Thursday, January 17, 2013

An Update on Intarsia

Well, here I am, still in January, and somehow I've crossed off the sock-making goal and I'm moving forward, if slowly, with the knitting colour-work one. What the hell is going on here??

Anyway, as luck would have it, I got a gift card to the book store for Xmas, so I decided to buy this:

Photo from Chapters-Indigo
Then, I got one of those newsletter emails, in my inbox, from Knitting Daily that directed me to this. Sure, it's very simple, but for those who want a very basic article on intarsia, it does the trick.

I have so many things on the go at the moment - and I'm the self-professed, one project-at-a-time woman. I'm making a suit, socks and a fingering-weight cashmere sweater. Having just written this down, I might actually start breaking out in hives.

Point is, no more new projects till I get those done. But I'm going to do my homework in the hopes that I can start a sweater with colour-work in the spring.

So, today's questions are: What are your thoughts on knitting colour-work? Which kinds have you tried and which do you prefer?

20 comments:

  1. I love your knitting posts - especially as I feel that we're probably at the same sort of place in terms of knitting skills (no socks yet on my part though).

    I've just finished my first stranded knitted hat and I love it. I felt really pleased with myself especially as it forced me to learn continental knitting as it speeds things up immensely and stops the two balls of yarn getting twisted up. I'm glad it no longer scares me as I want this as a jumper next Christmas (her blog is excellent as well) http://katedaviesdesigns.com/designs/boreal/

    I've not tried Intarsia yet. It scares me and I don't have any patterns that I want to make which will force me to learn how to do it.

    Is the book any good?

    Miriana

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    1. Thanks Miriana! I've got to check out that Kate Davies jumper. I haven't read the book yet. Too many things on the go! But I think I might have been better off to buy the beginner version. We'll see...

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  2. I've done a few projects that required a change in color, but not any kind of complicated color work. So, I'm looking forward to your progress with this!

    Oh, I've got too many projects (and none 100% finished) at the moment, too. :-(

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    1. Oh, it's hard to figure out which project needs me the most :-)

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  3. I am a huge fan of stranded knitting. It's so addictive!

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  4. I'm just starting to learn to knit, and I'm looking forward to the day I'll be able to approach color work!

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    1. Amy, it comes very quickly with knitting. I saw your new-to-knitting post recently and I think you will make huge strides quickly.

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  5. I have not tried anything harder that knit and purl based stitches. I had a go at a lace pattern but found it hard to keep up with the schematics. I would suspect colour work to be the same. Maybe in a few years :)

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    1. Great thing is that it will be there when the time is right.

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  6. Oh, I <3 knitting color-work! Few weeks ago I've finished an intasria jumper. Thanks to YouTube, I've learnt this wonderful color-work technique which copes so well with multiple threads, that the wrong side of the knitting looks almost as good as the right side :-)

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    1. Thanks for the link! I'm sure it's going to come in very handy...

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  7. I don't see having a knitting project and sewing project going on at the same time as a problem. I don't crochet in times that I would be sewing given that I can't sew in front of the tv. Mind you I suppose socks and a sweater and now colourwork are more than one knitting project...
    Colour work baffles me. I don't know how to knit but I get the idea, the colour stuff I don't get. My MIL makes lovely mitts that are doubly warm because of the colours. They look a bit like stained glass with the colour being behind the main colour (often black) of the mitt.

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    1. I don't really get it either. It's intriguing... Great description of those mitts.

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    2. I just remembered they are called Newfie mitts, if you Google image them, you'll see what I mean. They are super warm. Through my google I found this post about them. http://creativewhimsy.wordpress.com/patterns/newfoundland-mitts/

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    3. So pretty. I've never seen them before.

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  8. Knitting with various colors is not difficult just remember to always drop each color strand over the other which at some point comes automatically - but still remains more time consuming. Also based on your motif you may have to decide if you'll keep all the strands during the knitting or use each color when needed (so no double texture).
    I'd say give it a try. But maybe it's a good idea to do it after all your other interesting projects! Cheers!

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  9. I would LOVE to do this kind of knitting. I almost bought the magazine Piecework tnight because it has gorgeous mittens like that to make. But I have failed miserably at making mittens :-( Intarsia still beckons, though . . .

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    1. You just have too many other competing priorities right now. Once you have less going on with youngsters and teaching and performing, you'll have more time there to invest.

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