, if that's what you're doing. You can find those videos near the top of this playlist: ruclips.net/p/PL1AZxTfSCe2ciu_XbYOVClammwvqVzIiy
Love your glasses matching your sweater and also the fact that that is the perfect color for your complexion
I also found this method to be timely and helpful! Thanks so much.
Thank you Roxanne. I’m just considering doing a sweater with Intarsia. This was really helpful!
What a great video! Perfectly explained as usual! Thank you!
Thanks for this video. I know very little about intarsia and nothing about its yarn management.
THank you Roxanne, this is so very useful.
A few years ago I knitted my first attempt at Intarsia and tried all of your suggestions. The best solution I found was in the kitchen area of our local store - ice block sphere makers. Little plastic balls with a snap lock that are filled with water to make round ice blocks.
So then, what do you do with the sphere makers? Are they sitting on your lap? In a box? Lined up on a table in front of you? Are they center pull balls, or are balls that would otherwise roll around if they weren't contained?
Not sure if they are still available. They are individual plastic spheres halves that snap together and have an opening for water that is closed by a snap lock. I wound the yarn for a centre pull placed the yarn in each mould, hreaded the yarn through the hole that is used to fill with water then partially closed the snap lock and snapped both halves together. Sat them in a shoe box on my lap while I knitted. The yarn had slight tension coming through the hole so came out smoothly.
Thanks! This will be my year of intarsia!
Very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful podcast! Such a help. Thanks so much!
Amazing! I just taught myself intarsia (of course I had to complicate matters by doing it in the round with multiple colors). And these are some great tips! I'm going to troll the comments to see if I can find a link to the silicone bobbins . . .
I think I got those silicone bobbins from KnitPicks.
Very helpful comparing the different methods depending on the design. I have only done 2 intarsia projects so far, very simple ones.
Thanks for this timely video-I am knitting my first sweater with intarsia now! Would you consider covering shaped intarsia in a future tutorial? I will continue vertical stripes around a v-neck and want smooth looking bands of color. There isn’t much information on this that I can find. Your thorough and well-organized approach is always much appreciated!
I learn so much from you. THANK YOU
I appreciate this video. Thank you for it.
This is brilliant! Thank you
This was so helpful.
Great tips. Thank you. 🇬🇧
Great tips! Thank you.
Thanks Roxanne. This is my first intarsia project, but will it be ready for Christmas? What I have decided to do to completely avoid tangles is set up a second chair opposite me when knitting. I don’t turn the work at all ... I turn myself by moving to the opposite chair. It seems to be working. Now I’ve just got to live with a random chair in the middle of the room for a week.
I picture a tangled mess for myself with embroidery floss cards lol. Those collapsible silicone things look interesting but like you said, add weight. Nice technique tips today.
NOW I know why my Noro heart scarf went horribly wrong! I gave up on it last year, but I plan to start over now!
Hi Roxanne thank you for this. Can you tell me if it is possible to work intarsia in the round and then steeking so one is always knitting (not purling)???? I would like to work a colorwork pattern for a blanket!
It isn't possible to knit intarsia without purling. There are intarsia in the round techniques (working back and forth, but linking the end of row to beginning of row in order to form a tube). The point of that is to avoid seaming, not to avoid purling. If you want to knit colorwork in the round without purling, you need to work a stranded design, not a color block (intarsia) design.
Thank you so much! I was just wondering how I could estimate the amount of yarn needed for a certain portion of colour, that was super helpful! I also prefer to use the balls of yarn, I put them aligned in a tray and when I turn the work I turn the tray and untangle each one (much less elegant than your method ha ha!)😅
That method you have is also helpful. I'm always learning something new. Thank you👏🏼
A tray is a great idea for containing the yarns, though! Makes it easy if you want to move to a different location.
I love that sweater with the poppies! have you made more of those intarsia-projects? when was that? do you have the feeling that they are out of fashion? I like to watch the older knittingbook of Kaffe Fasset, but I never have the courage to start such an 'immense' project. your tips are shaking up the dream again. thanks! (I don't expect answers to my questions, but maybe it could sometimes be a topic in your casual fridays)
I knit the Welsh Poppy sweater some time around 1990. I linked to all the projects I showed down in the video description.
Thankyou so much where did you purchase your silicone bobbins please
Knit Picks.
Thank you for these helpful technique videos. I would like to request some tips on fixing mistakes. Particularly fixing a hole from a missed yarn linking at the color change. I didn't see the hole until I was quite a few rows past the error. I also wonder if you will share your sewing machine repair shop. I'm local to the Twin Cities. Thanks!
I'd fix the hole by taking a strand of one of the two colors, and using reverse duplicate stitch on the back of the work for a couple of sts leading up to the transition, and then linking this strand to the the other color at the back of the work. For sewing repairs I use Johnston's Sew and Vac in Richfield (66th & Queen). They have another location in Bloomington called Valley West Sewing.
Thankyou so much for all the different techniques.please could you tell me where you get the silicone bobbins from please.
What do I do if i forgot to yarn over my intarsia edge and there's a hole?
Nice
What if I would do a three yarn colours are for crochet how would that work?🤔
I am not a crocheter, so I have no idea how crocheted intarsia works.
I was just wondering that’s OK🙂
But the yarns can get every messy if we use round needles etc it is not clean sadly 😢😢😢