I’ve been very slow to dip my toes into Intarsia colourwork.
In my head, it was rooted in 80’s designs and children’s designs. However, over the last year my eyes have been opened to the possibilities it opens up! Other forms of colourwork (such as stranded colourwork) have some limitations, mainly due to the width of the different colour sections. Plus they work best in the round.
But…
These limitations don’t apply to Intarsia. You can have the blocks of colour as wide as you would like and it is best worked flat. In fact, the only limitation is your imagination and what you can do with it!
This started me on my Intarsia journey for our Winter Seasons Club 24-25.
The yarn we used was BC Garn ‘Semilla’ which is a soft wool that comes in a great range of colours. This made it a perfect choice for using to play with colour. I’ve designed two accessories to learn Intarsia with, the Portcoon Bag and the Portcoon Scarf. If you’re not a member of the club you can still jump in with the purchase of this stand alone season. You’ll get the patterns, video workshops and access to the zoom live launch.
In the workshops, I talk through how to make bobbins, manage your yarn, avoid holes in your work and how to swap between garter stitch and stockinette stitch for your Intarsia blocks. Plus, you can put any questions you have along the way in our interactive comment section.
Portcoon Bag

This drawstring Intarsia bag is a great way to learn and perfect your Intarsia techniques on a small template. You will work each Intarsia panel separately and then join them together while working garter stitch side panels back and forth in rows. It’s all finished off with a handy little drawstring in I-Cord at the top!

SIZE
One size
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width of Bag: 7.25” / 18.5 cm
Height of Bag: 8” / 20.5 cm
Depth of Bag: 0.75” / 2 cm
YARN
BC Garn ‘Semilla’ (100% Wool; 176 yds / 161 m per 1.76 oz / 50 g)
Total yardage needed: 185 yds / 171 m
C1 24 yds / 22 m, C2 24 yds / 22 m, C3 8 yds / 8 m, C4 8 yds / 8 m, C5 31 yds / 29 m, C6 90 yds / 82 m
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
Two US size 3 / 3.25 mm circular needles, any length
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.
Tapestry needle, yarn bobbins, safety pin
GAUGE
24 sts and 36 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in St St after blocking
24 sts and 46 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in Garter Stitch after blocking
Portcoon Scarf

This short, curved scarf is designed to wrap snuggly around your neck and fit inside your sweater. The perfect way to learn Intarsia and German short rows, each wedge includes both Intarsia colour blocks and builds on the previous one. The background of this scarf is all worked in garter stitch and the Intarsia blocks are all worked in stockinette stitch.
SIZE
One size
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length of Top Edge: 45” / 114.5 cm
Length of Bottom Edge: 58.75” / 149 cm
Width: 6.5” / 16.5 cm
YARN
BC Garn ‘Semilla’ (100% Wool; 176 yds / 161 m per 1.76 oz / 50 g);
Total yardage needed: 379 yds / 346 m
C1: 86 yds / 78 m, C2:78 yds / 71 m, C3: 97 yds / 89 m, C4: 84 yds / 77 m, C5: 22 yds / 20 m, C6: 12 yds / 11 m
NEEDLES & NOTIONS
US size 4 / 3.5 mm needles, any type for working flat
Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed, as every knitter’s gauge is unique.
Tapestry needle, yarn bobbins
GAUGE
22 sts and 27 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in St St after blocking
20 sts and 38 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in Garter Stitch after blocking
So If you’d like to join us for some colourplay to kick off your 2025, this is a knitting club you won’t want to miss.
