The Cinderella of Knitting Techniques - Intarsia Explored!
Tuesday June 17 10-4pm
An exploration of intarsia from the basics on up. Whilst working on a sampler swatch we'll explore
pre knitting planning and preparation - the key to serene working. Pattern analysis, identifying easy or challenging intarsia, (to each their own!) and design considerations. Use and simplification of charts.
Preparing a symbol, shade and information card. Low tech hints for yarn management. Tackling tangles. Use of measured lengths of yarn. Bobbins v yarn butterflies.
Getting the first row right. The intarsia join. Knitting backwards. Darning in, tricks and tips. Knitting in ends - in both directions. Awkward shapes and beginning with one stitch. Ragged first stitches - the causes. Handling horizontal colour jumps without needing to plan ahead.
Adding that little extra to your intarsia; blending yarn textures and colours, fancy stitch patterns, stranded knitting, cables, stripes and use of variegated yarns. Surgical replacement of things you don't like!
Supplies - Darning needles; blunt and semi-sharp; a pair of needles US 5-6 (3.75 - 4mm) Scissors. A bag of part balls of yarn, in six or more colours (preferably wool and wool blends), in mainly DK/Sport (6st per inch) weight. Small amount of fingering / 4 ply weight yarn in two colours. Odds and ends of variegated yarns, mohair scraps. Markers or coloured pencils (optional). Ruler or sticky notes and usual knitting paraphernalia.Homework -With any of your yarns, cast on 22 sts, knit 3 rows (garter st). Leave 2m/yds of yarn attached to your work.
Pick one three great scarf patterns designed by Lucy (or sample all three)!
Mirror Mirror uses double-knitting to combine contrasting yarns in a reversible chequerboard pattern;
Falling Leaves is an elegant design based on a repeating texture pattern;
Sea Lettuce uses short-rows to create a stylish ruffled scarf edged with picots.
Over the course of the day, Lucy will guide you through yarn and needle selection for each project and then give instruction in the many and various techniques involved in each and launch you on your chosen project.
Techniques covered will include: I-cord cast-on, elegant increases, Modified Conventional Bind-off, picots, short-rows, working from the right needle to the left (aka knitting-back backwards), Provisional Crochet cast-on, two-colour double knitting and more!
Supply List
These scarves will all work in any weight of yarn.
Bring circular or straight needles in a size to suit your preferred yarn weight. For Mirror Mirror, bring somewhat larger needles in the range 6 - 7mm (US# 10 - 11).
Scissors, crochet hook, blunt darning needles and usual knitting paraphernalia.
Bring yarn for your project (if already chosen) and a small quantity of play yarn to experiment with.























