Tidying up my threads

[Lizzie Kane]

Don't know if anyone can help, but I am fairly new to Intarsia, and I think I've got the hang of it, I just wanted to know what I do with all the threads at the back.  

Up until now, I have been tieing them into knots at the back of the work, but it means there are lots of bobbles that can irritate your skin if you dont wear anything underneath the garment.  

Any Advice??

Thanks
Lizzie

[Jane]

Hi Lizzie

What you need to do with those loose threads is sew them into the back of your work when you have finished (or as you go).  Bascially you need to follow the outline of the intarsia pattern, so that the different colour yarns dont show through to the front, but its a simple stitch and as long as you make sure nothing shows through on the right side, you will be ok.  Weave the yarn up 4 or 5 stitches, then back down again over those same stitches to make it secure.  Then just cut the ends off.

Hope this explains it ok for you, I'm not very good with my description.

thanks
Jane

[trevmeg]

Your other option is to knit through the begining and end of the wool by "weaving" it through the wrong side of the work as you knit. It saves any pulled threads too.

[Michele]

Hi Lizzie,
Kaffe Fassett has a great way to carry the yarn at the back of your work. Just lay the ends along side the stitches you are going to knit and pick up with the yarn from the skein. This way the yarn will be caught at the back of the work and saves having to darn in at a later date.

[Anonymous]

I try to weave the ends in too as I go. I have found that weaving before cutting is much easier than catching loose ends!!.