Intarsia, FairIsle or duplicate stitch?

TestKnit

Hi! To start off, why don't yall share your favourite colorwork technique? I've only ever done fairIsle work, as little details. I'm interested in making a sweater with big florals though... I guess I would have to do intarsia for that?

paryjeja

Intarsia would work best for the big florals, have lots of bobbins ready and remember to cross your yarns when switching colors.  I really don't like any colorwork, I am more a textured (cables, k/p combinations, etc) person.

TestKnit

paryjeja replied at 2025-09-03 21:41
Intarsia would work best for the big florals, have lots of bobbins ready and remember to cross your  ...

Thank you so much for your reply. It's true that you have to make little bobbins then... I have a question about that, how do I calculate how much yarn I'll need? It would be my first time doing Intarsia on a big project (I always make a little practice beforehand to get the feel for it).

Textures I think are much more... smoother to work with. I like them too, it's just very different to me. If I want a relaxing knit, sure. However, sometimes one can't resist a pretty pattern LOL

paryjeja

TestKnit replied at 2025-09-04 03:55
Thank you so much for your reply. It's true that you have to make little bobbins then... I have a  ...

I found this info online

Sometimes I look at the widest row, knit the row of sts, remove from needle and measure how much was used for that one row. Then I multiply that by number of rows needed to work. I sometimes have extra after that area is done, but that is okay.

Other times I just fill the bobbin, when it is empty, refill. When there is a large area, this is the best way.
On large areas I am also known to just have a strand a couple yards or so long and let it just hang, not using a bobbin.

I used bobbins on the one blanket that had intarsia. Ugh! Big blanket, big bobbins - 6 or 8 bobbins across - and as much time spent/wasted untangling as actually knitting. I HATED it long before it was done!

If ever I do any intarsia again, I’ll do as Kaffe Fassett suggested in one of his books: individual lengths of yarn, 6 to 8 feet long left hanging until needed. No, I don’t enjoy weaving in ends, but it’s better than endlessly untangling skeins and bobbins.

sounds like shorter lengths, not using bobbins and being prepared to weave in ends is the way to go!!   post pictures of your project when you can

TestKnit

I find it relaxing to weave in ends... so that might actually work! And of course, I'll share pictures! I'm always happy to share here