Intarsia

Intarsia is a knitting technique in which large contiguous colour blocks are worked into the base knit — each colour has its own yarn bobbin, and the threads are twisted at each colour change. Unlike Fair Isle or stranded knitting, no yarn floats on the back; the reverse stays smooth and the fabric remains evenly thin.

Typical motifs: argyle diamonds (classic for preppy sweaters and golf socks), flowers, letters, numbers, company logos and geometric graphics. The technique works primarily on flat knitting machines, rarely and laboriously on circular. Gauges 7-14, materials: wool, cashmere, merino, cotton, acrylic. Weights 280-450 g/m².

Iconic: Pringle of Scotland (argyle since the 1920s), Ballantyne, Uniqlo intarsia collections. In corporate wear intarsia is used for knitted logos in sweaters or cashmere goods. Care: wool cycle 30 °C, dry flat; do not over-tension the bobbin transitions.