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Machine knitted color block pattern using intarsia technique, showing three colors joined without carrying yarn across back

Intarsia on the Machine

Intarsia (picture knitting) is a technique that allows color changes in the middle of the row without having floats across the back of the knitting

color work Intarsia machine knitting stitch patterns

Intarsia (picture knitting) is a technique that allows color changes in the middle of the row without having floats across the back of the knitting

No matter what machine you use,
you can knit Intarsia
1Built -in intarsia

Some machines have carriages with Intarsia built in.
  • Select the Needles according to a chart
  • Lay the yarn(s) across the needles
  • Set the cam for Intarsia
  • Knit multiple colors across the row with ONE pass of the carriage
2Separate Intarsia Carriage

Some machines have a separate Intarsia Carriage.
  • Select the Needles according to a chart
  • Lay the yarn(s) across the needles
  • Replace the main carriage with an Intarsia Carriage
  • Knit multiple colors across the row with ONE pass of the Intarsia carriage





Knit multiple colors with one pass of the carriage
3Manual Intarsia
Intarsia can be created manually by using hold and MULTIPLE passes of the carriage

  1. Select the Needles for color 1
  2. Place all other needles in hold position
  3. Set the carriage to hold
  4. Thread the carriage with color 1
  5. Knit the needles in work
  6. *Put the needles that were just knit in hold and put needles for color 2 into work
  7. Thread the carriage with color 2
  8. Knit the needles in work*
  9. Repeat from * to * (steps 6-7-8), following the chart. Knitting 1 color at a time and passing the carriage multiple times to knit all the stitches of the row


Knit colors with MULTIPLE passes of the carriage

Visit the Intarsia Classroom
Course: Master LK-150 Patterning
Manual Intarsia
Course: Taitexma TH/TR 160
Built-in Intarsia

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special carriage for intarsia on my machine?

You can knit intarsia on any flatbed knitting machine by working multiple passes of the carriage for each row. However, using an intarsia carriage or a machine with built-in intarsia capability makes the process faster by allowing you to knit each row in a single pass.

Can I do intarsia on any knitting machine?

Yes, however, using an intarsia carriage or a machine with built-in intarsia capability makes the process faster by allowing you to knit each row in a single pass

How is intarsia different from Fair Isle?

Fair Isle carries unused colors across the back, creating Floats , while intarsia uses separate yarn sources for each color area with no floats.

What’s the best way to manage multiple yarns?

Use Yarn Bobbins , butterflies, or small balls to prevent tangling and keep your work organized.

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