Interrupted Twill Color Patterns

Interrupted twill is formed when rows of interlacing are alternated with rows of interlinking. January’s Motif B in Carol James’ 2023 SprangAlong has four rows of interlinking followed by four rows of interlacing.
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When threads of two or more colors are used with this motif, new patterns emerge as the yarn moves diagonally.

Below I share some possible color patterns for this interrupted twill motif. These patterns emerge from the initial placement of the warp threads.

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For small pieces such as this pouch, try two contrasting colors of yarn with a repeat of eight threads/four loops.* The four rows of interlinking create solid blocks of color, then the four rows of interlacing move the threads sideways until they join their matching colors. When repeated several times, this creates a checkerboard-like pattern.

Note in the pattern below that there are the same number of threads for Color A and Color B, but one block of Color A is split between the two edges. Both edges are Color A and have half the number of threads/loops as the interior color areas. This is required for color blocks of equal size to emerge. 

• If you observed that some blocks of interlinking in this pouch continue only two rows and not four, give yourself a pat on the back. I tweaked the pattern after the first few rows.

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For a wider project such as a hat, try a repeat of sixteen threads/eight loops. After four rows of interlacing, the threads have met their contrasting colors, so blocks with horizontal stripes are created in the interlinking. The next four rows of interlacing bring the threads back to their matching colors. 

Again, note that at the edges of the cloth only half the number of Color A loops are used.

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If your warp is long enough for the threads to thoroughly intermingle, multiple colors of thread can meet and part again. This scarf is made with the same general pattern as the hat but with Color B expanded into colors C, D, and E. I used yellow as a base color and added four other colors in a symmetrical pattern. 

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These are only a few of the many possible arrangements for color patterns in this interrupted twill pattern. I encourage you to try your own variations and share your experiences in the comments or with the contact form at the bottom of this page. What worked? What would you do differently next time? What new patterns emerged?

*Note on threads and loops: when winding threads on for a flat-warp sprang project, each thread is looped over the top of the frame and then returns to the bottom. This one loop contains two threads.