Knowledge

Fair Isle (technique)

Source 📝

587: 162: 34: 91: 496: 240:
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. 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. Common motifs are OXO shapes,
223:
word meaning 'stitch', 'to close shut', and comprising several stitches) are worked across the armhole openings allowing the body to be completed in the round without interruption. Once the main body of the jumper is complete, the armhole steeks are cut open. Steeks are secured to prevent unravelling
209:
Fair Isle, where the unused strand is held in slightly different positions relative to the needles and thereby woven into the fabric, still invisible from the front but trapped closely against the back of the piece. This permits a nearly limitless variety of pattern with considerably larger blocks of
197:
needles, cast on any number of stitches. Knitting then continues in the round, with the colours alternated every stitch. If the pattern is started with an even number of stitches, a vertically striped tube of fabric will be formed, while an odd number will create a diagonal grid that appears to mix
176:
stitch is not used if the garment is knit in the round. At each knit stitch, there are two available "active" colours of yarn; one is drawn through to make the knit stitch, and the other is simply held behind the piece, carried as a loose strand of yarn behind the just-made stitch. To avoid "loose"
137:
Some people use the term "Fair Isle" to refer to any colourwork knitting where stitches are knitted alternately in various colours, with the unused colours stranded across the back of the work, but this is inaccurate. The term "stranded colourwork" is applicable for the generic technique, and the
231:
Since the 1990s the term ‘Fair Isle’ has been applied very generally and loosely to any stranded colour knitting regardless of its relation to the knitting of Fair Isle or any of the other Shetland Islands. This, however, is inaccurate.
241:‘peeries’ or simplified geometric shapes inspired by nature. Although only two colors are worked together on any given round, designs often incorporate more colors, up to as many as 10 for some very complex Fair Isle designs. 133:
in public in 1921. Traditional Fair Isle patterns have a limited palette of five or so colours, use only two colours per row, are worked in the round, and limit the length of a run of any particular colour.
185:
knitting can carry one colour with their right hand and one with their left, although it is also possible to simply use two different fingers for the two colours of yarn and knit both using the same style.
177:
strands larger than 3-5 stitches, the yarn not in use can be "caught" by the yarn in use without this being seen on the front of the work. Knitters who are comfortable with both
205:, and too many consecutive stitches of one colour mean a very long strand of the other, quite easy to catch with a finger or button. A more modern variation is 722: 1281: 224:
of stitches, either before or after cutting. Stitches are then picked up around the armhole opening and the sleeve is knitted down toward the
19:
This article is about the knitting style named for the island in Northern Scotland. For knitwear made on the Danish island, see
566: 500: 469: 438: 411: 384: 325: 286: 201:
Traditional Fair Isle patterns normally had no more than three consecutive stitches of any given colour, because they were
528: 1256: 77: 55: 48: 349: 1164: 1063: 213:
Traditionally, Fair Isle jumper construction involves knitting the body of the jumper completely in the round.
1159: 1144: 1261: 1154: 727: 1271: 1246: 893: 571: 586: 1276: 1251: 161: 1210: 1000: 757: 1241: 1005: 42: 1185: 1205: 1078: 1025: 783: 521: 172:
Basic two-colour Fair Isle requires no additional techniques beyond the basic knit stitch: the
59: 1180: 823: 813: 650: 236:
Many people use the term Fair Isle when they mean stranded knitting, and this is inaccurate.
194: 95: 1103: 933: 928: 913: 908: 843: 833: 686: 182: 146: 8: 1195: 984: 863: 747: 732: 660: 645: 556: 142: 1266: 1215: 1149: 953: 948: 903: 888: 701: 90: 1098: 878: 853: 803: 681: 676: 514: 475: 465: 444: 434: 417: 407: 390: 380: 331: 321: 292: 282: 431:
The Harmony Guide to Aran and Fair Isle Knitting: Patterns, Techniques, and Stitches
20: 1068: 1010: 974: 898: 858: 808: 742: 691: 655: 178: 118: 1058: 943: 938: 848: 828: 624: 614: 551: 458: 274: 220: 190: 166: 150: 122: 1200: 1129: 1088: 1083: 1020: 1015: 918: 873: 818: 313: 1235: 1124: 1119: 1053: 1048: 883: 868: 793: 788: 752: 706: 696: 619: 576: 479: 448: 421: 394: 335: 1220: 1073: 778: 609: 296: 113:
technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. It is named after
138:
term "Fair Isle" is reserved for the characteristic patterns of Shetland.
1093: 969: 798: 640: 173: 126: 99: 1043: 737: 561: 762: 114: 604: 377:
The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color and Pattern
838: 537: 110: 1190: 1139: 130: 1134: 495: 251: 923: 215: 121:. Fair Isle knitting gained considerable popularity when the 595: 506: 225: 269: 267: 279:
The Complete Book of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting
457: 455: 433:(1st ed.). New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks. 308: 306: 264: 1233: 141:Other techniques for knitting in colour include 303: 522: 350:"Stranded: Colorwork vs. Fair Isle Knitting" 404:Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting 529: 515: 456:Bourgeois, Ann; Bourgeois, Eugene (2000). 428: 374: 78:Learn how and when to remove this message 401: 312: 273: 160: 89: 41:This article includes a list of general 1282:Visual and material culture of Scotland 1234: 567:List of yarns for crochet and knitting 16:Traditional British knitting technique 510: 464:. Bothell, WA: Martingale & Co. 189:The simplest Fair Isle pattern uses 27: 100:Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) 13: 379:. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press. 47:it lacks sufficient corresponding 14: 1293: 488: 585: 494: 32: 318:The Fair Isle Knitting Handbook 1165:The Knitting Guild Association 429:Mountford, Debra, ed. (1995). 406:. Newtown, CT: Taunton Press. 342: 109:(/fɛəraɪ̯l/) is a traditional 1: 1160:World Wide Knit in Public Day 1145:Revolutionary Knitting Circle 460:Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified 257: 1155:UK Hand Knitting Association 536: 156: 21:Faroe Island § Clothing 7: 723:Stockinette/Stocking stitch 245: 10: 1298: 583: 18: 1211:List of knitting stitches 1173: 1112: 1034: 1001:Complete garment knitting 993: 962: 771: 715: 669: 633: 594: 544: 1257:Textile arts of Scotland 1006:Fully fashioned knitting 402:Starmore, Alice (1988). 375:Feitelson, Ann (1996). 62:more precise citations. 1206:Knitting abbreviations 1079:Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 1026:William Lee (inventor) 243: 169: 165:Fair Isle knitwear in 103: 1181:Basic knitted fabrics 320:. London: Blandford. 234: 164: 102:in a Fair Isle jumper 96:John St Helier Lander 93: 1104:Elizabeth Zimmermann 929:Three needle bindoff 914:Slip-stitch knitting 834:Drop-stitch knitting 503:at Wikimedia Commons 501:Fair Isle (knitting) 281:. London: Batsford. 1262:Culture of Shetland 894:Picking up stitches 799:Binding/Casting off 661:Patons and Baldwins 646:Eisaku Noro Company 557:Knitting needle cap 545:Tools and materials 1272:Textile techniques 1247:Knitting ornaments 889:Medallion knitting 170: 147:slip-stitch colour 104: 1277:Scottish clothing 1252:Knitting stitches 1229: 1228: 1099:Barbara G. Walker 879:Illusion knitting 499:Media related to 471:978-1-56477-311-1 440:978-0-517-88405-8 413:978-0-918804-97-6 386:978-1-883010-20-1 354:Kelbourne Woolens 327:978-0-7137-2206-2 288:978-0-7134-1432-5 198:the two colours. 183:Continental style 129:) wore Fair Isle 94:1925 portrait by 88: 87: 80: 1289: 1069:Herbert Niebling 1011:Knitting machine 994:Machine knitting 809:Brioche knitting 743:Elongated stitch 656:Lion Brand Yarns 589: 531: 524: 517: 508: 507: 498: 483: 463: 452: 425: 398: 366: 365: 363: 361: 346: 340: 339: 310: 301: 300: 275:McGregor, Sheila 271: 127:King Edward VIII 119:Shetland Islands 83: 76: 72: 69: 63: 58:this article by 49:inline citations 36: 35: 28: 1297: 1296: 1292: 1291: 1290: 1288: 1287: 1286: 1242:Knitted fabrics 1232: 1231: 1230: 1225: 1169: 1150:Stitch 'n Bitch 1108: 1064:Frances Lambert 1059:Marianne Kinzel 1036: 1030: 989: 958: 849:Finger knitting 829:Double knitting 767: 711: 665: 629: 590: 581: 552:Knitting needle 540: 535: 491: 486: 472: 441: 414: 387: 370: 369: 359: 357: 348: 347: 343: 328: 314:Starmore, Alice 311: 304: 289: 272: 265: 260: 248: 167:Shetland Museum 159: 151:mosaic knitting 149:(also known as 123:Prince of Wales 84: 73: 67: 64: 54:Please help to 53: 37: 33: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1295: 1285: 1284: 1279: 1274: 1269: 1264: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1244: 1227: 1226: 1224: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1203: 1201:Knitted fabric 1198: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1177: 1175: 1171: 1170: 1168: 1167: 1162: 1157: 1152: 1147: 1142: 1137: 1132: 1130:Knitting clubs 1127: 1122: 1116: 1114: 1110: 1109: 1107: 1106: 1101: 1096: 1091: 1089:Debbie Stoller 1086: 1084:Alice Starmore 1081: 1076: 1071: 1066: 1061: 1056: 1051: 1046: 1040: 1038: 1032: 1031: 1029: 1028: 1023: 1021:Stocking frame 1018: 1016:Knitting Nancy 1013: 1008: 1003: 997: 995: 991: 990: 988: 987: 982: 977: 972: 966: 964: 960: 959: 957: 956: 951: 946: 941: 936: 931: 926: 921: 919:Spool knitting 916: 911: 906: 901: 896: 891: 886: 881: 876: 871: 866: 861: 856: 851: 846: 841: 836: 831: 826: 821: 816: 811: 806: 801: 796: 791: 786: 781: 775: 773: 769: 768: 766: 765: 760: 758:Plaited stitch 755: 750: 745: 740: 735: 730: 725: 719: 717: 713: 712: 710: 709: 704: 699: 694: 689: 684: 679: 673: 671: 667: 666: 664: 663: 658: 653: 648: 643: 637: 635: 631: 630: 628: 627: 622: 617: 612: 607: 601: 599: 592: 591: 584: 582: 580: 579: 574: 569: 564: 559: 554: 548: 546: 542: 541: 534: 533: 526: 519: 511: 505: 504: 490: 489:External links 487: 485: 484: 470: 453: 439: 426: 412: 399: 385: 371: 368: 367: 341: 326: 302: 287: 262: 261: 259: 256: 255: 254: 247: 244: 228:in the round. 195:double pointed 158: 155: 86: 85: 40: 38: 31: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1294: 1283: 1280: 1278: 1275: 1273: 1270: 1268: 1265: 1263: 1260: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1239: 1237: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 1202: 1199: 1197: 1194: 1192: 1189: 1187: 1184: 1182: 1179: 1178: 1176: 1172: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1156: 1153: 1151: 1148: 1146: 1143: 1141: 1138: 1136: 1133: 1131: 1128: 1126: 1123: 1121: 1120:I Knit London 1118: 1117: 1115: 1113:Organizations 1111: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1097: 1095: 1092: 1090: 1087: 1085: 1082: 1080: 1077: 1075: 1072: 1070: 1067: 1065: 1062: 1060: 1057: 1055: 1054:Kaffe Fassett 1052: 1050: 1049:Nicky Epstein 1047: 1045: 1042: 1041: 1039: 1033: 1027: 1024: 1022: 1019: 1017: 1014: 1012: 1009: 1007: 1004: 1002: 999: 998: 996: 992: 986: 983: 981: 978: 976: 973: 971: 968: 967: 965: 961: 955: 952: 950: 947: 945: 942: 940: 937: 935: 932: 930: 927: 925: 922: 920: 917: 915: 912: 910: 907: 905: 902: 900: 897: 895: 892: 890: 887: 885: 882: 880: 877: 875: 872: 870: 869:Hand knitting 867: 865: 862: 860: 857: 855: 852: 850: 847: 845: 842: 840: 837: 835: 832: 830: 827: 825: 822: 820: 817: 815: 812: 810: 807: 805: 802: 800: 797: 795: 794:Bias knitting 792: 790: 789:Bead knitting 787: 785: 782: 780: 777: 776: 774: 770: 764: 761: 759: 756: 754: 753:Loop knitting 751: 749: 746: 744: 741: 739: 736: 734: 731: 729: 726: 724: 721: 720: 718: 714: 708: 705: 703: 700: 698: 695: 693: 690: 688: 685: 683: 680: 678: 675: 674: 672: 668: 662: 659: 657: 654: 652: 651:Kraemer Yarns 649: 647: 644: 642: 639: 638: 636: 632: 626: 623: 621: 618: 616: 613: 611: 608: 606: 603: 602: 600: 597: 593: 588: 578: 577:Stitch holder 575: 573: 570: 568: 565: 563: 560: 558: 555: 553: 550: 549: 547: 543: 539: 532: 527: 525: 520: 518: 513: 512: 509: 502: 497: 493: 492: 481: 477: 473: 467: 462: 461: 454: 450: 446: 442: 436: 432: 427: 423: 419: 415: 409: 405: 400: 396: 392: 388: 382: 378: 373: 372: 356:. 6 June 2017 355: 351: 345: 337: 333: 329: 323: 319: 315: 309: 307: 298: 294: 290: 284: 280: 276: 270: 268: 263: 253: 250: 249: 242: 239: 233: 229: 227: 222: 218: 217: 211: 208: 204: 199: 196: 192: 187: 184: 180: 179:English style 175: 168: 163: 154: 152: 148: 144: 139: 135: 132: 128: 124: 120: 117:, one of the 116: 112: 108: 101: 97: 92: 82: 79: 71: 61: 57: 51: 50: 44: 39: 30: 29: 26: 22: 1221:Yarn bombing 1074:Shannon Okey 1035:Knitters and 979: 779:Arm knitting 562:Needle gauge 459: 430: 403: 376: 358:. Retrieved 353: 344: 317: 278: 237: 235: 230: 214: 212: 206: 202: 200: 188: 171: 140: 136: 106: 105: 74: 68:January 2017 65: 46: 25: 1094:Meg Swansen 784:Basketweave 687:Continental 641:Coats Group 634:Yarn brands 572:Row counter 60:introducing 1236:Categories 1044:Sam Barsky 824:Casting on 814:Buttonhole 772:Techniques 738:Dip stitch 625:Variegated 258:References 219:(from the 43:references 1267:Fair Isle 1037:designers 980:Fair Isle 934:Thrumming 909:Short row 844:Faggoting 763:Yarn over 702:Norwegian 238:Fair Isle 157:Technique 115:Fair Isle 107:Fair Isle 1186:Blocking 985:Intarsia 963:Patterns 864:Grafting 839:Entrelac 748:Increase 733:Decrease 716:Stitches 682:Combined 677:Circular 538:Knitting 480:43555235 449:32845724 422:18788969 395:34590877 336:60047818 316:(1990). 277:(1981). 246:See also 221:Scottish 210:colour. 203:stranded 191:circular 143:intarsia 111:knitting 1216:Selvage 1196:History 1191:Dye lot 1174:Related 1140:Ravelry 954:Welting 949:Weaving 904:Ribbing 874:Hemming 692:English 620:Novelty 610:Eyelash 297:8064374 131:jumpers 125:(later 98:of the 56:improve 1135:Knitty 1125:Knitta 975:Argyle 944:Twined 854:Gather 819:Cables 804:Bobble 728:Garter 670:Styles 605:Bouclé 598:styles 478:  468:  447:  437:  420:  410:  393:  383:  334:  324:  295:  285:  252:Gumbys 216:Steeks 45:, but 924:Steek 899:Pleat 859:Gauge 360:9 May 207:woven 970:Aran 939:Tuck 884:Lace 707:Warp 697:Flat 615:Lopi 596:Yarn 476:OCLC 466:ISBN 445:OCLC 435:ISBN 418:OCLC 408:ISBN 391:OCLC 381:ISBN 362:2024 332:OCLC 322:ISBN 293:OCLC 283:ISBN 226:cuff 181:and 174:purl 193:or 153:). 1238:: 474:. 443:. 416:. 389:. 352:. 330:. 305:^ 291:. 266:^ 145:, 530:e 523:t 516:v 482:. 451:. 424:. 397:. 364:. 338:. 299:. 81:) 75:( 70:) 66:( 52:. 23:.

Index

Faroe Island § Clothing
references
inline citations
improve
introducing
Learn how and when to remove this message

John St Helier Lander
Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII)
knitting
Fair Isle
Shetland Islands
Prince of Wales
King Edward VIII
jumpers
intarsia
slip-stitch colour
mosaic knitting

Shetland Museum
purl
English style
Continental style
circular
double pointed
Steeks
Scottish
cuff
Gumbys

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.