Ever wonder how to make argyle sweaters or use patterns that switch yarn colors? Changing colors is easy and it's just a matter of dropping one color string and picking up a new color. Most patterns with multiple colors come with a handy dandy knitting chart to visually show the colors changes. The tricky part is avoiding holes in your work as you change colors. Here is an example of what you don't want:
See the large gaping hole between the red and white stitches? That's exactly what you don't want. But never fear, intarsia is here to help! Intarsia is a way of changing colors in a knitting pattern by interlocking the colors with each other. Some knitting patterns don't explain the interlocking process and will say something like "twist the yarn." Not too helpful.
Below are instructions on how to "twist the yarn" and avoid those holes while changing colors.
If you're purling across, you want to change from the red color you were just working to the new white color:
Place the old color (red) on top of the new color (white), moving the new color (white) to the right:
This allows you to grab the old color (red) in the stitch you make with the new color (white). Pull the new color (white) back over the older color (red) and purl your next stitch with the new color (white):
See how the old color (red) is caught in with the new color (white) stitch? This makes the color changing stitches interlock together and avoids those pesky holes.
If you're knitting a row, you want to change from the red color you were just working with to the new white color:
Again, place the old color (red) on top of the new color (white), moving the new color (white) to the right:
Move the new color (white) up and make your next knit stitch. See how the old color (red) is caught in the stitch with the new color (white):
Think of this as looping the new color around the old color yarn before you make your stitch with the new color. Remember, your goal is to interlock the two different colored stitches together so grab the old yarn with the new yarn before you make a stitch with the new color.
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