All About the Blankets – Intarsia Style
by on Oct 5, 2016

Hello Stash Readers!

Hold onto to your hats, not only for the impending fall winds, but because I am making an intarsia baby blanket. You may remember me from my intro podcast or the post about my knitting the Learn to Knit Kit Scarf, if not I will give you a brief introduction. I am the merchandise planner for Knit Picks and new to completed project knitting. I’m great at starting things, but I was always merely dabbling. It wasn’t until I started working here that the bug truly took hold, maybe a little slower than others, but I’ve caught it and have gone a touch off the rails.

Once I mastered the knit stitch, completing my garter stitch scarf, I started another scarf in Tuff Puff practicing stockinette, and that is coming along swimmingly.

tuff puff stockiette scarf

WIP Tuff Puff Stockiette Scarf

Then the siren song of a new baby in my circle called out… baby blanket, baby blanket.

It’s just a bigger scarf, right?

I dropped the scarf and jumped into the rabbit hole that we all love, Ravelry, in search for a lovely chevron blanket pattern. However, yarn-overs and mitered decreases are two skills for which I need much more practice. I landed on a Kyle Smith pattern that fit with my skill level. My heart was set on three colors of Mighty Stitch Bulky that I had chosen for my original idea. Than it hit me: intarsia.  Its just blocks of color that shouldn’t be so hard. When I bake cookies I mix and match the spices it so why not do it with yarn colors?  My plan was to follow the pattern, but with the garter stitch sections done in one color and  the stockinette sections block those out with other colors. Genius!

That’s what is so great about crafting you can modify any project to your taste.

That is where you find me now, I am a walking cat toy of loose ends and yarn bobbins and I am loving it. Yes, the task took on a life of its own I spent a few hours learning the Russian join, and reviewing a number of videos on intarsia techniques, it’s all in the loop people, all in the loop. And yes, even after all of of that that it still seemed easier than yos and dms.

 

Intarsia Knitting

WIP Intarsia Baby Blanket

What I have discovered with this project is how far I have come, no longer is a dropped stitch the end of the world. I can back track and correct a lot easier. I’m more comfortable overall, gone is my death grip and tight knit. Now, this isn’t a project for someone that is impatient or doesn’t like messes, every other row I’m untangling my bobbins and adding more. I haven’t figured that part out and will take any tips you readers have to offer.

Thank you for letting me share my new project and excitement. I’d love to hear about your experiences with intarsia too.

-xo Alexis

WIP Intarsia Knitting Baby Blanket

WIP Intarsia Knitting Baby Blanket

 

3 Comments
Tags: Beginning Knitting, behind the scenes, color, colorwork, KP Staff Projects, Works in Progress

3 comments

  1. Caroline Collins / October 7, 2016

    You can put your yarn bobbins on a pole/doll rod and then all you need to do is flip the pole around at the end of the row. My husband’s idea when I was knitting the intarsia Kilt Hose.
  2. Meredith MC / October 6, 2016

    I admire your willingness to jump in and learn new techniques. I gotta say though, I’ve been knitting for a long time as far as skill level – that intarsia blanket beats the hell out of a chevron. Just in terms of ability to deal with a chaotic project, you are nearly off the charts! Since you can do this, a chevron should be a cake walk when you want to knit one.
    Congrats on upping your skills and going for it!
    • Alexis WC / October 6, 2016

      Thank you Meredith! Can’t wait to share the final product.