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How to do INTARSIA CROCHET

31 January 2018 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory) 12 Comments

Discover the beautiful world of intarsia crochet, a captivating colorwork technique that allows you to create stunning patterns with multiple yarn colors.

Learn how to work with more yarns, uncover helpful tips and tricks, explore the differences between intarsia crochet and tapestry crochet, and find answers to frequently asked questions.

Don’t miss our step-by-step photo tutorial for a visual guide!

A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

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A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

Unleashing Creativity with Intarsia Crochet

Are you ready to dive into the world of crochet colorwork? Intarsia crochet is here to captivate your imagination!

In this blog post, we’ll explore the art of intarsia crochet, a technique that lets you create intricate patterns using multiple colors of yarn.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, intarsia crochet offers endless possibilities to unleash your creativity. Let’s get started!

A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

What is Intarsia Crochet?

Intarsia crochet is a colorwork technique that enables you to incorporate two or more colors in a single row or throughout your crochet pattern.

By using separate bobbins or balls of yarn for each color block, you can seamlessly transition from one color to another, resulting in clean and beautiful designs.

It’s like painting with yarn! Let’s delve deeper into the world of intarsia crochet.

A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

Tips and Tricks for Intarsia Crochet

Ready to embark on your intarsia crochet journey? Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure your colorwork projects turn out stunning:

  1. Plan your color changes in advance and create a colorwork chart or graph to guide you.
  2. Use bobbins or small balls of yarn to keep your colors organized and prevent tangles.
  3. Twist the yarn strands together at color changes to minimize gaps or holes.
  4. Weave in loose ends as you go to maintain a clean and tidy finish.
  5. Practice proper tension control to ensure consistent stitch sizes throughout your work.
A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

Intarsia Crochet vs. Tapestry Crochet

While both intarsia crochet and tapestry crochet involve colorwork, they have distinct characteristics:

  1. Intarsia Crochet: Focuses on larger color blocks, often creating images or geometric shapes within a design. Each color block has its own separate yarn strand, resulting in cleaner color transitions.
  2. Tapestry Crochet: Involves carrying multiple colors of yarn across the row, creating a dense fabric with colorwork motifs. The unused colors are carried behind the work and crocheted over, resulting in a textured pattern on the back.
A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can beginners try intarsia crochet?

A: Absolutely! Intarsia crochet is suitable for beginners, especially if you’re familiar with basic crochet stitches. Start with simple designs and practice color changes to build your confidence.

Q2: How do I work with more yarns in intarsia crochet?

A: Using bobbins or small balls of yarn is the key to working with multiple colors in intarsia crochet. It keeps your yarn organized and ensures smooth color transitions.

Q3: Are there step-by-step tutorials available?

A: Yes! We’ve got you covered. Check out our photo step-by-step tutorial included in this post to visually guide you through the process of intarsia crochet.

Get hooked on intarsia crochet and let your imagination soar!

A colorful crochet project showcasing the beauty of intarsia crochet colorwork

Notes:

  • The most important thing: 1 square is 1 sc!
  • When you work the right side of your project all tails should be on the wrong side of your work.
  • When you work the wrong side of your project all tails should be on the wrong side of your work, in front of you.
  • When you work the right side of your project you should read the chart from right to left.
  • When you work the wrong side of your project you should read the chart from left to right.

Yarn A is mustard and Yarn B is ecru.

TUTORIAL

  1. Using yarn A make ch23 + 1 for turning. Work sc in each st(s) across to work 2 first rows.
  2. As you can see on chart, Row 3 starts with one mustard block and the next one is ecru. So after the first mustard block you have to change color. To join the new color do not complete the first sc. Leave two loops on your hook , wrap the Yarn B over the hook and pull it throught the remaining two loops on the hook. Please remember to keep all your tails on the wrong side of your work.
  1. According to the chart you should work only one ecru block and then change color in the same way.
  1. After completing the stitch on picture above โ€žthe wrong sideโ€ of your work will look something like this
  1. Now follow the chart and continue your work until the end of the row 21.

End of row 3:

Row 4   

Row 5

Row 8

Row 11

Row 21

Back of your work should look something like this below:

You can also follow written instruction :

 Make ch 24 with Yarn A.

Row 1: with Yarn A sc  in second st from the hook and in each ch across . Turn.

Row 2: with Yarn A ch 1 (doesn`t count as sc here and  throughout), sc in each hdc across, turn,

Row 3: ch 1and sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 6 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 3 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 6 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B and sc 1 with Yarn A.Turn.

Row 4: ch 1 and sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 4 with Yarn A, sc 4 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 4 with Yarn B, sc 4 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B. Turn.

Row 5: ch 1 and sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 5 with Yarn A, sc 4 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 4 with Yarn B, sc 5 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A. Turn,

Row 6: ch 1 and sc 7 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn  B, sc 7 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 7: ch 1 and sc 4 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 4 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 8: ch 1 and sc 3 with Yarn A, sc 5 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 5 with Yarn B, sc 3 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 9: ch 1 and sc 3 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 2 with Yarn A, sc 1 with Yarn B, sc 2 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 3 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 10: ch 1 and sc 4 with Yarn A, sc 5 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 3 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 5 with Yarn B, sc 4 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 11: ch 1 and sc9 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 1 with Yarn A, sc 2 with Yarn B, sc 9 with Yarn A. Turn.

Row 12: Repeat Row 10.

Row 13: Repeat Row 9.

Row 14: Repeat Row 8.

Row 15: Repeat Row 7.

Row 16: Repeat Row 6.

Row 17: Repeat Row 5.

Row 18: Repeat Row 4.

Row 19: Repeat Row 3.

Row 20: Repeat Row 2.

Row 21: Repeat Row 1.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com

Using this technique I made a beautiful and very stylish cushion. You can find the free pattern here.

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Comments

  1. Susanna

    18 February 2018 at 20:27

    Thank you for using photos instead of a video. I have internet issues and cannot watch videos online very often. This tutorial is very easy to follow. I plan to make the pillow covering for the guest room bed. This reminds me so much of things my grandparents had in their homes. I love vintage and this will fit in perfectly.

    Reply
    • Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

      19 February 2018 at 08:44

      I’m glad you find this tutorial helpful.

      Reply
      • Marthe

        28 January 2020 at 20:24

        Stunning. I’m definately going to try this. Maybe for the front panel of a handbag

        Reply
  2. Kimber H. Miller

    24 February 2018 at 04:29

    Great job on the tutorial!

    Reply
    • Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

      24 February 2018 at 09:13

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
    • Chika Riki

      25 January 2022 at 04:13

      Hai thank you for making this tutorial intarsia crochet. Its very easy to follow.

      Reply
  3. Joanna

    1 March 2018 at 09:14

    Beautiful pillow and great tutorial. I will surely try making it ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

      2 March 2018 at 07:10

      Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Florence Smith

    2 November 2018 at 20:08

    Very nice tutorial, but strictly speaking this is stranded or Fair Isle crochet rather than Intarsia crochet. Intarsia is work with a separate ball of yarn or each area of color and unused colors are not floated across the back.

    Reply
    • Nancy Chapman

      5 July 2023 at 22:31

      Thank you! I was so confused.

      Reply
  5. Lani Hubbard

    22 January 2021 at 19:03

    Thank you for the pictorial tutorials. I am finding it much easier to follow then videos. In this period of extended isolation, I am enjoying learning new skills. Thanks

    Reply
  6. Michelle

    10 January 2023 at 11:34

    Thank you so much. I have been trying to do a Fair Isle crocheted blanket. I have searched the internet trying to find out how I do it in rows and the only information I can, before now, is in rounds.

    This has really helped.
    Michelle

    Reply

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