My Newest Project

I really enjoyed this project. It came from the book: Scarf Style 2 by - Ann Budd and the cowl is called Cross Timbers. I love the technique Fair Isle but those yarn ends is what I hate when you are working with several color changes. I've mentioned my dislike for this piece of the process in past posts. But this one was great because I am only using two colors throughout the project so there is no changing colors at the end of the rounds. Looking at the design come to life as you do the rounds gets me so excited to want to finish it. I love to see the wrong side of a Fair Isle project because it just looks interesting, Some upholstery fabric have that look where you can clearly see the design from the wrong side.

Let me give you an overview of Fair Isle if you don't know. Fair Isle is a knitting technique. It is a technique that loves color but as intricate that it can look only two colors are used per row or round. So this shows something that looks complicated doesn't always mean it is. Yet there is a certain skill level needed to even do the simplest Fair Isle, as does all other techniques. With Fair Isle you usually will be working with a chart. So you need to know the rules of reading a chart for either knitting straight or working in the round depending on the pattern you choose. Also, you will be working with two yarns simultaneously which you need to get use to balancing as you change one to the other. Changing from one color to the next when another color is introduced is essential. And working with bobbins which are holders for a small amount of yarn because you will not be able to work with full skeins of yarn and be able to control tangling. For this project, I worked with full skeins of yarn because I only had two colors. But if you are working with multiple of colors and a few lines for each two colors it works so much better using bobbins and less tangling.

I hope no matter what your skill level is that you will put this technique on your list to try. There are lots of patterns out there and you could start with a small project like a little purse before you go onto something large or a hat that just has a little bit of Fair Isle to give it more character.

The other thing is that I treated myself to Addi circular needles for this project. When I took them out of the package I just said WOW! The coil was flat - no twist. I love them. With other circular needles I had to put the coil in hot water to help relax it before i start so that they don't twist. So this is a joy for sure. And working with them they are so smooth like butter in my hands. I've heard people talk about Addi needles but never purchased any. Well, I can say that I really enjoyed working with them and will be purchasing another one. That gives me an excuse to pick out a new project just to use another size circular. What can I say. Those patterns call out to me constantly.

Enjoy your projects.