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Learn Intarsia with this DVD Guide

by 9 Comments

inside intarsia dvd

The winner is Chris.

Intarsia is a fun knitting technique that involves working different colors in blocks across the knit fabric. In stranded knitting, you work just a few stitches of one color then change to the other and back again, stranding the unused yarn across the back of the work as you go, but in intarsia you drop the old yarn completely, pick up a new yarn for the new section and continue on in that way across, with each little patch of knitting worked from its own ball.

This allows you to knit larger-scale designs, and it’s really lots of fun, but it does take some getting used to.

This week’s giveaway will help. Inside Intarsia with Anne Berk is a DVD produced by Interweave that runs 117 minutes and includes all the basics, such as how to read a chart and join yarn, as well as more advanced techniques like working intarsia in the round and fixing mistakes.

The DVD originally came with two patterns, which may still be available from Interweave (my DVD is still shrink-wrapped, but there’s probably something in there that points you to a website with the patterns on it).

Note: though the picture says download the prize is the DVD, which I will ship to you.

If you’d like a chance to win this DVD, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, Aug. 13. I’d love to hear about your experience with intarsia or what scares you about it if you haven’t tried it yet. (I really like it  and have a few patterns using the technique in one of my books; the Superstar Scarf is probably my favorite.)

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. I really want to know how to do this. I have seen several projects that appealed to me, but I did not know how to go about this. I guess I am scared because stranded knitting is a major failure for me.

  2. My problem is with finishing the ends once the item is completed. Any help with this would be great! Thank you for the giveaway chance.

  3. I’ve only done a few small projects with intarsia but would love to attempt something bigger. It’s really beautiful.

  4. I learned to knit as a youngster but didn’t actually do much knitting until the last few years. I am essentially a self taught knitter. The intarsia projects I’ve tried have ended up lumpy in my attempt to twist the different colored yarns as they intersect. Obviously that’s wrong. I am so excited to have the chance to win instructions on how to accomplish color work. Thank you.

  6. I have tried working Intarsia on a couple of projects of my own design. I taught myself from a couple of books so I understand how to work Intarsia, I just don’t feel confident. If this DVD is clear and easy to understand I should be able to fill in the gaps. Thanks for the chance to win it!

  7. I would love to learn how to do Intarsia. I am not new to knitting, but new to a lot of techniques. I have always just done the basics. One year I made hats and learned new stitches. That was fun. So as fall approaches it would be fun to learn something new again. Thanks for the chance to win.

  8. I have attempted intarsia on a project, but it didn’t turn out very well. I would love to be able to do it well.

  9. I have been knitting for over 50 years and am always looking for new challenges. I would love to learn this technique and hope you will send me a copy of this DVD explaining how intarsia is done.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four. 

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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