The Very Easy Guide to Fair Isle Knitting sample pages

The very easy guide to

Fair Isle Knitting

Step-by-step techniques, easy-to-follow stitch patterns, and projects to get you started Lynne Watterson

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stitch guide Corrugated ribbing

Select from one of the many Fair Isle patterns featured here, turn to the relevant page number, and start knitting.

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Seeding

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Page 47 Fair Isle bands

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Stitch guide

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Fair Isle patterns

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Lesson 17

lesson seeding

17 seeding pattern 1 This sample shows five pattern repeats. Worked on a multiple of 6 stitches plus 1.

Seeding is the name given to small patterns that are used to cover areas where a large intricate design is not required.

Instead, the background color is punctuated with single stitches or small designs in contrasting colors to introduce a change of pace into the design.

Areas of seeding are an important design element in a piece of Fair Isle knitting. Used between Fair Isle bands, these small all-over patterns serve an important design purpose by highlighting the area of intricate motifs. They can also be used to create simple patterning over bigger areas of a design or for a complete design, and are often used in places where

shaping would disrupt large patterns. Seeding patterns are created by single stitches or small groups of contrasting stitches repeated at regular intervals.

Yarns are stranded or woven across the back of the work in the normal way, depending on the spacing between seeded stitches.

Pattern Row 1 (RS) With A, K to end.

Row 2 With A, P to end.

Row 3 *K1B, 5A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Row 4 With A, P to end.

Row 5 With A, K to end.

Row 6 P1A, *2A, 1B, 3A, rep from * to end.

These 6 rows form the patt.

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5

4

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2

1

6-st repeat

Yarn colors Size 6 (4mm)

Light worsted weight

=A =B

Seeding

variation Worked in three colors on a multiple of 6 stitches plus 1.

Size 6 (4mm) Light worsted weight

Pattern Row 1 (RS) With A, K to end.

Row 2 With A, P to end.

Row 3 *K1B, 5A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Row 4 With A, P to end.

Row 5 With A, K to end.

Row 6 P1A, *2A, 1C, 3A, rep from * to end.

These 6 rows form the patt.

6

5

4

3

2

1

6-st repeat

Yarn colors =A =B =C

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94

Lesson 19

crosses This sample shows three pattern repeats. Worked on a multiple of 14 stitches plus 1.

Pattern

Size 6 (4mm) Light worsted weight

14

13

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11

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8

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6

5

4

3

2

1

Yarn colors =A

=B

14-st repeat

Row 1 (RS) *K1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (1A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B, rep from * to last st, 1A. Row 2 P1B, *1A, 2B, 3A, 1B, 3A, 2B, 1A, 1B, rep from * to end.

Row 3 Rep row 1.

Row 4 P1B, *4A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 4A, 1B, rep from * to end.

Row 5 *K1B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 5A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Row 6 P1A, *1B, (5A, 1B) twice, 1A, rep from * to end.

Row 7 *K2A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 1A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 1A, rep from * to last st, 1A. Row 8 P1A, *1B, (1A, 1B) twice, 3A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, rep from * to end.

Row 9 *K1B, 3A, 1B, (2A, 1B) twice, 3A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Rows 10 to 14 Rep rows 8 to 4 in this order.

These 14 rows form the patt.

Fair Isle patterns

variation Worked on a multiple of 14 stitches plus 1.

Size 6 (4mm) Light worsted weight

1

14

Pattern

13

12

11

10

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8

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5

4

3

2

1

14-st repeat

Yarn colors =A =B =C

Row 1 (RS) *K1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, 2B, 1A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Row 2 P1A, *1B, 2A, 1B, (1A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B, 1A, rep from * to end.

Row 3 *K1B, 4A, 1B, (1A, 1B) twice, 4A, rep from * to last st, 1B. Row 4 P1A, *5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 6A, rep from * to end.

Row 5 *K1A, 1C, 11A, 1C, rep from * to last st, 1A. Row 6 P1C, *1A, 1C, 2A, 5C, 2A, 1C, 1A, 1C, rep from * to end.

Row 7 *(K1A, 1C) 3 times, 3A, 1C, (1A, 1C) twice, rep from * to last st, 1A. Row 8 P1B, *1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (1A, 1B) twice, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, rep from * to end.

Rows 9 to 14 Rep rows 7 to 2 in this order.

These 14 rows form the patt.

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Project 3

project3: fingerless mitts A pair of cozy mitts knitted in a soft, fluffy yarn is just the thing to keep your hands warm. The mitts are knitted in seed stitch with a narrow Fair Isle band around the top—so simple!

Pattern TO MAKE Using size 5 (3.75mm) needles and A, cast on 39 sts.

Rib row 1 (RS) K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to end.

Rib row 2 P1, *K1, P1, rep from * to end.

Rep these 2 rows for 2in (5cm), ending rib row 2, and inc 1 st at each end of last row. 41 sts.

Change to size 7 (4.5mm) needles.

Now work in sd st as follows: Sd st row K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to end.

This row forms the patt.

Cont in patt until work measures 41⁄4in (11cm) from beg, ending with WS facing.

Join on B. With B, K 1 row and P 1 row.

Joining on and cutting off colors as required and reading odd numbered (RS) rows from right to left and even numbered (WS) rows from left to right, work the 7 rows of Fair Isle patt from chart, so ending with a RS row.

With B, P 1 row and K 1 row.

Cut off B. Change to size 5 (3.75mm) needles.

With A, P 2 rows.

Bind off knitwise.

Make another mitt in the same way.

YOU WILL NEED • 50g worsted weight yarn in main color (A) • 25g worsted weight yarn in contrast color (B) • 10g worsted weight yarn in contrast color (C) • Size 5 (3.75mm) and size 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles

SIZE To fit average size hand Around palm 71⁄2in (19cm) Length 61⁄4in (16cm)

GAUGE 22 sts and 34 rows to 4in (10cm) over sd st

TO finish Weave in the ends. With right sides together, pin the seam on each mitt leaving an opening for the thumb.

Carefully try on the mitts and adjust the opening if necessary. Join the seam.

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1

10-st repeat

Yarn colors =A =B =C