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
38

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

Page 40 Page 40

Page 41 Page 41 Page 42 Page 42 Page 43

Seeding

Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47

Fair Isle bands

Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 56

Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 60

Page 61 Page 62 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64

 Stitch guide 39

Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68

Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73

Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78

Fair Isle patterns

Page 79 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93

Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98

Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 104 Page 105

Page 106 Page 108 Page 110 Page 112 Page 114
44 Lesson 17

lesson seeding

17
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 shaping would disrupt large patterns. Seeding
in a piece of Fair Isle knitting. Used between Fair Isle patterns are created by single stitches or small groups

seeding bands, these small all-over patterns serve an important

design purpose by highlighting the area of intricate
of contrasting stitches repeated at regular intervals.
Yarns are stranded or woven across the back of the
pattern 1 motifs. They can also be used to create simple work in the normal way, depending on the spacing
patterning over bigger areas of a design or for a between seeded stitches.
This sample shows five complete design, and are often used in places where
pattern repeats. Worked
on a multiple of 6
stitches plus 1.

Pattern
Row 1(RS) With A, K to end.
Row 2With A, P to end.
Row 3*K1B, 5A, rep from * to last st, 1B.
Row 4With A, P to end.
Row 5With A, K to end.
Row 6P1A, *2A, 1B, 3A, rep from * to end.
These 6 rows form the patt.

6
5
4
3
2
1

6-st repeat

Yarn colors
=A
Size 6 Light worsted
(4mm) weight =B
 Seeding 45

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

Size 6
(4mm)

Light worsted
weight

Pattern 6
5
4
Row 1 (RS) With A, K to end. 3
2
Row 2With A, P to end. 1
Row 3*K1B, 5A, rep from * to last st, 1B.
Row 4With A, P to end.
6-st repeat
Row 5With A, K to end.
Row 6P1A, *2A, 1C, 3A, rep from * to end. Yarn colors
These 6 rows form the patt.
=A

=B

=C
94 Lesson 19

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

Pattern
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.
Size 6 Rows 10 to 14 Rep rows 8 to 4
(4mm) 14 in this order.
13 These 14 rows form the patt.
12
Light worsted 11
weight 10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

14-st repeat
Yarn colors
=A =B
 Fair Isle patterns 95

variation
Worked on a multiple of
14 stitches plus 1.

Size 6
(4mm)

Light worsted
weight

14
1 Pattern
13
12
11 Row 1 (RS) *K1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, 2B,
10 1A, rep from * to last st, 1B.
9
8 Row 2 P1A, *1B, 2A, 1B, (1A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B, 1A,
7
6 rep from * to end.
5 Row 3 *K1B, 4A, 1B, (1A, 1B) twice, 4A, rep from *
4
3 to last st, 1B.
2
1 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
14-st repeat
* to end.
Yarn colors
Row 7 *(K1A, 1C) 3 times, 3A, 1C, (1A, 1C) twice, rep
=A from * to last st, 1A.
=B Row 8 P1B, *1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (1A, 1B) twice, 2A, 1B, 1A,
1B, rep from * to end.
=C Rows 9 to 14 Rep rows 7 to 2 in this order.
These 14 rows form the patt.
80 Project 3

project3: ngerless 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 topso simple!

YOU WILL NEED

Pattern 50g worsted weight yarn in main color (A)
25g worsted weight yarn in contrast color (B)
TO MAKE
10g worsted weight yarn in contrast color (C)
Using size 5 (3.75mm) needles and A, cast on
Size 5 (3.75mm) and size 7 (4.5mm) knitting
39 sts.
needles
Rib row 1 (RS) K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to
end.
SIZE
Rib row 2 P1, *K1, P1, rep from * to end.
To fit average size hand
Rep these 2 rows for 2in (5cm), ending rib row
Around palm 712in (19cm)
2, and inc 1 st at each end of last row. 41 sts.
Length 614in (16cm)
Change to size 7 (4.5mm) needles.
Now work in sd st as follows:
GAUGE
Sd st row K1, *P1, K1, rep from * to end.
22 sts and 34 rows to 4in (10cm) over sd st
This row forms the patt.
Cont in patt until work measures 414in (11cm)
from beg, ending with WS facing.
Join on B. TO finish
With B, K 1 row and P 1 row. Weave in the ends. With right sides together, pin the
Joining on and cutting off colors as required seam on each mitt leaving an opening for the thumb.
and reading odd numbered (RS) rows from Carefully try on the mitts and adjust the opening if
right to left and even numbered (WS) rows necessary. Join the seam.
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.
7
6
Make another mitt in the same way. 5
4
3
2
1

10-st repeat
Yarn colors
=A

=B

=C