Like a college course in color theory for fibers and stranded knitting. Everything from knitting a blanket with an integrated border to a really fantastic fair isle sweater. For the knitter whose primary style of knitting is left handed or european both colors can be carried on the left hand. Fair isle knitting with 2 hands how to carry the yarn across the row. These patterns sometimes violate the simple rule of changing color within 5 stitches that is traditional in 2 color knitting see. The knitters pride royale 16 needle set i use in the video can be found.
Elizabeth johnston was adviser for the fair isle video, and appears on 50 tips. Fair isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting this book is the best teaching guide for fair isle knitting. Fair isle knitting has been replicated worldwide but the genuine article can only be found on the threesquaremile north atlantic island. Buy the complete book of traditional fair isle knitting first edition by mcgregor, sheila isbn. It not only explores the arts history, patterns, and traditional techniques but also encourages knitters to develop their own creativity. Our book fair isle sweaters simplified and our instructional video the original philosophers twohanded fair isle and other stories approx.
See more ideas about fair isle knitting, knitting patterns and knitting. Hazel tindall authentic fair isle knitting patterns, from. Fair isle designs are complicated and often very colorful. Fair isle knitting patterns for knitters looking to advance their skills and stitch awesome iconic colour work, look no further than this beautiful collection of fair isle knitting patterns.
An easy, up close demonstration on more fair isle knitting by judy graham, knitter to the stars, whos been knitting for over 50 years. Im obviously not here to tell you about the birds, so lets talk about the knitting technique. The alice starmore book of fair isle knitting is great and full of information and great charts, but if you can buy only one book of fair isle charts, buy this one. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. How to knit fair isle 2 color knitting usuk on vimeo. Fairisle knitting patterns beginner simple fair isle knitting youtube.
May 26, 2015 one of the rookie mistakes when knitting fair isle for the first few times is to pull the yarn floats the strands between the stitches knit in a given colour tightly across the back of the work, which can compress the gauge of the fair isle section relative to your stockinette stitch gauge. My favorite fair isle techniques verypink offers knitting patterns and video tutorials from staci perry. It is named after fair isle, one of the shetland islands. We do not share names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses with anyone, nor do we sell them. I couldnt find a good video showing how to knit fair isle using the continental one hand method when i was learning so now that i know how i figured it would be good to share the technique.
The best yarns for fair isle knitting knitting interweave. An introduction to basic fair isle knitting techniques presented by designer and author, susan crawford. Traditional fair isle knitting is done in the round, so the knitter only needs to know how to make a knit stitch and follow a pattern. Fair isle knitting is a useful intermediate color knitting technique that is not only steeped in history but also looks beautiful in todays designs. The intricate patterns that originated there is famous around the world. Apr 09, 2017 fair isle knitting fair isle knitting. It is fun to knit and easy once you get the hang of it. Feitelsens book discusses the history of fair isle knitting, techniques, and how to choose colours. Fair isle knitting for beginners a slow stepbystep tutorial. This book is hands down awesome the best of the fair isle books i own. This book is a must have on any knitting designers shelf, it covers the history of fairisle knitting including some fab social history photos, has a wealth of design patterns and origins and is a great read especially if you have knitting in your bones. Fair isle knitting, also known as stranded colorwork knitting, is a technique for working two or more colors of yarn in the same row.
If you know how to do the regular knit stitch then you can do fair isle knitting. The museum of london collection boasts a lovely childs mitten that dates to the tudor era. The book was the first to provide full instructions for knitting designs with gansey construction from start to finish. Knitting fair isle isnt as difficult as it looks and with this book i will guide you through the techniques so that you can enjoy knitting beautiful fair isle patterns as much as i do. Fair isle knitting, also known as stranded knitting, refers to color work that is a repeating pattern worked over a group of stitches and rows. Starmore later expanded her textile studies, traveling in scandinavia in the late 1970s on a winston churchill fellowship. Steeking is a bit of magic that makes construction of a garment so much easier to knit and make. Despite the skinny yarn and skinny needles i think it knits up fast because it is always changing and i want to do just one more round. You can knit fair isle in the round or flat as we only work on the right side of the knitting no purls to worry about as in needle knitting you can steek it. By the 1980s, when alice starmores landmark book of fair isle knitting. I was daunted by fair isle until i bought this book. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting by alice starmore. Knitting the snow speckled fair isle hat with a video tutorial learn a new technique making this beautiful snow speckled fair isle hat.
Quick links to knitting videos, free patterns, my classes, and premium. Mosaic knitting an easy alternative of fair isle knitting. Also available as a pdf through mary anns store on ravelry. Fair isle crochet guide resources for your handmade home.
Alcott by mary henderson jamieson and smith, real shetland wool, fair isle knitting, shetland. I finished it in 1987 and the book was published in 1988. The largest pattern in the book is a 42 chest measurement. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting virtual yarns. The graph patterns in the pattern library are good, as are the color drawings. See more ideas about fair isle knitting, knitting and knitting patterns. Knitting the snow speckled fair isle hat with a video. Mar 24, 2017 for that is where, in a chain of islands called shetland, our beloved fair isle knitting was born. While starmores book left me intimidated, this book inspired me to take up my circular needles and give fair isle knitting a try. Ive heard that a lot of people have fallen in love with pam allens fresco fair isle mitts see the photo. Fair isle knitting by sarah don goodreads share book. Fair isle sweaters simplified, the original philosophers. Sep 18, 2019 im still surprised at how often people tell me they just cant do fair isle knitting patterns. The design uses four shades of fingering weight yarn.
In this drops video we show how you can knit fair isle 2 colour knitting using the usuk method. The twohanded fair isle technique philosophers wool. Not a lot of color photos, but full of information and the history of british fair isle knitting. The motifs are larger with more space around them, some recall traditional motifs, but most have a more modern look. She has now made two instructional videos the fine art of fair isle knitting with shetlands.
For this pattern, you will need to know how to read a chart, but despite all the colors in the design, you only need to work with two colors at a. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. I think its the soft colors waving across the back of the hand, with the one unexpected splash of brightness in the middle. We do not share names, addresses, phone numbers or email addresses with anyone, nor do. This video is a slow walkthrough of a simplified version of knitting fair isle, which is perfect for beginners who really want to make fair isle patterns as soon as possible. Fair isle knitting a selection of our traditional and contemporary fair isle patterns and kits, from the simple to the more complex. Clear instruction with a short introduction to fair isle knitting. Knitting with 2 colors on the same row or round dates to at least the 1500s.
This is the book that took an esoteric knitting technique out of scotland and introduced it to the world. Cat walks you through the stranded knitting techniques and tells you a little about. Scotlands fair isle has long been known for its distinctive, strandedcolor knitting. In the past, knitters have considered fair isle knitting, or stranded knitting as its also known. It is significantly easier to knit a tube for the body and then add the sleeves after the fact, rather than knitting a bunch of little pieces and then seaming them all together. In that time shes developed an efficient technique which has gained her the title of the worlds fastest knitter. However, traditional fair isle colorwork has builtin rules for both. Welcome to fairisle club 4, knitting fairisle in the round, including knitting the steeks and weaving in ends on the. With rich and detailoriented knitting projects including hats, socks, mittens, jumpers and cardigans which all use this classic colorswitching knitting. Feb 26, 2017 this video is a slow walkthrough of a simplified version of knitting fair isle, which is perfect for beginners who really want to make fair isle patterns as soon as possible. The great wave mittens pattern by natalia moreva mittens pattern, knit mittens. Easy way to knit fair isle and other stranded colorwork in.
When you come to our site to look for an item, we will only use this information to improve our site and will not store it with information we could use to identify you. Fair isle knitting is fascinating only two colours are used in any single. Just like cables, stranded knitting is a great thing to try when youre still fairly new to knitting. Why fair isle sweaters have a threeyear waiting list conde. When i bought my copy it was out of print and very expensive. The traditional motifs have a long past and each knitter had their own interpretation. In this video we are following a chart back and forth on needles, knitting with two colors. Links to paid resources like video knitting classes and knitfreedom premium. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of alice starmores book of fair isle knitting we.
Not sure if i will ever actually use this chart but i need to save it just incase. An exclusive dover interview alice starmore has a fascinating tale to tell. If you like fair isle knitting patterns, but still not sure about carrying two colors at once, slipstitch knitting is right for you. Be the first to ask a question about alice starmores book of fair isle knitting. It was this book that showed me the difference between a confusing mishmash of color on a homemade versus handcrafted fair isle garment. Fair isle knitting for beginners easy method to knit. All you need are a few simple projects to get your feet wet, and then the world of fair isle knitting is your proverbial oyster. These traditional approaches to color and technique. Some of you, however, are wondering if you can pull off the fair isle knitting required and still have. The pattern for these is in nancy bushs book knitting in estonia. Also published as the fair isle knitting handbook, 1990, blandford books, uk. Picking back up with the beginning to knit series, lets talk about colorwork specifically, stranded or fair isle knitting. Color knitting patterns fair isles tips tricks for choosing colors for a fair isle pattern knit 1 fair isle knitting how to use a color wheel to choose colors for a fair isle pattern, from quot.
Fair isle is an island north of scotland and is part of the shetland islands. One of the rookie mistakes when knitting fair isle for the first few times is to pull the yarn floats the strands between the stitches knit in a given colour tightly across the back of the work, which can compress the gauge of the fair isle section relative to your stockinette stitch gauge. Knitting assistant freddie patmore demonstrates how to get your fair isle looking wonderful in our video. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Knitting a pattern where two or more colours repeat continuously across a row uses a method known as fair isle. In her first 3 hour instructional video hazel is followed as she knits a seamless fair isle cardigan shetland star from start to finish. In her first 3 hour instructional video hazel is followed as she knits a seamless fair isle. As an amazon affiliate i earn from qualifying purchases. Fairisle knitting patterns beginner the very easy guide to fair isle. This technique is also referred to as true fair isle, from the island located between scotland and norway where the intricate fair isle style of knitting.
If you like fair isle knitting, but sometimes find the small patterns more than you want to do, this is a great book for your knitting shelf. I am not expert enough to tackle something like this but it inspires me to try some fair isle knitting again. Links to free resources like free patterns, video knitting dictionary, learntoknit ebook, and free videos. Available here as a pdf from mary anns online yarn shop. To knit fair isle this way, you dont need to learn both the continental and english knitting. I found the pattern instructions in this book easier to understand than in alice starmores book. Fair isle knitting patterns lovecrafts, loveknittings.
Designed by katie green for blacker yarns, this gorgeous cowl may not be what comes to mind when you think of fair isle knitting. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting, and elizabeth zimmerman, knitting workshop dvd. I was asked to write it in 1985 by a us publisher and it took me two years to complete. For the purposes of this tutorial, well work with a flat swatch and a basic pattern. Wouldnt you like to own this fine fair isle fishermans kep and help the fair isle primary school. It is a free pattern from and there is a free video tutorial on the marly bird youtube channel. Mar 18, 2020 the skills needed for fair isle knitting are actually relatively minimal. Our experts have got for you some top tips, ways to avoid the pitfalls and the 6 best ways to make sure your finished fair isle knitting is smooth and lies flat. Fear of choosing yarn colors and fear of the fair isle knitting techniques involved. Traditional fair isle knitting is accomplished with the use of two colors in each row. This series of three videos are made to accompany the fair isle cap pattern, available available for purchase and download here. Fair isle or stranded knitting can look quite modern as it does here. Its best to use a sticky and elastic natural fiber like wool.
This is a great book for those who are looking to get into knitting, which i myself have been. Follow these easy steps to learn how to do stranded fair isle knitting, working with two. Apr 09, 2017 fair isle knitting finger cozy free pattern on ravelry this finger cozy is designed to allow you to maneuver up to 5 strands of yarn or thread at a time for fair isle knitting, graphgans, and other color work or to place a single strand where it is most comfortable on your finger. The dvds should play worldwide but occasionally the systems do not talk to each other. Fair islestranded knitting tutorial the spruce crafts. The fine art of fair isle knitting hello, im hazel tindall, from shetland, and i am delighted to welcome you to my website where i present a selection of my unique shetland and fair isle knitting patterns, available for immediate download.
Peigi design for virtual yarns, based on one of alices swatches in her book of fair isle knitting. How to do fair isle on the loom loom knitting by this. Fair isle differs from intarsia in that the nonworking yarn is carried across the wrong side of the work in strands called floats. Photo from album alice starmore book of fair isle knitting on yandex. Fair isle knitting is the very particular use of two colors per round, in small stranded colorwork motifs that are usually symmetrical and repeating.
This collection of 17 fair isle knitting patterns is a great place to start if youre uneasy about giving stranded colorwork a try, or if youre a seasoned pro who just wants some ideas for. Mosaic knitting or twocolor slipstitch knitting is one of a few techniques which give so many variations of patterns, to choose from. Plenty of patterns to play with if you want to get started with a sweater, hat or scarf. Changing colors and fair isle knitting yarnspirations. Im still surprised at how often people tell me they just cant do fair isle knitting patterns. Broadly recognized as one of the worlds authorities on fair isle and other folk she began knitting as a child, studying the folk knitting traditions of her native scotland.
The full step by step tutorial is at fair isle download this tutorial in pdf at knitting tutorials. I cant believe im fair isle knitting6 great designs. Steeking is basically a way to create openings in tubes by cutting into your knitted fabric. In that case, you end up stranding the second color in the back of your knitting for long stretches at a time.
Nov 04, 2016 this style of fair isle knitting creates little hearts. I recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to learn fair isle knitting. The great news is that it is now back in print see more information. How to select color palettes for knitting and other fiber artsquot. Short technique videos and longer pattern tutorials to take your knitting.
What you show us in the video could never be wrote in books. Fair isle sweaters simplified, the original philosopher. Stranded or fair isle knitting with edie eckman creativebug. Jan 08, 2010 fair isle is a traditional knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. This allows you to carry the yarn you arent knitting with across the back of the work as you go. You can create your own fabric of wildflowers with this nifty technique.
Starting with the very basics of fair isle knitting, history, supplies and techniques, this is a great book to ease a knitter new to fair isle knitting into the fold. Buy alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover knitting, crochet, tatting, lace green ed. Tina egleton, our technical knitting editor, has some advice on how to knit a fair isle jumper. Fair isle knitting originated on the remote island of fair isle. This video is a slow walkthrough of a simplified version of knitting fair isle, which is. Features the making of the wartime farm sleeveless pullover as featured on bbc tvs wartime farm. For those of you with broadband cable or dsl internet connections, the streaming video of ann teaching the twohanded fair isle technique is now available. Fair isle knitting for beginners easy method to knit with 2. Theyre convinced that they lack the skills required. Babys first fair isle cardigan, a new, circularlyknit, stranded and steeked fair isle knitting design by mary ann stephens. I think there are other books that do as good as or better a job of instruction of fair isle. In this video i demonstrate a couple of ways to carry floats in fair isle knitting.
Sep 11, 2017 why fair isle sweaters have a threeyear waiting list. The intervals between each video release will be staggered differently as some sections of the garment take longer to complete than others. A designer from the region, alice starmore explores the history and techniques of the art and provides instructions for over 15 of her own knitwear designs. Traditional fair isle knitting and design skills were originally handed down from one shetland generation to the next, with each new generation of knitters experimenting, adapting and extending the repertoire of patterns to develop the fair isle knitting we see today. If you are in any doubt, the better option is to buy a download.
Feb 07, 2015 learn how to knit the first few rounds of fair isle for alexs fair isle hat. The complete video guide to fair isle knitting fair isle knitting is the art of knitting with more than one color in a row to make knitted color designs in your projects. She has now made two instructional videos the fine art of fair isle knitting with shetlands hazel tindall and 50 tips from shetland knitters. The distinctive patterning of traditional fair isle knitting is a clever way to. Im pleased to say that my first project came out looking like the work of a much more experienced fair isle knitter, and ive been confident to go on to a number of other fair isle projects. The color that not is knitted is following behind the work when knitting rs rows. Colorwork patterns for firsttimers fringe association. A native of the pacific northwest, she shares a wee little house there with her husband, two children, some scottish terriers, and more yarn than is strictly necessary. This training is invaluable in a society that often lacks the generational passing of artisanal wisdom. This is a short clip from our full video, the original philosophers twohanded fair isle and other stories which offers many more instructional techniques. Overall, youll do better with any of a number of other books dealing in fair isle technique and motifs, including the art of fair isle knitting gorgeous. The complete book of traditional fair isle knitting. Hand knitted by fair islander by elena meralong this hat could be yours for the highest donation to benefit the fair isle primary school fund. Mary scott huff, a nationally recognized knitting designer and teacher, is the author of the new stranded colorwork.