Foreword 8
About this book 9
Lesson 1: Yarns 10
Lesson 2: Choosing colors 12
Lesson 3: Knitting kit 14
Knitting basics 16
Lesson 4: Casting on 18
Lesson 5: Knit and purl 20
Lesson 6: Reversible fabrics 22
Lesson 7: Binding off 23
Lesson 8: Increasing 24
Lesson 9: Decreasing 25
Lesson 10: Gauge 26
Lesson 11: Circular knitting 28
Lesson 12: Holding the yarns 30
Lesson 13: Stranding 31
Lesson 14: Weaving 32
Lesson 15: Charts 34
Fair Isle patterns 36
Stitch guide 38
Lesson 16: Corrugated ribbing 40
Lesson 17: Seeding 44
- Project 1: Child’s cardigan 52, Project 2: Child’s hoodie 54
Lesson 18: Fair Isle bands 56
- Project 3: Fingerless mitts 80, Project 4: Hot water bottle cover
82, Project 5: Beret 84, Project 6: Legwarmers 86, Project 7: Hat
and scarf 88
Lesson 19: Fair Isle patterns 90
- Project 8: Mug cozies and pot holders 116, Project 9: Bag 118,
Project 10: Throw 120, Project 11: Cushions 124
Finishing Techniques 126
Lesson 20: Blocking and pressing 128
Lesson 21: Perfect seams 130
Lesson 22: Adding beads 132
Lesson 23: Tassels 134
Lesson 24: Pompoms 135
Lesson 25: Twisted cord 136
Lesson 26: Fringing 137
Lesson 27: Adding buttons 138
Lesson 28: Aftercare essentials 140
Abbreviations 141
Index 142
Credits 144
Lynne Watterson has been knitting and designing for as long as she can remember. At the age of five she designed her first outfit - a sweater, hat and scarf ensemble for her Sindy doll. With knitting in her blood, her grandfather was a machine knitter and her grandmother a patter checker for a knitting publication, it came as no surprise to her family when on leaving school she worked as a Knitting sub-editor at IPC Magazines, serving a five year apprenticeship. Her apprenticeship was cut short when she was offered the position of Knitting Editor on a publication for Marshall Cavendish Partworks. Lynne has edited many craft magazines in her career including Fashioncraft, Hand Knitting News, Machine Knitting News, Cross Stitch, Needlecraft Magic, Cross Stitch Magic, as well as contributing to many others including Prima and Ideal Home. Lynne lives and works in the Cotswolds.
Jan 13 This is the second in the Very Easy Guides. The introduction
includes all about yarn, colour and materials to get you started.
The knitting basics section is illustrated with excellent line
drawings showing basic techniques and stitches. The stitch guide
takes up the majority of the pages. There is a two page colour
overview of all the stitch patterns included. Each stitch is
described and illustrated in colour, there is also a small chart
showing the pattern for those who prefer to work from charts. The
book is set out as lessons, 28 of them in all. The final lessons
are on beading, finishing and more. There are projects to use your
new found skills every step of the way. I particularly liked the
fingerless gloves and the beret. I really liked this book, but
didn't feel it stretched the subject and that a lot of the patterns
were too basic. However, it is aimed at the beginner, so I think it
hits the target well. It has a good, constructive approach.
*Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts*
Issue 55 If you've yet to try your hand at stranded colourwork, or
if you'd just like a decent stitch guide to classic Fair Isle
motifs to help with your own designing, this book is a great buy.
Lynne Watterson covers all the basics in a series of lessons, from
holding the yarns, stranding and weaving, to the importance of
tension and how to read charts. A range of 11 simple patterns helps
you to practise each technique.
*Knitter, The*
Issue 25 Let Fair Isle expert Lynne Watterson help you master the
basics of this technique with her new book. Learn how to read
patterns, use circular needles and – most importantly – what to do
with all those fiddly yarn ends. We can't wait to get started on
tons of vintage-style looks.
*Mollie Makes Magazine*
Issue 60 This is an essential guide for those who may be a little
apprehensive about Fair Isle as Lynne Watterson provides easy
step-by-step instructions and stitch patterns to build your
confidence. The book is divided into ‘lessons’, from knowing your
knitting kit, yarns and knitting basics to the ever important
colour choices when knitting Fair Isle: increasing, circular
knitting, adding beads and weaving. A wide range of stitch patterns
are featured, including corrugated ribbing, seeding (which produces
beautiful heart shapes), Fair Isle bands and the Fair Isle patterns
themselves. The book also showcases 11 easy-to-follow projects so
you can test your newly-acquired skills. The patterns have nice
clear charts for easy reading and the book is must-have for the
next step in knitting.
*Yarnwise*
June 13 Former editor of MK news, Lynne has put together a clear
step-by-step guide to hand knitting Fair Isle. She includes masses
of useful charts and colourways to inspire every machine knitter.
Whilst ideal for electronic machines, many of the charts can be
transferred or adapted slightly for punchcard knitting.
*Machine Knitting Monthly*
Sept 13 If you admire the intricacy and timelessness of Fair Isle
knitting but think it looks too complicated, this book might just
be what you need. It promises to be very easy, with step-by-step
instructions, easy projects and all the information you require to
get started. But is this all true? I was impressed by the
user-friendly layout of this book. It even starts out by showing
you how to use it for the best results, and is divided helpfully
into three sections. These are the basics of knitting, the patterns
and finishing techniques. Each section is divided into a number of
lessons, twenty-eight in total taking you from things like
understanding yarns and ball bands and having the right kit to
aftercare. In between you can actually learn to knit—from casting
on to the basic stitches you need to learn in order to do this
style. If you are a quick learner you might be able to truly get
all you need to know to make the projects, but most people would
probably be better off learning the nuts and bolts of knitting
elsewhere and getting a few plain projects under their belts first.
There are some very clear diagrams in here, some of the best I have
seen, and a particularly informative and simple guide to working
out tension. The patterns themselves come with a handy guide to
what they all look like on two pages, and each pattern is easy to
follow and starts from the simplest, getting harder throughout the
book. The projects come after a set of related patterns and give
you a chance to practice what you have just learned while making
something attractive and useful. A child’s cardigan, hat and scarf
set, bag, throw, mug hugs and my favorite the hot water bottle
cover are some examples. Finally you can learn how to block, press
and look after your new items as well as add beads and buttons or
make simple trims like pompoms and tassels. I don’t think I have
seen many knitting books that explain what you actually need to
know better than this one, very highly recommended.
*Myshelf.com*
Nov 13 Fair Isle Knitting, or knitting with two colours at once, is
generally considered to be a more advanced knitting technique. It
is seen to be tricky because of learning the coordination of
controlling both yarns at once, weaving in long floats, and the
artistic use of colour and pattern. But, like many things, it’s
easy once you know how. Unfortunately, this book does not have the
magic to teach a newish knitter how to do Fair Isle. It starts at a
basic level discussing yarns, how to cast on, tension swatches,
etc. There are only four pages, showing how to hold the yarns for
stranding, and weaving, specifically for Fair Isle. The majority of
the book contains stitch guides with patterns for traditional and
non-traditional two colour patterns. Most are quite simple, with a
few more complex ones using three colours over the pattern. Also
included are some simple, quick to make, projects for accessories
and children’s clothing. Unfortunately, these are mainly knitted in
the flat. Personally, I find purling in two colours more fiddly
than knitting, and this difficulty is not covered in the book.
Assuming that you have knitted in the round before, Fair Isle can
be much easier as a knit stitch. If you are a new knitter who wants
to learn Fair Isle, I would recommend learning by watching someone
(in a class or video). I don’t think this book gives you enough
help to master the coordination and technique.
*Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers*
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