Melissa Leapman

Colorwork Made Easy

Melissa Leapman
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  • In-depth Instruction; over 112 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
  • Available for purchase: $15.99
Meet designer Melissa Leapman and dive into colorwork with simple stripes. Melissa shows how to start new colors and carry up the yarn to minimize tails. With Melissa's tips, the yarn you need is always on the correct side, and stripes in the round look even. Finally, learn a fun effect: ruching.
Colorwork charts show what your knitting will look like, providing an at-a-glance roadmap for your stitches. Melissa walks you through chart-reading basics, row by row, explaining stitch repeats and symbols. She also shares tips for keeping track of where you are.
Create fascinating color patterns and texture simply by slipping some stitches rather than knitting them. Practice with Melissa's windowpane pattern, then master more ornate mosaic knitting. Try linen stitch and an embossed pattern by putting yarn floats on the right side of your knitting.
With Melissa's guidance, learn how to create cables on top of a plain or slip-stitch background pattern. First knit the intriguing Flying Gull pattern with simple cables on stockinette, then tackle the more complex rope cables atop a tweedy slip-stitch pattern.
Intarsia incorporates color in separate sections to form pictures in your knitting. Melissa shows how to manage your yarn supplies and make sure there are no gaps when you change colors. She also demonstrates duplicate stitch, perfect for adding designs after you're done knitting.
Unlike intarsia, stranded colorwork, or Fair isle knitting, mingles colors across your work, with two colors per row. The nonworking colors are carried across the back, creating floats. Melissa shows how to hold your yarn and work floats loosely to prevent puckering.
Learn how to work cables in two colors! Practice on a two-color swatch with Melissa's guidance. She's also designed a hat pattern that incorporates this technique so you can continue to practice and create a fun accessory at the same time!
 
 
7 Lessons
1  hrs 52  mins

Build a versatile toolkit of colorwork skills and styles! Join popular Craftsy instructor Melissa Leapman, and get set up for colorwork success by working step by step through essential techniques. During class, you’ll start with simple stripes as Melissa gives you helpful tips for managing yarn and minimizing yarn tails. Then, she’ll guide you through reading charts by breaking down symbols and repeats row by row. When you move on, you’ll learn steps for slip-stitch colorwork such as mosaic knitting and how to knit cables on a colorwork background. Ever wondered how to knit intarsia? Melissa will introduce you to this gorgeous style before teaching you Fair Isle knitting and two-color cabling. Plus, you’ll even get a great hat pattern from Melissa that’s perfect for practicing your new skills!

Melissa Leapman

As a freelance knitwear and crochet designer, Melissa Leapman has had the pleasure of working with popular ready-to-wear manufacturers and design houses across the country. You can find a number of her designs in respected magazines, or in her many books, which include the popular titles Hot Knits and Continuous Cables. You might even recognize her welcoming smile from appearances on Lifetime’s Handmade by Design and DIY Network’s Knitty Gritty.

Melissa Leapman

Bonus materials available after purchase

Colorwork Made Easy Join Craftsy to continue watching for $11.00 per month / $113.00 per year or purchase this class for $15.99.