Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Learn Intarsia with this DVD Guide

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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?

Bucket Hat Knitting Patterns

As I was starting to write this post I thought that it was true that I’d never done a roundup of bucket hat knitting patterns before. But then I looked, and I actually did one last year (which you can find here) but there are plenty of cute bucket hats to do another post about, right? 

The one that made me want to write about this (again) is the Red Heart Knit Fanfare Bucket Hat from Yarnspirations. This cute striped hat can be worked in team colors, and while I might prefer a non-acrylic yarn for a summer hat, it would be fine when it’s not too hot outside (or try a cotton yarn instead). 

Claire Slade’s Sunlit Bucket Hat has an angled brim to help keep the sun out of your eyes. It’s worked from the bottom up using worsted weight cotton yarn, and comes in three sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Get a little air flow in your bucket hat with the Shady Bucket Hat from Wool & Beyond. This one uses DK weight yarn and an eyelet pattern throughout the body to keep it cool. It comes in sizes ranging from newborn to adult large, and is worked in one piece from the top down. You can grab the pattern (in English or Swedish) on Ravelry. 

If you’re looking for a fun, floppy sun hat for kids or adults, this pattern from Muki Crafts is a little more slouchy than a traditional bucket hat but it’s super cute. It comes in baby, toddler and bigger kid sizes and adult. I uses worsted weight yarn and is worked from the bottom up. 

Another variation on the classic bucket is this one that’s more of a cloche style. Made by branda, it uses bulky yarn so it’s more of a winter bucket hat, but now’s a fine time to knit it if you live somewhere that’s warm right now (or even more so if you live somewhere that’s cold right now). 

Another one to get you ready for colder weather is Tirmety, a two-layer bucket hat from ViTalina Craft, which has a textured stitch pattern on one side and stockinette on the other. You can wear either side out or even make them different colors if you want. The pattern is sized for toddlers, kids and adults. 

And if you want to add some extra cuteness to your bucket hat, I love this (of course totally optional but also totally adorable) embroidered deatila on the New York Bucket Hat from Pauline Fanguin. It uses two strands of DK weight yarn held together for extra sturdiness, and uses changes in needle size to shape the hat. Of course you could also knit stripes or use different textures of yarn to change up the look. This pattern is made to fit your head and is available in French and English.