Comments on: How To Twist Yarns When Changing Colors.

By: Spikey Mikey

Spikey Mikey — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 00:44:29 +0000

Thank you so much. This business was absolutely too confusing to me. I don’t have anyone to learn from, so nobody could show me how to do it. I’m working from the book Stitch ‘N Bitch. In there they only say to take the pink strand up and to the left, then pull the blue under it. The diagram isn’t specific and is actually misleading. This really cleared things up. Thanks again!

By: lucia

lucia — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 01:13:59 +0000

You’re welcome!

I always liked lots of pictures when I was learning. I’m glad this helps others.

By the way, I love Stitch ‘N Bitch– but pattern books can only show techniques up to a point. I actually think the web can be better since a person can write up an extremely long article without worrying that the whole site is incomplete.

By: Corinne

Corinne — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:51:59 +0000

I’m working on that Vogue pattern from fall of 2005, the Gypsy Rose shrug knit in circular form. I’m a pretty competent knitter but the twisted knit stitch used here I just can’t “see”. It isn’t the usual fairisle carry, it doesn’t seem to be this intarsia form with a block of another color. From the picture it looks like a textural thing much like a garter stitich will raise the pattern only it looks like it’s making a chevron.
Round 10 you pick it up and twist 2nd c over but in round 15 it untwists while on round 13 you have to be carefull to push it down around the main color yarn. Have I managed to confuse you as well by now? I live in the middle of a knitting desert, there’s no one to turn to. The shop I bought the yarn from is about a 2hr drive.
Maybe someone there could point me in the right direction online? Much appreciated,
Corinne

By: lucia

lucia — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:28:25 +0000

Yep! You’ve confused me. It’s often hard to describe things in words. Do you have a camera? Maybe you can take a photo and send me the picture.

There is also the knitlist (an email list.) Some one there may have actually knit this sweater, which always helps! You can join them here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knitlist/messages

Then post a question.

By: patrice

patrice — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 22:41:57 +0000

What is a garter stitch, and how do you do it for knitting.

By: lucia

lucia — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 22:47:07 +0000

Garter stitch is the first stitch most people learn to knit. It is worked back and forth is created in one of two ways:

Method 1: Work Garter stitch by knitting.
Cast on any number of stitches on a straight needle (so as to work back and forth. You will turn the work at the end of every row.)
Row 1: Knit all stitches in row.
Repeat row 1 until the work as long as you like.

Method 2: Work Garter stitch by purling.
Cast on any number of stitches.
Row 1: Purl all stitches in row.
Repeat row 1 until the work as long as you like.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:43:47 +0000

Hi, Im knitting an afghan its a charted pattern, my question is this, how do u join the contrasting color neatly, its a pattern of squares and so changing colors every line on the square part is going to be messy? Im not sure how to go about it.

By: Margie Christian

Margie Christian — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:49:59 +0000

It really sounds interesting but how do you initially start knitting with different colors? How do you get the yarns joined in the first place?

By: lucia

lucia — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:55:18 +0000

I just drop the old yarn, and start knitting with the new color leaving a tail. Later on, I just weave the tail in. I suspect I need to illustrate weaving tails in some day!

By: Shilpa

Shilpa — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:45:28 +0000

Hi,
This is a great blog. I was searching for a knitting website & found this one.
I have started knitting just one month back. I am knitting a simple scarf now. I just wanted to have some strips(say 10 rows of white & then 10 rows of grey) on it. But I am not comfortable with changing colors. I read in the knitting book that, we have to tie a square knot leaving a 4-5 inch tail of old yarn and cut off it & start knitting with the new yarn. Now my doubt is, what shd I do with the tail. It looks so odd. Please tell me what should I do.
I cannot drop the old yarn as it is since i wont be using it for next 10-15 rows :(.

Thanks
Shilpa

By: Knit Like a Man » Junior’s Robot

Knit Like a Man » Junior’s Robot — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 03:54:56 +0000

[…] Intarsia, it must be noted, is an obscure latinate word meaning ‘excruciating torture’. I’ve only ever attempted it once before, with my very first sweater, and let’s just say I failed. While it was a little easier this time working with something the size of a large washcloth, I still breathed a sigh of relief when I could go back to plain old straight stockinette. […]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:02:51 +0000

I stumbled across your site when googling both for stockinette and for changing yarn colors. I’ve since found your website to be very helpful on a variety of topics. You’ve created an invaluable resource. Thank you!

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:23:42 +0000

I have read your very clear instructions & feel “enthused” to have another go! I can’t tell you how many times I have tried and given up with a great mass of tangled wool on my lap. As Autumn beckons, I am determined to knit myself a beautiful multi-coloured sweater…… Kate, England, UK

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:48:19 +0000

Thank you! You’re right, the book I was using just said to “twist the strands together on the wrong side.” Ugh. Thank you for your photos and clear descriptions!!

By: Sue DAidone

Sue DAidone — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:57:10 +0000

I am knitting a hat sideways instead of rounds. It says to knit to last 2 stitches, turn. How do I handle those 2 stitches because the next knit row will be to leave 4 stitches. This is the shaping of the top of the hat. There is something further on in the instructions that mentions whenyou get to the wrapped stitches. I assume they are talking about those odd stitches at the top of the cap.
Thanks, SUe

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:55:18 +0000

Hi,

I am a new knitter and have a pattern for a bunny hat for babies, I am having a problem with the ears. The pattern tells me to knit 12 stitches for the outside of the ear and right after 10 stitches in the pink for the inside of the ear. The next row confuses me. I have to knit the outside wool then twist the wool once to make it joined into one piece then purl the remaining stiches. My problem is it looks messy and not alway the same. Where do I put the wool for the twist so it won’t show on the finished product?

Thanks

Linda

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:55:46 +0000

When you are changing colors, do you have a ball of yarn for each color change? I am knitting an afghan with the cables a different color than the background. So, for example, if the background is green and the cable pink, should I have 2 greens and 1 pink ball of yarn for each segment of the cable? thank you

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:36:45 +0000

Thank you so much. For years, I’ve tried to learn intasia via books and even one web vid but couldn’t grasp it. You made it seem so simple too! Thanks a billion. I’ve had so many projects brimming in my head that called for intarsia that I was going crazy.

By: Raizel

Raizel — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:40:58 +0000

I have the same question as Louise - I would like to attempt an aphgan with a brown background and beige cable. Do I need to have a separate ball of yarn for each cable and for each section of background between the cables? If so, how do I twist the tail on the intial row of casting on the stitches?