And very colourful. I think I’m addicted. I love love love fairisle and everything about this hat.
This was my first attempt at fairisle and I’m childishly excited about the result – the flowery motif, the shaping, the colours, everything is very pleasing. The pattern is well written and I found it zipped along nicely. I found it very satisfying to see the pattern emerge and develop. It was the same sense of satisfaction that you can get from lace knitting but for some reason I found it a more mysterious process so kept looking at it and beaming.
I am now queuing fairisle things like crazy on ravelry, turning out stash drawers at home to try and find good colour combinations for future projects and planning mittens, hats, and incorporating motifs into everything I knit. It is all about stranding.
I originally bought this yarn to make some squirrelly mitts but am pleased that I started with a larger project because it was a bit less fiddly. And really it isn’t as hard as I thought – I have been always very intimated by colourwork, but I sat with my mum one Sunday afternoon and practiced on a swatch with a range of books, instructions, tea and encouragement. I even discovered that although I think I’m very good at stranding while drinking sherry or wine with festive cheer, the end result suggests otherwise.
Pattern: Selbu Modern by Kate Gagnon
Yarn: Rowan Scottish Tweed 4-ply in Mallard and Thatch (I’m very fond of the names of the colourway) Needle Size: 2.75 and 3.00mm addi circulars.
Ravelled: here.
This is pretty damn fine for a first fair isle! I hated the idea of colourwork as I thought I would never wear it but, I was forced to learn at college last term and then I realised that I WOULD wear it, but only in accessories. It is a strangely fascinating activity doing stranded knitting, and I also have had my eye on this pattern. I must add it to my queue. Yours is lovely.
Posted by: CraftyCripple | 02/04/2009 at 03:52 PM
I love this, and it looks great with your colouring too!
Posted by: Sharon | 02/04/2009 at 07:06 PM
Cor! looks so good with your hair - colours like Poussin (painter, not chicken).
Posted by: Kate | 02/04/2009 at 08:24 PM
Having seen said beret in person I can confirm that it is magnificent. I am deeply happy to see you in such a fittingly turquoise and mustard Lara-esque garment and colour combination.
It is perfect and your stranding is so beautiful; no puckering anywhere! I am eager to learn from you The Way of the colour knitting...
...expect me to turn up sometime soon seeking tea, encouragement and a demonstration in your new stranding ways.
Posted by: Felix | 02/05/2009 at 12:03 AM
Having seen said beret in person I can confirm that it is magnificent. I am deeply happy to see you in such a fittingly turquoise and mustard Lara-esque garment and colour combination.
It is perfect and your stranding is so beautiful; no puckering anywhere! I am eager to learn from you The Way of the colour knitting...
...expect me to turn up sometime soon seeking tea, encouragement and a demonstration in your new stranding ways.
Posted by: Felix | 02/05/2009 at 12:05 AM
Sorry I appear to be repeating myself.
Posted by: Felix | 02/05/2009 at 12:05 AM
Yay! Beautiful hat! I love it so. I've got yarn ready for mine (also Scottish tweed 4 ply, but in different colours... obviously I now wish I'd chosen yours!) and now I'm desperate to get started. Unfortunately I'm on a strict 1 in, 1 out policy for my knitting at the moment - gah!!
The hat suits you beautifully and your colourwork is just immaculate - you must wear it often, and proudly!
Posted by: jane | 02/05/2009 at 08:08 AM
It's lovely!! Looks great with your beautiful hair, too.
I've been swatching for some Endpaper mitts, but my stitches aren't very consistent. I've been carrying one colour in either hand, and I think I throw more tightly than I scoop. Have you any tips?
Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
Posted by: Philippa | 02/08/2009 at 02:45 PM