Knitting is a craft with many variations and choices. When the knitter introduces colour to a knitted piece, the main choices are between Stranded (sometimes known as Fair Isle) knitting and Intarsia. The method the knitter opts for will depend upon the piece being made.
Stranded (Fair Isle) Knitting
Stranded work is often called Fair Isle because the latter(originating from the Fair Isle of Scotland) uses this technique. However, so do many other traditions of knitting, such as Scandinavian patterns.
The colour(s) not in use are carried at the back of the work, and are twisted around the yarn being knitted, to prevent long “floats” of yarn sitting at the back of the work. These can affect the tension and are also liable to snag when the finished item is put on or taken off.
Most stranded knitters twist the yarn every two or three stitches, to keep the work neat.
When to use Stranded Knitting and Things to Consider
- Stranded knitting is ideal for patterns which have frequent changes of colour and relatively small numbers of stitches in each shade.
- The finished knitted piece is very thick and warm, as it has the carried yarn lying immediately behind the work, effectively creating another layer.
- The tension of stranded knitting is often “tighter” than other work, as the floats prevent the work from becoming too loose.
Intarsia Knitting
Each colour is worked from a different ball of yarn (these are often left relatively short and wound onto bobbins, to make handling the yarn easier). This means that there is no carrying of the yarn behind the work, but the knitter must remember to twist the two threads together at a colour change, to avoid holes in the work.
When to Use Intarsia Knitting and Things to Consider
- Intarsia works best for large blocks of colour. If you have small numbers of stitches of each shade, the amount of yarns hanging at the back of the work can quickly become unmanageable.
- The tension is not restricted by any yarn being carried at the back of the work, and so the finished piece has a much softer drape.
Intarsia In The Round
Intarsia is best worked on flat knitting, or you end up with the problem of your yarn being in the wrong place for the next row.
If, however, you wish to use intarsia for a small motif in a circular piece of knitting, the easiest way to handle the yarn is to knit work the following (on every other row).
- Work to the colour change.
- Slip every stitch of your contrast colour.
- Turn the work, twist the yarns to ensure no gaps and purl the stitches, thus returning the yarn back to the beginning of the motif.
- Turn and slip the stitches just purled.
- Proceed as normal.
When introducing colour to your knitted work, therefore, a little thought about the piece that you are making and the composition of the pattern will help you make the best choice of technique.
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