A process for manufacturing a tubular knitted item (1) with intarsia design, comprising the steps of: programming a circular weft knitting machine for intarsia design by defining a tubular intarsia knitted item (1) to be manufactured, extending longitudinally between a first end (2) and a second end (3) and consisting of a plurality of knitted courses following one another; wherein the programming step comprises the steps of: defining a turning position (4), which divides the tubular item into a first fabric (5) and a second fabric (6), wherein the tubular item is configured for being manipulated so as to be at least partially turned over itself, by folding it in the turning position so that the second fabric overlaps the first fabric in order to obtain a double fabric item; defining at least one first area (10) of the first fabric, delimited by a needle section and by a number of successive courses of the area, and having a desired shape; defining at least one first counter-area (20) of the second fabric, delimited by a needle section and by a number of successive courses of the area, in which the first counter-area has a respective shape; producing intarsia knitted fabric so as to manufacture the tubular knitted item according to the programming step; wherein the first area (10) is manufactured according to a first knitted structure and the first counter-area (20) is manufactured according to a second knitted structure.