Intarsia and Fair Isle are two different ways of creating color changes in knitting. Intarsia creates blocks of solid color, while Fair Isle creates fine detail patterns. Learn how to do both.
Intarsia and Fair Isle are two different ways of creating color changes in knitting. Intarsia creates blocks of solid color, while Fair Isle creates fine detail patterns. Many knitters have heard these terms, and maybe even used the techniques without really knowing the difference.
Named for the woodworking technique used to create inlaid mosaics, intarsia knitting is used when making pictures or figures, or any time you need to make large areas of differing colors. The technique is almost exactly like what you do when you add on a new ball of yarn in the middle of a row. Simply knit with one color until you come to the place where you want to change. Then you drop that yarn, pick up the new one and continue knitting.
The main challenge to knitting intarsia is that you must somehow connect the two colors, so that you are not creating two completely separate panels of fabric. You do that by twisting the old and new yarns together on the wrong (back) side of the work when you start the new color. One twist that captures the old yarn with the new yarn will work. (See above picture showing the inside of a hat, with twisted yarn at color changes.) Check out this video to see it in motion. She starts the color change at the beginning of the row instead of in the middle, but the technique is the same.
There is some debate as to whether or not Fair Isle actually originated on the Scottish island from which it gets its name. But, it is generally believed to have started in this area. Because Fair Isle involves frequent color changes both yarns are carried across the back of the work adding warmth to a garment, much needed in that harshly cold climate.
Fair Isle, especially the traditionally multi-colored version, may seem daunting but it is actually quite simple. Each row is a series of two alternating colors. Because the colors alternate every few stitches, you do not drop yarns. Instead, you carry both yarns across the back of the work, leaving little strands called "floats."
Usually, Fair Isle knitting doesn't call for knitting more than five stitches of a color before changing. Because of that, there is less of a need to worry about twisting your yarns in back. Instead, the thing to keep in mind when using this color technique is tension. Many new Fair Isle knitters will pull a float too tight when they carry their yarn across the back of the work. Remember to keep your knitting loose and even to reduce the puckering that will result from tight floats. Blocking (stretching the garment into shape while wet) can help even out and settle you Fair isle knitting.
When you are learning to Fair Isle, it may be easier to only hold the color you are currently working with and drop it entirely when you change colors. But, with practice you can hold a color in each hand, easily moving from one to the next without having to change yarns. Check out this video to see that in action, as well tips on managing tension and what to do if you need to twist your yarns.
A bobbin is a tool that holds a small amount of yarn, allowing you to change color frequently without as many tangles. If you plan on doing any sort of color knitting, I would advise getting some from your LYS (local yarn shop) or learning how to make a butterfly. A butterfly is a bit of yarn that is wrapped and tied in such a way that your working yarn feeds as you knit. Check out this video to see how they are made.
Here is some info on the difference between Fair Isle knitted flat verses in the round, how stranding differs from weaving, and how to read Fair Isle pattern charts.
