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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?

Stitch Your Favorite Fruit on a Sweater

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.” 

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them. 

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits. 

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves. 

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit. 

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy. 

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]