My Fair Isle plans are progressing slowly. I have read another history/technique/pattern book that I thought I would write a little about.
The book is Ann Feitelson’s The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color & Patterns. I read and enjoyed the historical information although much of it was a repeat. The techniques described were helpful, particularly the part about how maintaining the positions (either over or under) of the pattern and background yarn will help the work look even. After reading the options on holding two colors in one or two hands I am contemplating trying two colors in one hand and one in each to see which is better for me. Everything I have read so far recommends using both hands, but I have no idea what will work better for me. Does anyone have suggestions?
The most interesting chapter was the one regarding color. The author comes from an art background so she uses color theory to help decide which colors to choose. I found the chapter informative and agreed with a lot of the ideas, but I disagreed a little too and will probably continue to use the colors the way I like (who me? stubborn?) Until I knit a swatch using the actual yarn it is hard to say what I will like best.
I am still very excited about project and hope to share a couple more pattern ideas soon.
loloen
Dee Anna
I am also trying to figure out two-color knitting. I’ve always been an English knitter (yarn in the right hand), but I am learning to carry one color in each hand, and it’s not as awkward as I had feared.I think it’s definitely the best way to manage two colors. Give it a try.
I have NO advice to give on colors. I haven’t done much fair isle myself, mostly because the designs don’t appeal to me as something I might actually WEAR. However, I highly recommend Meg Swansen’s video on the Swedish dubbelmossa to learn about 2-color knitting. (I borrowed it from the public library.) She shows how she carries 2 strands of yarn in her left hand (one is looped around her index finger, one looped around her middle finger), plus some truly ingenious ways of avoiding the jog at the beginning of the round.
I knit with the yarn in my right hand also. I had been doing a little knitting with the yarn in my left. I think I really need to get two colors and try it.
I have taken a huge leap of faith in that I will actually wear the fair isle sweater I knit, because I am a solid color kinda girl.