Different Techniques Produce Colorful Looks
If someone asks if you like to knit sweaters that use color patterning, ask her to be more specific. There are several different color-knitting techniques, but the two most common are Fair Isle (sometimes called stranded knitting) and intarsia.
What is the difference between these two techniques? While traditional Fair Isle designs often include many colors, only two colors of yarn are used per row, and both yarns are carried across the entire row. Usually the patterns are small repeats that are worked over short intervals. The color not being knit is carried along in back of the work and twisted (woven) around the color in use as necessary to avoid long, loose carries (called floats) at the back. Depending on the weight of the yarn being used, you would not want to have a float that was more than three to five stitches in length before twisting it.
For ease in working, Fair Isle knitting is often worked circularly to avoid turning the work to purl. The background stranding creates a denser fabric that can be an advantage if you want a warmer garment.
The most common mistake made by novices is pulling the yarns too tightly, which causes the piece to pucker. Remember to work stranding as loosely as possible.
The second technique, intarsia, is used for solid areas of color. This technique is used for larger patterns and blocks, such as today’s featured unisex pullover. Instead of carrying more than one yarn across the row, additional colors are tied on and worked only as needed. The yarns are twisted around each other at the joining point.
Work smaller patterns by making separate bobbins or butterflies of yarn to add to your piece. When working large blocks of color as on the sweater shown here, I would advise you to simply work directly from the balls of yarn.
You may question how to tie a new yarn onto your piece. I suggest that you tie the new yarn to the old one with a temporary knot. Usually when my knitting is complete, I untie the knots and weave in both strands. Since you are working with several colors, take care to weave them in so that they don’t show on the right side of the work. You can often work each strand vertically into the spot where the twisting takes place.
The only other thing you’ll need to know to work intarsia is how to twist or interlock the sections. This is the key element to the technique and quite easy once you practice a bit. Just take care that you don’t do it too loosely, thus creating holes in the work.
Twisting on the knit side: Work to the spot where the yarns change. Drop the yarn that you are working with. Pick up the new yarn from under the first yarn and knit the next stitch.
Twisting on the purl side: Again, work to the spot where the yarns change. Drop the yarn that you are working with. Pick up the new yarn from under the first yarn and purl the next stitch.
If you are working vertical patterns such as our colorblock pullover, it is necessary to twist the yarns on both sides of the work. If you are working on a diagonal, you need to twist the stitches only on every other row.
A heathery-colored unisex pullover is perfect for fall wearing. It’s an easy colorblock pattern worked up very quickly. The pullover uses lush green heather as the main color. The accent blocks are worked in oxford gray, gray heather and wheat. It comes in sizes S, M, L and XL with finished chest/bust measurements of 46, 48, 51 and 54 inches. Refer to pattern 082596. For the pattern only: Send $2 and an SASE to Bonkers, P.O. Box 442099, Lawrence, KA 66044. To order kits call (800) 258-YARN. The S/M/L kit can be ordered for $33.95, which includes postage. The XL kit is $44.95.
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