Fair Isle vs. Instarsia
Many knitting patterns involve color changes while most crochet patterns do not. Why is that? Having changed colors in knitted and crocheted projects I will say that it’s not because it’s easier to do when knitting. I actually found it easier to change colors while crocheting. There are two ways to change colors when knitting or crocheting, Fair Isle and intarsia. I have used both methods and the method I use depends on the project being made.
Fair Isle
Fair Isle, also called “stranded colorwork”, has several characteristics.
- It’s usually done in the round, like hats and sweaters.
Pictured above is a pair of mittens from our Flame Beanies and Mittens Crochet Pattern Set. The mitten on the right shows the wrong / inside of the mitten. Strands of yarn are carried along the inside until it is needed again.
As mentioned above, these are crocheted in the round. The beanies have a similar stranded look inside.
Flame Beanie and Mittens Crochet Pattern available on Etsy.
Intarsia
Intarsia has several of its own characteristics.
- It’s usually done in rows on flat pieces.
Panda Set Crochet Pattern available on Etsy.
Both Fair Isle and Intarsia use charts/graphs instead of written out instructions. Generally one box in the graph equals one stitch. Graphed work looks best in single crochet though half double crochet can work, depending on the graph. Keep in mind, stitches in crochet do not line up one on top of another like knitting does. When trying to make vertical lines and things like letters, they will end up looking a little wavy. The stitches will line up a little more when working in rows. A vertical line will tend to lean right when working in the round.
There are just a few other tips for creating a successful piece of color work.
- When changing colors, you should use the new color for the last YO that is pulled through the loops on the hook.
- Tension can be a problem. If part of the project changes colors and part of it does not, sometimes one section is tighter than another. Be aware that you may need to relax during the color changing section.
- It is also easy to make a tighter section if there are long sections where a color isn’t used in Fair Isle. Crocheting over the unused yarn every 2-3 stitches helps keep the tension relaxed. Imagine trying to put on a hat that has no give because the strands are too tight.
My first projects were hats and scarves. They were small enough to practice on and I could pull them out and try again if something wasn’t quite right. With a little practice, it is possible to get into a rhythm with dropping and picking up the different colors. There is no reason Intarsia and Fair Isle can’t be just as popular in crochet as it is in knitting.
For a fun Fair Isle project, try the Flame Hats and Mittens Crochet Pattern available on Etsy.
For a fun Intarsia project, try the Panda Set Crochet Pattern available on Etsy.
