Intarsia -- a knitting trend that's here to stay

What do you think of when you hear the wordtrendy?  I think of fleeting fads and foolish looks that you’d be embarrassed to have worn years later.  Being  trendy, however, is very different from an awareness of fashion trends. Unlike fads, fashion trends are more general developments and changes in the way people dress. Evolving slowly over time, fashion trends often become more or less permanent.  Even those of us who cling to a fierce sense of personal style can incorporate aspects of fashion trends into our wardrobe.  

As we’ve seen, fashion trends show up across the board, in the color and style of cars, paint, home decor, and most importantly for us, knitwear.  One trend that I’ve seen coming along for several seasons now is intarsia. Very popular when I was started knitting back in the early 80s, it fell out of fashion for some 30 years, and now it’s back.  

Intarsia is a colorwork technique used for Argyle, colorblocking, and what’s often called picture knitting.  It’s different from stranded in that rather than carrying both colors of yarn across the row, one strand is left and another picked up as you you reach changes in the motif. Unlike stranding, intarsia creates a lighter, single layer fabric.  You’ve seen it many times in designs by Kaffe Fassett, Noro, and many others. 

As a fashion trend, intarsia is everywhere and has been for several seasons now. Lending itself to both playful and elegant, it's in this season’s line from Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, St. John Knits, and others.Have a look here. 

I’m excited to see that the current Rowan Magazine features lots of intarsia garments and homewares that Ill be sharing with you on this week’s podcast. Of course I’ll be sharing the other garments too, but I’m especially jazzed about the intarsia.

It’s not hard to knit intarsia--you don’t need to learn to knit with two different hands, but there are definitely some tricks that will help keep you untangled.  Join Ginni for an intarsia class October 2nd!  

If you already know how to work intarsia, you might want to go ahead and pick up a few of our yarn packs for the fanciful pillows from Rowan Magazine 70. I especially love the ones Worked in Rowan Pure Wool Worsted.

Whatever your style, these fun pillows will give every decor a playful touch and make you smile every day.  

I look forward to seeing you in the shop and around the table, or online around our virtual table at Club Crazy for Ewe. Either way, you are always welcome here.

Warmly,
~Ellen.