How to knit in the lines in the argyle sweater?

[Jolita]

Dear Friends,

I contemplate knitting an argyle sweater (Intarsia technique). I would like to knit in the lines as I go, because knitted in lines looks better then duplicated stitch. Could You please help me and explain how to knit in the lines. Should it be also an intarsia or should I knit as Fair Isle?

Thank You very much,
Jolita

[Braden]

The lines are embroidered in afterwards using Swiss Darning. At least, that's how I've always done it, and I think that's the authentic way.

[Jan in CA]

What does the pattern say to do? I think you probably could use Fair Isle, but that would be a lot of yarn balls getting all tangled up. Not impossible though.

[Ingrid]

If you try it with fair isle, you're going to have yarn carried all the way across the back. I suppose you could use intarsia, with one strand of black for each line. You'll have a lot of strands hanging off the back as you knit, but it could work.

[Jolita]

Dear Friends,

Thank You for answering. I tried both methods. To be sure and to have the possibility to compare I have done it on the same swatch. Half of the lines I knitted in and on another half I duplicated the stitch. It seems that to knit in the lines is not just very complicated (because of the countless bobbins) but also looks much worse. Very difficult to keep a good tension in case of knitted lines.

Thank You very much,
Jolita