Suggestions....

-
For first time fair isle (stranded) projects - hats are great - circular knitting going round and round.....so here are a few suggestions.......


Freebies:


Fair Isle Tam in Patons Classic Wool - from the Patons site


Winter Forest Tam - knit in traditional Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift - gorgeous traditional tam - a Ravelry download


Béret généreux by Isabelle Allard - a tam in worsted weight - a Ravelry download


Nordic Sweetheart Hat
If you want a lot of practice- try my Nordic Sweetheart Hat - done in Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift - or fingering weight - this is a double layered hat - that when folded up provide 4 layers over your ears - a traditional Norwegian design.

If you are on Ravelry (why not, it's free) you can do a pattern search for a hat, stranded, knit in the round and look at all of the choices -- I would suggest something with small repeat patterns - not something that has bigger motifs (like skulls or other alien beings LOL!) because you want to learn how to strand with this exercise.  

Traditional Fair Isle uses motifs that use small groups of stitches - so that you never have a long stretch of one shade being used - so you don't have to catch floats.  For this exercise - pick a pattern that you can just knit....no long floats.  (We'll cover catching in yarns on long floats later - for now - more practice!)



There are lots of good patterns to buy too.........so I'm going to knit .....


Caller Herrin by Kate Davies - available thru Ravelry or at Kate's blog Needled.  A friend (Hi Candice) knit this and thought it was a bit small....so I'll be checking it out and maybe making some amendments to the original pattern as I go.

Caller Herrin is knit with Alice Starmore's Hebridean Yarn - which I have right here ready to go - and I'll just have to wind some yarn tonight!   It's great to finally get around to knitting one of those kits that I made up with my pdf's earlier this year.  (OOPS, I have one little project to finish up tonight - and if I wind the yarn I'll be ready to go tomorrow.)




Pick a pattern - join me in knitting a stranded hat.


Comments

  1. Candice5 July 2011 at 08:04

    Thanks for the freebie suggestions on Ravelry. I'm going to them as soon as I remind you of the free cowl pattern on Ravelry called Inspira. It is a very simple stranded pattern suitable for every level. Beginning knitters will be able to handle the standing and experienced knitters can experiment with the colours.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Got something to add? I love it when you join the conversation!

Popular posts from this blog

Fine Art Aran Giveaway Update!

-
Image
There have been some good guesses as to what design I will knit out of the ... "Simple Shapes Fine Art Aran"   Durkar seems to be the clear winner in your guesses....but I am NOT knitting Durkar....hmmm, maybe I should be :) GIVEAWAY UPDATE! Since nobody has picked the design I am knitting.....I am going to change it up! This is my blog....so I can do that :) So now, tell me what design you'd like to make from the " Simple Shapes Fine Art Aran " booklet....click through on the link above and go to the Rowan web site...have a look!  Then leave a comment below with your favourite design.....for a chance to win my extra skeins of Fine Art Aran! Everyone who has already commented on my original post is entered in the draw for my extra skeins of and yes, you CAN enter again!  I might have 4 (or even 5!) extra skeins....so this is a great opportunity to "win" this yarn! Anyone who also guesses what I'm knitting will get an ext...
Read more

Bead Whimsey!

-
Image
Rainshadow Hanging Garden Stole sample beaded bracelets for the workshop! examples of how colour and beads work together! Rolling Thunder Gauntlets Fluency Gloves Dryad, by Sivia Harding for Twist Collective, Winter 2009 a personal favourite right now :) Lumen, by Sivia Harding for Brooklyn Tweed's Wool People 4! Bead Whimsey with Sivia Harding That was the name of the class that I took at the Toronto Knitters Frolic.  I have attended many workshops in my time, so it takes a special workshop to catch my attention. Do you know her? I have to admit, I wasn't aware of Sivia's work until it was announced that she was the special guest for the Frolic. When I did some research on line, I was intrigued by her beaded knits and signed up right away! "Bead Whimsey" did not disappoint! Sivia brought so many examples of her beaded knits. We talked about the different beads available out in the bead wor...
Read more

Win a skein of Rowan Fine Art Aran!

-
Image
AND THE WINNER IS...... SARA HANSON! I've just sent a message to Sara. Thank you everyone who entered this draw, and all of you who visit LifeLackaDaisiCal... I really appreciate it! Anne **********************************   I AM ENJOYING READING ALL OF THE COMMENTS... KEEP THEM COMING...EVERY COMMENT WILL BE ENTERED!   PLEASE, PROVIDE A RAVELRY NAME OR E-MAIL....   The "Zen" Competition I loved working with +RowanYarns  Fine Art Aran....and I want you to have a chance to try it! Fandango (550) Want to WIN  a skein of  +RowanYarns  Fine Art Aran? All you have to do is.... tell me..... WHAT DO MY HUBBY  AND SHERLOCK (as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) SHARE IN COMMON? Need a reminder?  Have another look at my "The Zen in Fine Art" blog post... 5.asset.soup.io To enter, leave your answer in a comment  on this blog post.  For a bonus ...
Read more