Fair Isle Knitting

The inspiring, no-nonsense bible to learning both traditional and modern Fair Isle knitting, featuring 45 versatile Fair Isle pattern designs and 14 beautiful, practical projects to test your new-found skills.

Fair Isle knitting has a timeless appeal, and is celebrated all over the world for its beautiful patterns and distinctive motifs. Using just two colours in each row you can create a myriad of different patterns that are deceptively easy to achieve. In this definitive guide, expert knitting designer and best-selling author Monica Russel teaches you the essential skills of this traditional colourwork technique and provides all the inspiration you need to create stunning Fair Isle patterns of your own.

The book includes a fascinating history of Fair Isle knitting, and takes a close look at the yarns, needles and other tools you need to get started in colourwork
There are step-by-step instructions on the key techniques for creating Fair Isle patterns, including choosing colours and using charts, all illustrated with step-by-step photographs and an abundance of colourful examples
A stunning collection of pattern swatches provides inspiration and instruction for over 45 borders, patterns and motifs, all accompanied by a written pattern, chart and examples in various colourways
To practise your new skills, there are 14 items to knit, ranging from a simple hat to a stunning dress and waistcoat.
Table of Contents
Introduction
History of Fair Isle
Yarns
Materials & equipment
Colour

TECHNIQUES
How to hold the yarn
Tension
Starting a new ball of wool
Fair Isle knitting basics
Reading the charts
Knitting abbreviations
Finishing
Embellishing

FAIR ISLE DESIGNS
Border gallery
Projects with borders
– Simple Snowflake Hat
– Crowned Snowflake Hat
– Campion Yoked Sweater
– Skroo Socks
– Croft Child’s Dress
– Jake’s Sweater
– Pattern gallery
– Projects with patterns
– Retro Cushion Cover
– Dogtooth Bag
– Lerwick Waistcoat
– Rose Shawl
– Shetland Dress
Animal motif gallery
Animal motif projects
– Duck Nursery Blanket
– Sheep cushion
– Ptarmigan Child’s Cardigan with Hat

Index 144