Intarsia Colour Change

#1

Hi,

Has anyone got any tips for the best method for colour change when intarsia knitting? In the past I have used methods I found online and still ended up with gaps so just looking for what others find the best.

Thanks,

Louise

#2

I use this method with twists on the front and on the back. It works whether you hold the yarn in your left or right hand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZngUEJDo6Q
See especially after 3:00min.

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#3

Amazing, thanks so much. Will try this out!

#4

I use the same method. I also like to hold the strand of the next colour as I approach it to keep it in tension, and a slight tug at the cross over (and check the stitch size is the same as the others).
I saw a tip (possibly nimble needles but I may be remembering incorrectly) for if you get a bit if a gap or loose stitch despite the snug up at the cross over, and this is to work the following 2 stitches a bit tighter than usual. Rather than resorting to yanking harshly on the first stitch at the colour change (which can cause gap problems too), work it more “regularly”, then work the next 2 with tighter tension. The idea is that the little extra yarn in stitch 1 will work its way into stitch 2 and 3 and all even up. If it doesn’t go there on its own and later you spot a slightly large stitch at the colour change you can distribute the excess to the other stitches manually.
Do you have a pattern you’re working to? I’ve been looking for various intarsia and stranded colour ideas recently as I contemplate my next project.

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#5

Thanks so much for all the help and tips, I feel more confident this time! It is this Christmas pattern for my little girl…early I know but I am trying to be more organised this year.

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/rudi-knitting-pattern-by-vikki-bird?srsltid=AfmBOornqSqa4RgK5n-d6IRwofW3Xlzbda96BDTzC8OHnIS6CMDgsVDV

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#6

Oh that’s soooo cute! Well done you for getting the jump on Xmas!

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#7

Every little girl is going to want one! Adorable.

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#8

A simple way to remember when changing colours — the new colour should always come from underneath the old colour. I’m doing intarsia on these argyle socks.

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#9

I’m afraid I haven’t tried it myself, but I bookmarked this tutorial to try next time I do some intarsia as it seemed helpful:
https://yarnsub.com/articles/techniques/neater-intarsia/

Have fun with your Christmas project!

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#10

Hi,

More help please! So I have been practicing the suggestions made and I have managed to fix my gap issue, however, some of my stitches are looking bigger than the others. It seems to happen on the knit colour change rows, this is despite keeping my tension as even as possible. Is the issue still tension? Am I being too much of a perfectionist?

Thank you!

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#11

It is still about tension but to be honest I’d just go with what you’ve got, it’s hand kniting after all, not machine knitting. Your knitting tension looks generally even and, as you said, the colour change is where the inconsistencies come with the tension.
You might be over pulling and snugging up too tightly making the second colour a small stitch, in some of your colour changes. Those in the circle to the right, the right most stitches are a bit small, if you look along the row you’ll see some bigger stitches you could steal some yarn from and distribute it to the right. The enlarged main colour stitch can also be fixed by drawing excess yarn out and work it to the right, taking it 6 or 7 stitches away it will probably disappear.
The enlarged stitch in the left circle could likely be reduced by distributing some extra yarn to the right too.
Do you know how to do this? I couldn’t find a video but I know they exist.
It will also look a bit different when it’s washed and dried, or blocked as the yarn relaxes.
Overall… it looks great, it will be a great sweater, a fabulous sweater! It will be cute and loved even if there is a slight difference in stitch size.

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#12

I came across this technique when I was reading an email from Talvi knits:

Ladder back jacquard to manage long floats in color work

She recommended it for her new pattern for a stranded colorwork sweater.

There are some interesting designs on the knitdarling.com site where this technique is used. I really like this sweater:

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#13

Washing and blocking may well even out some of the large sts. It’s not comfortable to leave this step to the last but it may be a good solution. If you’ve practiced on a swatch, wash and block the swatch and see if it helps enough to pass inspection.

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#14

Thanks everyone, will give it a go!

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