First Person
Dana’s Edit: Tackling Intarsia
Every year I figure out how to master a knitting technique.
One year I worked in the round on almost every project so that I felt comfortable.
Another year was all about cable knitting (and I still can’t knit a cable without a cable needle and maybe never will).
Another year I became obsessed with two-color brioche, which is still one of my favorite things to do.
So when my husband saw the Bolt sweater by Maxim Cyr, I realized now might be the time for me to tackle my fear of intarsia.
Fortunately, not too long after he showed me that pattern, my local yarn shop, Fibre Space announced that intarsia would be one of the classes for the spring. Just my luck (or perhaps he called and asked them LOL).
Here’s the thing: I’ve wanted to tackle intarsia for a long time, but for some reason it became one of those truly intimidating knitting things to me. I know sometimes we get in our own heads and just keep saying, “I could never do that,” when in fact we totally can.
So when my husband showed me a sweater he liked, I used that as my motivation to finally stop being afraid and just take the class to learn a new skill because that’s the fun thing about knitting—there is always something new to learn.
The main things I learned about intarsia are that it’s about maintaining consistency and managing tangled yarn. Honestly, it’s that simple.
If you knit stranded colorwork, intarsia is pretty similar, except that you might have a few bobbins or balls of yarn in different colors at various points in your project. My biggest hurdle was figuring out how to juggle multiple balls of yarn and a very happy dog who wanted to sit in my lap. Thanks, Kiwi.
For my class we knit the Warp Vest by Sara Ottosson. It’s knit with two strands of fingering weight yarn and that helps make the joins look seamless.
With any new skill I learn, I try to repeat it, so I’ve already knit a second version of the Warp Vest using linen yarns so I could wear it all year. And the second time knitting this felt like it was easy as could be. I couldn’t remember why I was so nervous to try intarsia to begin with!
Now I want to tackle a larger project for myself before I make Kendell’s sweater. So I’ve been looking at other intarsia projects that might be easy and quick to tackle before going big.
The Make Myself Flowers Vest by Vexnot Studio is so adorable. It gives me Marimekko inspired vibes and I could knit the flowers in one color—or push myself and knit multiple colors! Plus, I am in my vest and cardigan phase of life. I need lighter layers and the ability to slip things off if I get too hot. So it’s a win for me.
I’ve already pulled together the yarn for the Funfetti shawl by Maxim Cyr. It looks like it will be such a fun accessory and let me play with smaller shapes and pops of bright colors. So now, I’m officially in my intarsia era!
What technique has been too intimidating for you to try? Let me know in the comments.
I have been a knitter since 1964 and intarsia still intimidates the hell out of me (the 80s were hell, LOL!). But you have given me hope!
PS A new Field Guide, maybe??
Hi Joan! Field Guide No. 16: Painterly will set you up for intarsia glory! Kaffe Fassett’s simple geometric designs are the easiest way to get the hang of intarsia.
I love this! Thank you Dana!
Oh Dana
Be still my heart……
Tell me about the mustard linen pants in vest pic.
You’ve convinced me to finally take bobbins out of their gift bag from 7yrs ago.
The Nola Cardigan by Yamagara Knits is what brought me back to intarsia. I’m about to start a second one.
No affiliation, just a recommendation https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nola-7
OMGosh, thanks for your insight! I have not been at all interested in learning this technique until you shared your thoughts and some amazing patterns 😀 Hope to run into you and your pups at Fibre Space.
Yes, another one of the “looks harder than it is” techniques.
Lovely vests!
I too love the vest patterns you suggested. I was a little intimated by intarsia at first, so I started with socks. I’m knitting some ankle socks for a Christmas gift. I found a cute pattern on ravelry called Secret Santasocks by Britta Schonfeldt. I had to translate it from german. I’m using bobbins for the different yarns, and since it’s socks, I can use scrap yarns from stash! Carpe intarsia!
Thanks for posting about the Secret Santasocks (Ravelry– https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/secret-santasocks). I downloaded it immediately. Soooo Cute!
A set of family Christmas stockings is my intro to intarsia. I think I may have picked something too ambitious as I reknit the first one three times. I self taught knitting, brioche, 2 colour brioche, stranded colour work, in the round, and cables, but I think if a class came up for intarsia that I could get to I’d take it! It’s been the biggest challenge for me
The vests are gorgeous! And I lost my heart to your mustard-yellow pants—so stylish!
I recently did a tubular bind off and was pretty proud of myself!
OK, maybe it is time to learn a new skill. I have always just blown off anything intarsia. I love what you have already knit. Please post a picture of your husband’s sweater when you have finished. Can’t wait to see it!
I give one of my sons a sweater every year for Christmas. The Bolt sweater is really nice. His is done for this year, but maybe for next…
Intarsia has been that skill I have avoided, but that Make Myself Flowers Vest might convince me to try it! So cute!
Any suggestions for intarsia video how-to’s online? I live where there a few knit shops with any classes.
I love the vests – but when does Bolt fit in the plan?
I still have the imperfectly knitted intarsia pullover I made from a Vogue Knitting pattern back in about 1990. I probably need to go back and refine that skill.
Love your vests, Dana! I love intarsia, too.
My sticking point is knitting continental. I’ve been knitting English style for 25+ years. I knit pretty fast but I want to knit faster (so much stash yarn to burn through not to mention I keep buying yarn, but that’s another problem ). Plus, I hear that continental style is better for arthritic hands. I’ve tried countless times but always revert back to what I know. Every year I say “this is the year I’ll knit continental!” to no avail.
Do you knit continental, Dana? Should I persevere? Or, should I just continue to wear my English style knitting with pride?
Thank you!
Hi Jane,
I’ve been in your spot and my solution was just to accept that I knit perfectly fine in my right-handed flicking style and that learning continental (even though I use it while knitting colorwork) would slow me down even more. But I also accepted that everyone has a different knitting style, even if you knit “Continental” or “English”. Watch your knitting groups hands sometime–it’s amazing.
Good luck on your journey!
Tamara
Wow, Dana, your post pressed so many buttons for me. First, the St. Cyr Funfetti vest is the answer to my idea of a Pick-up Stix blanket for a child. Just make the confetti longer and skinnier in primary colors against a black background with a black and white corrugated-stripe border. Has anyone seen one of those? Or did I just make it up in my head. (And what a lot of work!) Second, I was sitting and knitting at a sidewalk cafe along Sunset Boulevard with my family (as one does) when a nice, barefooted beachcomber type (or out-of-worker actor?) strolled up and asked me about my knitting. He himself was quite the knitter and gave me several helpful hints. When I, a newbie, asked him what designer he liked best he said Annabel (forgot her last name, sorry) – a well-known Intarsia designer. When I mentioned how complicated her designs were, he just smiled broadly and said “the more complicated the better” – then waved good-bye. If I Ever tackle intarsia, he will have been my first Influencer. Love your plaid vests, Dana, particularly the colors of the second one!
I’m assuming you were on Sunset Boulevard in SoCal (maybe there’s one in Florida or Australia too?). Only in L.A. would one come across a barefooted beach comber guy who can give you knitting advice.
If anyone can claim a similar experience anywhere else, I’ll stand corrected.
fun article
A. It was Annabel FOX and B. It was a Funfetti SHAWL, not vest.
And C. anyone who knits in public must have fun stories to tell, and hopefully understands my long-winded Comment. (I have another one about cabling without a cable needle, but will mercifully refrain.)
Kay’s intarsia tip changed my intarsia life! Instead of bobbins or butterflies, measure off and cut a yard or three of each color – then when they get tangled they just pull right out. I at first thought it sounded like more work, but when I tried it I loved it. She (I think it was Kay anyway) had a clever name for this little technique, which I have forgotten. I have only tried it with wool, so I can quickly spit-join the new strands.
I think what you are talking about is: pull from the tangle. I was surprised at how all those strands looked to be tangled, but they actually weren’t. Pull on one and it would come right thru the middle and be free.
Another Nan shared the link below. (Thanks for the link, Another Nan!)
It made an impression on me as well, written by Anne. I kept thinking about pulling from the mess, sounds delightful!
Ginny, your mention of Kay’s non-tangle tip made me search for it. (Someday I’ll need to know.) Found it! It’s in Kay’s 11/17/20 letter, “True Confessions–Intarsia Edition.” https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/?s=true+confessions%2C+intarsia
Pull from the tangle is that good advice from MDK. Not a fan of doing intarsia, unless it is pretty simple. I am just too distractable… and knitting cables without a cable needle isn’t all that, really. Those vests, though!! I admire your planning and tenacity, Dr. Dana!
Hi Dana, I was in Fibre Space’s intarsia class with you. It is exciting to see your finished vests – well done!
So I saw a cute sweater the other day. Tan with large Eight Balls. Def intarsia and I wondered if I could do it. You have inspired me. I think I will start with that vest. I too am in the vest and cardigan phase of life!
Dana, YOU ARE AMAZING. I love to see what you’ve been working on and to have your perspective. I’m not on the intarsia bus yet, but thanks for the encouragement. Those vests are TERRIFIC!!!!!
This! Love every post from Dana
Intarsia? Pfft. Brioche scares the pants off me.
Double knitting made my head hurt, but someone on Reddit compared it to reading fair-isle charts, except that you’re knitting with one color & purling with the other. That blew my mind & made it so much more understandable.
Dana, your first project is one of the three featured ones in Ravelry!
You inspire me.
Steeks!!!
Gorgeous knitting! Thanks!
I have to give a shoutout to my personal favorite intarsia expert, Sylvia Watts-
Cherry ( https://www.ravelry.com/designers/sylvia-watts-cherry ). Her Nubian Queen sweater was her breakout pattern and she’s written several other amazing works since. I’m currently doing her Mino cowl and hope to start on her newest, gorgeous Snug Wrap https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snug-wrap .
Wow!! Thank you for opening my eyes to her great designs!
Thanks, Dana! I have been avoiding Intarsia for a long time, but in my heart, I know that any knitting technique can be accomplished with patience and perseverance. It’s helpful to be reminded of the fun of taking on a challenging technique, so I appreciate your voice.
Always a Joy to read Dana’ s articles!!
I have always been intimidated by brioche until I finally took a class at our last Knitting event. Our teacher was great and it finally clicked. I still need a lot more practice but I think I got it.
Intarsia can be fun! Glad you have jumped in and are mastering this technique. I learned intarsia in the early 90s when I saw a Kaffe Fassette sweater pattern I just had to have. I was fearless at that time and went BIG.
The two techniques that intimidated me most for far too long were cables and stranded colorwork. My first attempts were not good and being a perfectionist (I am now in recovery) at the time, I just wrote those techniques off for years and years. Then, I gained the courage and learned to let go, as well as some hacks and tricks and now I am doing both techniques more often. There are far too many beautiful patterns out there to limit myself by fear of a technique, IMHO.
Brioche
I too was afraid of intarsia, until a pattern and the instructions were in an MDK issue #16. I ordered the yarn and started across the rows. It’s not hard after all. Now can a do brioche?
Michele Bernstein, who goes online by pdxknitterati, wrote a book on brioche. I had never knit brioche and test knit patterns for her. I’d totally recommend checking it out, Brioche Knit Love: 21 Skill Building Projects from Simple to Sublime. She graciously includes videos that make it so easy to understand!
I love all three of those vests and I thought directly about Marimekko also when I saw the Make Myself Flowers vest.
p.s. I hope the pups are doing well and I love your kitchen flooring!
Julie Southwell
Oh my! Love both these looks and your adventurous spirit. I’ve tried intarsia and didn’t enjoy the lumpy, imperfect results, nor the tangled bobbins–I definitely picked a project that was too ambitious. Now I’m tempted to try again. Thanks for the inspiration!
I want to knit Mixtape Tee and it requires intarsia. Hoping to use Wool & Vinyl yarns for bright pops of color. As always you inspire me.