The definitive book to learning Fair Isle knitting by expert knitter, teacher and founder of The Knit Knacks, Monica Russel, featuring 60 pattern swatches and beautiful, practical projects to test your new-found skills.
Fair Isle knitting has a timeless appeal, and is celebrated all over the world for its beautiful patterns and distinctive motifs. Using just two colours in each row you can create a myriad of different patterns that are deceptively easy to achieve. In this definitive guide, expert knitting designer and best-selling author Monica Russel teaches you the essential skills of this traditional colourwork technique and provides all the inspiration you need to create stunning Fair Isle patterns of your own.
The book includes a fascinating history of Fair Isle knitting, and takes a close look at the yarns, needles and other tools you need to get started in colourwork. There are step-by-step instructions on the key techniques for creating Fair Isle patterns, including choosing colours and using charts, all illustrated with step-by-step photographs and an abundance of colourful examples. A stunning collection of pattern swatches provides inspiration and instruction for over 60 borders, patterns and motifs, all accompanied by a written pattern, chart and examples in various colourways. To practice your new skills, there are 11 complete projects, ranging from a simple hat, a cushion and a bag through to a shawl, a sweater, socks, and a child's dress.
Knitty.com Starting with the very basics of Fair Isle knitting, history, supplies and techniques, this is a great book to ease a knitter new to Fair Isle knitting into the fold. The illustrations, charts and photos are large; it’s easy to see what’s going on when techniques are demonstrated, and to read charts without recopying. A knitter is lured into Fair Isle by starting with Fair Isle border motifs, before tackling all over motifs, and then Fair Isle animal motifs. Each motif has a short explanation, a full color chart and at least one color variation and a knitted swatch. There are 14 patterns evenly split between each style of motif. There are sweaters for adults and children, hats, pillows, throws, a shawl and a dress. I really appreciate that they are for not only a variety of levels and time commitments, from a pillow to a dress, but that Ms. Russell explores different weight yarns and non-traditional colors. There’s nothing too wild, but I’d happily knit a worsted weight project shot through with lime and orange.
Monica Russell’s tone is light and friendly, encouraging knitters to try a little, Fair Isle, to mix motifs and boarders how they want to and just to enjoy the process and creativity of Fair Isle knitting. - JM Jan 2020
Monica Russel is a bestselling Search Press author with over 75,000 books sold throughout the world. She runs a knitting business designing all her own patterns and selling her knitting kits, which use only natural fibres, through her website www.theknitknacks.co.uk. She attends many craft and knitting fairs and has had numerous patterns featured in knitting magazines and books.
The definitive book to learning Fair Isle knitting by expert knitter, teacher and founder of The Knit Knacks, Monica Russel, featuring 60 pattern swatches and beautiful, practical projects to test your new-found skills.
Fair Isle knitting has a timeless appeal, and is celebrated all over the world for its beautiful patterns and distinctive motifs. Using just two colours in each row you can create a myriad of different patterns that are deceptively easy to achieve. In this definitive guide, expert knitting designer and best-selling author Monica Russel teaches you the essential skills of this traditional colourwork technique and provides all the inspiration you need to create stunning Fair Isle patterns of your own.
The book includes a fascinating history of Fair Isle knitting, and takes a close look at the yarns, needles and other tools you need to get started in colourwork. There are step-by-step instructions on the key techniques for creating Fair Isle patterns, including choosing colours and using charts, all illustrated with step-by-step photographs and an abundance of colourful examples. A stunning collection of pattern swatches provides inspiration and instruction for over 60 borders, patterns and motifs, all accompanied by a written pattern, chart and examples in various colourways. To practice your new skills, there are 11 complete projects, ranging from a simple hat, a cushion and a bag through to a shawl, a sweater, socks, and a child's dress.
Reviews
Knitty.com Starting with the very basics of Fair Isle knitting, history, supplies and techniques, this is a great book to ease a knitter new to Fair Isle knitting into the fold. The illustrations, charts and photos are large; it’s easy to see what’s going on when techniques are demonstrated, and to read charts without recopying. A knitter is lured into Fair Isle by starting with Fair Isle border motifs, before tackling all over motifs, and then Fair Isle animal motifs. Each motif has a short explanation, a full color chart and at least one color variation and a knitted swatch. There are 14 patterns evenly split between each style of motif. There are sweaters for adults and children, hats, pillows, throws, a shawl and a dress. I really appreciate that they are for not only a variety of levels and time commitments, from a pillow to a dress, but that Ms. Russell explores different weight yarns and non-traditional colors. There’s nothing too wild, but I’d happily knit a worsted weight project shot through with lime and orange.
Monica Russell’s tone is light and friendly, encouraging knitters to try a little, Fair Isle, to mix motifs and boarders how they want to and just to enjoy the process and creativity of Fair Isle knitting. - JM Jan 2020
Author
Monica Russel is a bestselling Search Press author with over 75,000 books sold throughout the world. She runs a knitting business designing all her own patterns and selling her knitting kits, which use only natural fibres, through her website www.theknitknacks.co.uk. She attends many craft and knitting fairs and has had numerous patterns featured in knitting magazines and books.
