Hello! Today my lovelies, we are going to be learning about a bit of Intarisa Crochet. I first started using this technique about 10 years go to work small images in to crochet panels and make them in to small bags. Since then, I have gone on to design cushion covers as well as baby blankets. Really, using this wonderful technique, you will feel like your crochet is a blank canvas and you will soon be looking for more Intarsia projects - or even designing your own.
Working the 'Right Side' -
1. With Yarn A, work your dc as normal. When you are about to come up to a square in your chart that is a different colour, do not complete the stitch. Leave two loops on your hook.
2. Make a loose loop with Yarn B and pull the loop through the two loops on your hook. Keep all tails on the wrong side of your work.
3. Continue working your dc along the row, until you need to change the colour back. Again, do not complete the stitch, leave two loops on your hook.
4. Bring Yarn A round the back of your work and loop it round your hook. Pull it through the two loops on your hook completing the stitch.
Working the 'Wrong Side' -
This may look little daunting, but when you get going, it's easy peasy!
1. As with the Right Side, work your dc along the row as normal using Yarn A. When you are about to come up to a square on your chart that is a different colour, do not complete the stitch. Leave two loops on your hook. Pop the tail of Yarn A to the front of your work (on the side facing you) and leave it to the right to keep it out of the way. Bring Yarn B across and up and loop it round your hook.
2. Pull Yarn B through the two loops on your hook and continue working your dc as normal.
3. When you need to change back to Yarn A, again, do not complete the stitch. Leave two loops on your hook, bringing the tail of Yarn B to the front of your work (facing you) and off to the right, out of the way. Again bring Yarn A up and round your hook and pull through the two loops on your hook.
4. Continue with Yarn A as normal.
The Right Side of your work will look something like this -
All of your tails should be on the Wrong Side. Try to keep a good tension when bringing yarn across the Wrong Side or you may get puckering.
It's always a good idea to have a little practice of the technique on a small sample, before starting a larger project.
I hope this tutorial may help, Intarsia Crochet is great and quick to whip up once you get used to it :)
Toodle Pip for now!
xxx
p.s For free Intarsia Crochet patterns, please check out my free patterns page. For other Intarsia Crochet patterns, please check out my Etsy shop :)