Intarsia is the knitwear technique of choice for bold colour-block designs. Unlike jacquard, where unused yarns float across the back of the fabric, intarsia joins separate yarn sections directly — resulting in a clean reverse side and fabric that drapes and feels like a fully fashioned garment. At Lin Sweater, intarsia is a core production capability used by brand clients who want graphic, colour-forward knitwear with a premium construction.
What makes intarsia different from jacquard?
The key technical difference between intarsia and jacquard is how unused yarns are handled. In jacquard knitting, unused colour yarns are carried across the back of the fabric as floats. In intarsia, each colour section uses its own separate yarn supply — when one colour ends, the yarn is twisted with the adjacent colour and a new yarn supply begins.
This means intarsia fabrics have no floats on the reverse, which gives them better drape, less bulk, and a cleaner interior finish. It also means intarsia is more labour-intensive than jacquard, particularly for complex multi-section designs.
Our intarsia capabilities
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| Colour sections per row | Up to 8 separate sections |
| Gauge range | 5G – 12G |
| Typical applications | Colour-block sweaters, graphic panels, stripe designs |
| Yarn options | All major yarn types including merino, cashmere blend, cotton |
| MOQ | From 50 pcs per style |
| Sample lead time | 7–12 working days |
Design considerations for intarsia
Intarsia works best with designs that have clear, defined colour sections — think classic colour-block panels, large geometric shapes, or bold stripe combinations. The technique is less suited to small repeating patterns (better handled by jacquard) or photographic detail (better handled by embroidery or printing).
When designing for intarsia, keep in mind that colour boundaries must be clean and structured. Curved or diagonal boundaries are possible but require more complex programming and increase the sampling time. Straight horizontal or vertical divisions are the most efficient.
Intarsia sampling process
Intarsia samples typically take 7–12 working days from brief approval, slightly longer than plain knitwear due to the programme complexity. We recommend providing yarn swatches or Pantone references for each colour section — colour accuracy is critical in intarsia because the colour blocks are visually dominant.
As with all our production, we require Pre-Production (PP) sample approval before bulk begins. For intarsia specifically, the PP sample confirms colour accuracy, seam alignment, and the quality of colour joins. See our sampling guide for more detail on the process.
Get a quote for your intarsia design
Share your colour reference and design concept. We'll advise on feasibility and send an itemised quote within 24 hours.