Colorwork?

[aedifica]

O ye knitters,

I'm curious to try colorwork. I've been knitting a while, have done socks and scarves and a sweater, and have dabbled in cables, but I've never done colorwork and know really nothing about it. Do you have any suggestions for an easy project to learn on?

Thanks,
aedifica

Edited to clarify: What I'd really like is a good pattern for a first-timer--I've tried looking for one on Ravelry and Google, but my search skillz are failing me this time.

Comments

[ct]

What sort of colorwork? There are two main types: intarsia, which is where you have larger sections of each color, or stranded (aka fair isle), which is where the color changes every few stitches.

A lot of people find that stranded colorwork is easier done in the round. I don't have a specific project in mind, but maybe a hat? Hats aren't very time-consuming, but they're big enough that you wouldn't be dealing with the fiddlyness of small-diameter circular knitting at the same time you're trying to learn something else. (Or, if you like small-diameter circular knitting, maybe one of those sleeves for a coffee cup?)

[aedifica]

I like doing socks (as long as they're worsted-weight yarn), so smallish-diameter isn't a problem. I suppose stranded, but I really don't know--I just have "colorwork knitting" in mind and don't know enough yet to be more specific, which means right now I'd be happy to learn either!

You could do mittens

[jazzypom]

Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang. They use colourwork, and are knit in the round. It's stranded colour work, so you'll learn the notion of dominant colour due to placement of the yarn (it depends on where you 'place it'), stranding (the fact that you have to take into consideration that if you knit too tightly, it will cause the gloves to be illfitting). This is done with fingering or 4ply yarn, just two strands. They are colourful and warm. I have... yarn waiting to do this project. :D

Edited to add: electra was my first stranded project. I do like doing fairisle, but have come to the conclusion that as much as I like doing complicated knits, my style is more subdued - where the colour and the simple stitches take over.