Fair Isle Knitting and Design

Book excerpt: Traditional Fair Isle knitting and design skills were originally handed down from one Shetland generation to the next, with each new generation of knitters experimenting, adapting and extending the repertoire of patterns to develop the Fair Isle knitting we see today. Fair Isle knitting is fascinating - only two colours are used in any single row - yet the patterns and colours chosen combine to create something that is more than the sum of its parts. The distinctive combination of colours and patterns, ranging from the simple to the highly intricate, continues to inspire knitters worldwide. This beautifully illustrated book includes the development of Fair Isle knitting; a collection of Fair Isle patterns and motifs; exercises to develop a sense of colour and apply colour theory to Fair Isle knitting and a detailed step-by-step guide for the techniques used in Fair Isle knitting. Five original designs, with further ideas for their modification and development are included too as well as guidance on adapting and designing Fair Isle projects of your own.