An exclusive dover interview alice starmore has a fascinating tale to tell. This months project, the shaila mittens, is by ella gordon, designer of the iconic crofthoose hat, ola yoke, and other delightful colorwork designs. This richly illustrated guide offers both beginning and advanced knitters a complete workshop in the fair isle style. Its best to use a sticky and elastic natural fiber like wool. These traditional approaches to color and technique. Hazel tindall authentic fair isle knitting patterns, from.
The very easy guide to fair isle knitting sample pages fair isle. Intro to fair isle crochet and how to do color changes. Fair isle is a very specific type of stranded knitting from fair isle, a tiny island in the north of scotland and part of the shetland islands. Also published as the fair isle knitting handbook, 1990, blandford books, uk. This months project, the shaila mittens, is by ella gordon, designer of the iconic crofthoose hat, ola yoke.
Hazel tindall authentic fair isle knitting patterns. Buy alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover knitting, crochet, tatting, lace green ed. 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. Follow our complete series of knitting fundamentals, with stepbystep tutorials for each knitting stitch and technique. Stepbystep techniques, easyto follow stitch patterns, and projects to get you started by lynne watterson isbn. I remembered that there was an excellent fair isle tutorial in the fallwinter 2005 issue of knitscene magazine, and decided it was a perfect time to reprint it here on knitting daily. It not only explores the arts history, patterns, and traditional techniques but also encourages knitters to develop their own creativity. Below, i have given you the overview from the article, plus a few important tips to make the best of your stranded knitting.
As i mentioned in my preface post, most stranded colorwork also referred to by some as fair isle involves working rows with two, and no more than two, colors at a time. In this months video tutorial for a year of techniques, jen arnallculliford demonstrates the simple way to get your fair isle popping. To knit fair isle this way, you dont need to learn both the continental and english knitting styles, and you also dont need circular needles. It contains fair isle history, peerie, border and allover pattern descriptions and charts, instructions about adjusting patterns and a 26 page pattern library of charts. Im still surprised at how often people tell me they just cant do fair isle knitting patterns. I will definitely add this book to my permanent collection since i. Scandinavian colorwork is distinctive in its large, often asymmetrical motifs, threeply yarn construction, and bright, clear colors. Strandedcolour knitting is all about pattern and colour and in the chapters on colour and pattern i aimed to show that there are endless possibilities for creating. Meg swansens fair isle vest dvd, schoolhouse press a great tutorial for a vneck fair isle vest with armhole and neck steeks eunny jangs the ivy league vest dvd from interweave knits eunnys patterns offer the most sophisticated shaping in fair isle knitting that i have ever come across. Fair isle knitting originated on the remote island of fair isle, one of the shetland islands in scotland. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting is a musthave resource for the serious knitter.
See more ideas about knitting, knitting patterns and fair isle knitting. There are other fair isle knitting books with the same clear instructions on the technique and good pattern libraries but at least they have nice and varied projects. Starmore explains the traditional fair isle techniques of circular knitting and presents detailed tutorials on incorporating classic motifs, exploring color schemes. Easy fair isle knitting 26 projects with a modern twist by martin storey patterns easy fair isle knitting 26 projects with a modern twist viewing as a guest user. Aug 18, 20 twohanded stranded colorwork tutorial i have taught more classes on twohanded stranded colorwork than on any other kind of knitting. For those who darethe book is dedicated to every knitter who has said. You can also use it in fair isle knitting so that you dont have to work any of your complicated colorwork patterns flat, eliminating the need to learn to purl while stranding colors and also reducing the number of yarn.
It is basically a technique of stranded colorwork in which the yarn which is not useful anymore floats. Jan 28, 2018 i am a beginner with fair isle knitting. If you have more questions, or if something seems unclear, do not hesitate to contact me. A great tutorial for a vneck fair isle vest with armhole and neck steeks eunny jangs the ivy league vest dvd from interweave knits eunnys patterns offer the most sophisticated shaping in fair isle knitting that i have ever come across. Welcome to knitting 101, your beginners guide to knitting. Dec 17, 2009 for the knitter whose primary style of knitting is left handed or european both colors can be carried on the left hand.
I was asked to write it in 1985 by a us publisher and it took me two years to complete. Fair isle knitting for beginners a slow stepbystep tutorial. Fair isle also strands the color that you are not using behind your work so that color can be picked up again the next time it is needed. This vest offers an opportunity to learn how to incorporate that into your work. Mar 12, 2007 she iswas the original knitting podcast. Clearly, knitting is a deeply ingrained facet of the culture of scotlands outer hebrides. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover knitting. 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. Steeking is basically a way to create openings in tubes by cutting into your knitted fabric.
For the knitter whose primary style of knitting is left handed or european both colors can be carried on the left hand. The patterns in this book allow you to play with color to your. 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 fairisle section relative to your stockinette stitch gauge. Intarsia uses a new yarn supply for each color section of a. Some sample patterns and project from lynne wattersons the very easy guide to fair isle knitting.
Starmore doesnt just provide 14 terrific fair isle patterns, she overs the history of fair isle, the development of stitch patterns, provides an extensive compilation of patterns, and a lengthy chapter on designing your own cap, tam, and gansey. Learn how to knit flat intarsia with anne berk and marly bird. Tina egleton, our technical knitting editor, has some advice on how to knit a fair isle jumper. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. I finished it in 1987 and the book was published in 1988. These knitting patterns are great for dipping your toes into fair isle. Steeking is used in traditional nordic sweaters for armholes, and you can use it to turn a pullover sweater into a cardigan. It also creates fabrics that are warmer and more durable than singlecolor knitting. Painless, stranded knitting, 2 color knitting, fairisle. Intarsia uses a new yarn supply for each color section of a row, there are no floats.
Knitting a pattern where two or more colours repeat continuously across a row uses a method known as fair isle. Fair isle is a colorwork technique in knitting, in which you work with multiple colors at once. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting by alice starmore. However, traditional fair isle colorwork has builtin rules for both. Stranded colorwork originating in scandinavia norway, sweden, denmark, and finland is very different from fair isle, though the knitting techniques are similar. It allows you to have a finished set in the pattern that you like the best. Fair isle knitting has a reputation for complexity that can make even. Knitting assistant freddie patmore demonstrates how to get your fair isle looking wonderful in our video.
Knitting books from wellloved reference guides to exciting new pattern collections, we curate an inspiring roster of titles to choose from. Using two strands of yarn at a time enables the knitter to create designs, or motifs, in the knitted fabric. Aug 04, 2008 i remembered that there was an excellent fair isle tutorial in the fallwinter 2005 issue of knitscene magazine, and decided it was a perfect time to reprint it here on knitting daily. 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 i was privileged to grow up in shetland where i was surrounded by knitters who needed to knit quickly and to a high standard in order to gain an income. Aug 15, 2007 a great tutorial for a vneck fair isle vest with armhole and neck steeks eunny jangs the ivy league vest dvd from interweave knits eunnys patterns offer the most sophisticated shaping in fair isle knitting that i have ever come across. How to do fair isle on the loom loom knitting by this. 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. I increasingly find that measuring the passage of time becomes an exercise in disbelief. Its a combination of marling holding together strands of different colors and fair isle stranded colorwork. In this tutorial, learn how to lock those floats down with every stitch to create a smoother finish at the back. Jun 06, 2017 fair isle is a very specific type of stranded knitting from fair isle, a tiny island in the north of scotland and part of the shetland islands. Below, i have given you the overview from the article, plus a few important tips to.
Our book price match guarantee means youre able to shop til your hearts content, always knowing that you can get the very best price. 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. Knitting from fair isle by mati ventrillon, 9780486842066, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting patterns ravelry. By using the easytoread charts, columns to illustrate color changes, and clear photographs of each.
This usually leaves floats or loose strands of yarn at the back of the work. Oct 29, 2012 intro to fair isle crochet and how to do color changes. Stranded or fair isle knitting with edie eckman creativebug. Theyre convinced that they lack the skills required. That makes this a great technique to use for small colorwork patterns on bags, sweaters, socks, and other projects where the back side doesnt show. 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 with multiple colors originated. The writing is engaging and witty, and i loved reading about the history of shetland and fair islethe place, not just the technique. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting 1988 by alice starmore patterns alice starmores book of fair isle knitting 1988 viewing as a guest user. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover publications.
Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover knitting, crochet. Fair isle is made up of short stitch patterns repeated across the width of the fabric. This is the book that took an esoteric knitting technique out of scotland and introduced it to the world. Jan 04, 2018 in this months video tutorial for a year of techniques, jen arnallculliford demonstrates the simple way to get your fair isle popping. Opening the covers of fair isle crochet projects by melissa leapman you will find a short tutorial section teaching the basics of fair isle crochet. With either easytonavigate colorwork patterns or just a single pair of colors to work with, these easy fair isle patterns are the perfect starting point for you in your stranded knitting journey. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting by alice. 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.
A new direction in knitting, an independently published book that we are proud to carry in the shop. Other than practice pieces at classes, ive only done two fair isle pieces. Twohanded stranded colorwork tutorial i have taught more classes on twohanded stranded colorwork than on any other kind of knitting. Fair isle designs are complicated and often very colorful. You will usually want to hide the back side of the work. Its actually very easy, as our stepbystep tutorial will show. 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. Discover the colorful world of fair isle knitting, intarsia, and colorwork with instructional books to guide you as well as pattern collections for sweaters, accessories, socks and more.
This 1998, 2009 edition, of alice starmores book of fair isle knitting has a soft cover. Outstanding knitting book the essential book on fair isle knitting. I love how there are two matching items for each pattern. Oct 01, 2009 buy alice starmores book of fair isle knitting dover knitting, crochet, tatting, lace green ed. If you know how to do the regular knit stitch then you can do fair isle knitting. Alice starmores book of fair isle knitting virtual yarns. Fair isle knitting, also known as stranded colorwork knitting, is a technique for working two or more colors of yarn in the same row. Fair isle is knit with a smaller repeating pattern typically alternating with two strands of yarn. Features the making of the wartime farm sleeveless pullover as featured on bbc tvs wartime farm. The boom in the ranks of pattern designers has not been matched by a boom. In fair isle knitting, only 2 colors are used per round and yarn is carried for a limited number of stitches across the back of the work.
Fair islestranded knitting tutorial the spruce crafts. An introduction to basic fair isle knitting techniques presented by designer and author, susan crawford. Fair isle knitting makes a nice warm fabric because all those floats add extra bulk and warmth. If youre keen on all of the fashionable scandistyle patterns this winter, but think fair isle knitting is too complex for you then think again. Fear of choosing yarn colors and fear of the fair isle knitting techniques involved. Explore the colorrich world of knitting with 200 fair isle motifs. Even though the lk150 is a manual machine, you can still create fairisle stranded knitting. 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. Unless ive missed one, and i rather doubt it, this is the very best book on the fair isle knitting technique. Jan 29, 2018 fair isle is knit with a smaller repeating pattern typically alternating with two strands of yarn. What is fair isle crochet, what is the difference between fair isle crochet, intarsia crochet and tapestry crochet, how. Bilderesultat for fair isle knitting free charts do you know what is a fair isle knitting. Watch as we break down the steps to further your understanding of your machine. It is thirty years since my fair isle knitting book was first published.
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