Annetarsia is basically intarsia for lazy knitters.  This means that, in my world, I strive for the absolutely easiest way to knit everything.

As I reported in the last blog post, Bold Move requires the MC be knit from the skein.  This complicates the knitting, because the tethered MC tangles with the butterflies of contrast color (CC).  In Annetarsia, I specifically design patterns that avoid a tethered color, because it slows down the knitting.

This is me, in 2011, knitting a pair of argyles 2-at-a-time, at a Lynyrd Skinner concert. All the yarn I need for both socks is hanging from the needles.

Here, I am sitting in my seat, and this is viewing the WS of the work. Everything is tidy on my lap!

Same trip, same socks, but at lunch. Annetarsia is the most portable knitting project you can imagine, even with 2 socks on the needle!

Here is the same shot, from the WS. It’s not scary, people. Look how well the butterflies are keeping tidy!

But, this is Lorilee’s pattern, it is brilliant, and I want that skirt!  So, I have been searching for the best way to manage the MC.  First I tried putting the MC strand around my neck, as for Portuguese knitting.  I think this would work really well if you were better at the method.  I’m not so great at it, but then I found that if I keep the MC way over to the side, and untangle each CC from the MC strand after using it, it has pretty much stopped tangling.  The CC’s aren’t playing amongst themselves at all, and now that the MC is out of the way I am making good progress.

On the second pattern repeat. The MC skein is safely tucked into the bag, and notice that the butterflies are all being kept close to the knitting needle. This tip really helps prevent tangling with intarsia.

Exciting news on the book front!  The book has been printed, and is ready for binding!  The printer is sending a copy of the final pages to me, for review, and I can expect them tomorrow.  I think it is very thoughtful of them to do this.  If I open the pages and find a typo when it is too late to fix it, I will have a few months to get over it, before the book arrives.  I’ve been working on this for over three years, and it is hard to believe that the book is really, REALLY done.

Hey, if the argyles are calling you, join me at Interweave Knit Lab, in 3 weeks!