Get Dayana Knits blog posts by e-mail:

* indicates required

5 Tips for Better Intarsia: The 2017 Kaffe Afghan KAL

5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits


In 2016, it came as a shock that Rowan's Kaffe Fassett KAL would not include "intarsia" -- a way of knitting with an infinite number of colors in one row. After all, wasn't that technique that made his name? The project was actually more of a nod to his quilting persona and ended up truly stripe-tastic.

This was my version:


Rowan Yarns Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL 2016, version by Dayana Knits, from 5 Tips for Better Intarsia, March 2017.


Well, we didn't have to wait long for Captain Intarsia to arrive! The 2017 Rowan Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL starts March 30, and it is filled with it. (Join the free KAL at the Rowan Yarns group on Ravelry)

If you thought the first one was hypnotizing and possibly seizure-inducing, this one might really get you to shake.


Rowan Yarns Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL 2017 starts March 30! From 5 Tips for Better Intarsia by Dayana Knits
Order kits at Fiberwild for 25% off


DON'T BE AFRAID! You can do this!

👉 And, with less crazy colors.

I looked at their shopping list, threw out ALL the color and bought 30 balls of the Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted shades that make up the "tumbling blocks" squares. That's 10 balls each of Soft Cream, Moonstone and Charcoal Grey, if you want to carbon copy my future afghan.


Rowan Yarns Pure Wool Superwash Worsted for Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL 2017 starts March 30! From 5 Tips for Better Intarsia by Dayana Knits


Rowan Yarns Pure Wool Superwash Worsted for Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL 2017 starts March 30! From 5 Tips for Better Intarsia by Dayana Knits


Now, I imagine that those of you interested have done a little intarsia in the past. I'm not going to talk about HOW to do intarsia, but I do want to give you 5 tips on how to do it better.


1. Use bobbins


You may be tempted to use the balls themselves while knitting, or maybe even hand-made yarn "butterflies" that don't require equipment, but bobbins are better. (Actually, using the full yarn balls will just make you just want to die and never knit again, so don't even think about it.)

The advantage to bobbins is their weight (to keep tension at color joins) and how easy you can release more yarn to knit with. There are some bad ones and some good ones -- if you do a lot of intarsia, you should try a bunch and see what you like.

My favorites have these elements, but these particular ones are from Susan Bates.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 1. Use bobbins



2. Tug your old bobbin after 2 stitches 


Not zero, 1 or 3. TWO! Sounds picky I know, but I've done a LOT of intarsia.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 2. Tug your old bobbin after 2 stitches


Tugging right away or after just 1 stitch only moves the yarn uselessly around the needles. You simply need two whole stitches worth of loops to have something to tug effectively.

After 3 stitches, it's just too annoyingly far to reach.


3. Don't purl


Huh?

Listen, there is nothing more irritating in intarsia than turning your work and watching every bobbin twist into a intricate cat's cradle. INFURIATING, actually!

The point here is to never turn your work and purl by knitting FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. This technique is not only useful in intarsia, but also when you need to turn frequently, like sock short rows or i-cord.

I can only show you with the English method, yarn held in right hand -- 'you continentals' may want to look around for a good tutorial for yourselves, it's worth it.




PICTURE INSTRUCTIONS

1. When you get to the end of a row, insert your needle into the BACK of the stitch you just knitted.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 3. Never Purl


2. Loop yarn over the needle towards you.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 3. Never Purl


3. Pull the loop through the stitch.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 3. Never Purl


4. Move stitch onto left needle.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 3. Never Purl


4. Weave in ends along color joins only


When you join a new bobbin you are going to get a big wonking hole. You're going to hate that hole while you knit -- but don't worry, the loose end is going to close it up real nice!

JUST DON'T BE TEMPTED to weave in the end into the block of color. Intarsia is unlike stranded knitting, it's only one layer and you can see through it. Not only might you see the totally different color behind it, but you WILL see the change in tension where you wove.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 4. Weave in along color changes


5. Leave a longer cut end than usual


In my opinion, the more color changes in intarsia, the more fun. I'm STILL working on this stained glass madness!


Stained Glass Madness intarsia cardigan, pattern by Brandon Mably from Rowan Magazine, knit by Dayana Knits


You won't have as many ends as I have here, but you'll have a bunch. YOU DO NOT WANT THOSE TO GET OUT, OMG! Just leave the ends a tad longer than usual. I know this is an afghan and I know the back side is showing... but safety first, yo.


5 Tips for Better Intarsia Knitting, by Dayana Knits. 5. Leave a longer cut end


Hell, it will tell everyone YOU made your masterpiece -- not some machine for Urban Outfitters!

If you're joining in the KAL fun or just want to watch the progress, join us over in the Rowan Yarns group on Ravelry. I'm sure I'll think of some other tips, too.


See my Captain Kaffghan on Ravelry


Rowan Yarns Kaffe Fassett Afghan KAL 2017 starts March 30! From 5 Tips for Better Intarsia by Dayana Knits



Follow this blog:
by e-mail
by following my Facebook Page
SaveSaveSaveSave

Comments

  1. Nice tips, Dayana. Good to see that Tiger Shrimp is lending a helpful paw, too.
    -- Gretchen (aka stashdragon)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is amazing pattern, loved so much. Inspirational too. I noted, maybe one day I knit. Thank you for all these tips and sharing. You are so nice, Love, nia

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for these tips! Um, I took an intarsia class once. A long time ago. :-) But am an avowed Kaffe fan so bought the whole lovely kit to make the afghan. I feared it would stay in the box. You've helped my confidence! Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your blog makes this easy to follow along and makes me believe I can do it! ;-)... Dayana, where did you find those bobbins? I've looked online but don't see any quite as cool as yours. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear -- I bought tons of packs in a Portuguese shop in Montreal. And now I realize that intarsia is so rare that those bobbins are now impossible to find! You may have to try another style. The Clover ones look interesting...

      Delete
    2. Hi Dayana - I have started the 2017 KAL using the Clover bobbins. They are fine but they are BIG. I was using a circular needle and had to switch to straights because the bobbins kept
      tangling when I was working the rows with 10 color blocks.

      Your tips are great but I personally find purling easier than knitting. I think it's having the bobbins hanging in front of the work rather than behind it. For me, the purl rows seem to go twice as fast!

      Delete
    3. Ugh, that's not good! I did think they were too big. At this point if I needed more, I'd buy these Pony ones (the fish looking ones): http://www.ponyneedles.com/index.php?module=products&event=producdetail&id=3102

      Right on! Do what works best for you! Sometimes, when I purl intarsia I do the "big flip" to get all my bobbins on the side I want. If you're really good at it, you can even untangle with the flip 😏. Or tangle. 😱

      Delete
  5. Wow! Great tips for those of us CONSIDERING intarsia! Now I wonder why EVERYTHING isn't knitted from left to right and right to left?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! It's not as easy somehow -- and I'm still not sure how you would do it continental!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for your comment! :)

Click to contact me

Most popular posts in the last 30 days