Have you always wanted to try colorwork? Does stranded knitting intimidate you? Have you started on your Fair Isle journey but are unsure how to grow your skills? Choose from either beginner, intermediate, or advanced patterns to take the next step with your colorwork skills. This class will discuss setting yourself up for success in a fair isle pattern, reading a chart, picking colors for a successful project, and adapting your knitting to accommodate gauge shifts.

For all classes, we recommend printing a hard copy of your pattern and a roll of highlighter tape if you are able.

Three 2-hour sessions 

Pick your project based on your skill level: 

Beginner: Easy Peasy Hat 

Skills needed: 

• Knitting and purling
• Prior experience knitting in the round (note: this project is not intended to be a first hat)
• Increasing and decreasing

Materials:  

• Multicolour Fair Isle hat:
  • Main colour (MC): 109 yards DK weight yarn Background colours (BC): 9 mini skeins (15 m/16 yards each) of the same weight yarn as above 

• Extra yarn for the pompom.

• Two-colour hat:
  • Main colour (MC): 109 yards of DK weight yarn
  • Background colour (BC): 109 yards of DK weight yarn in contrast colour.
  • Extra yarn for the pompom

Note: pompom will not be made in class

•  16” US #3 for ribbing, 16” US #6 for body, and US 6 DPN for crown
• Stitch Markers
• Highlighter Tape
• Copy of Easy Peasy Hat pattern by Karolina Adamczyk

Homework: Cast on hat to smaller needles, finish ribbing and be ready to start the chart design

Intermediate: Astrid Hat or Lindgren Mittens

Skills needed:

• Knitting in the round
• Increasing & Decreasing 
• Basic Fair Isle 

Materials for Hat:

• Yarn:
  Main colour: approx 150 yds DK weight yarn
  Contrast colour 1: approx 80 yds DK weight yarn
  Contrast colour 2: approx 80 yds DK weight yarn
• 16” US 3 - 3.25 mm for brim
• 16” US 6 - 4.0 mm for body
• US 6 - 4.0 mm DPNs or needles suitable for the crown 
• Stitch markers
• Highlighter Tape
• A copy of the Astrid Hat by Karie Westermann

Materials for Mittens: 

• Yarn:
  Main colour: approx 150 yds DK weight yarn
  Contrast colour 1: approx 80 yds DK weight yarn
  Contrast colour 2: approx 80 yds DK weight yarn
• US 3 - 3.25 mm DPNs or needles suitable for small circumference in the round knitting for ribbing
• US 6 - 4.0 mm DPNs or needles suitable for small circumference in the round knitting
• Stitch markers
• Highlighter Tape
• A copy of the Lindgren Mittens by Karie Westermann

Preparation:

Cast on either your hat or mittens, and knit the ribbing - be ready to start the chart design in class. 

Advanced: Dissent Pullover

Skills needed:

• Prior sweater making experience - this pattern is not suitable for a first sweater 
• Knitting in the round
• Increases, decreases, knit, purl
• Basic Fair Isle Skills 

Materials:

• Both Cropped & Standard Versions
• Contrast Colour:
  200(215, 235, 250) (270, 290, 310, 325) (350, 370, 395) yd/
  183(197, 215, 229) (247, 265, 283, 297) (320, 338, 361) m fingering weight yarn
• Main Color
• Cropped Version
  1060(1160, 1260, 1355) (1455, 1560, 1695, 1780) (1905, 2030, 2160) yd/969(1061, 1152, 1239) (1330, 1426, 1550, 1628) (1742, 1856, 1975) m fingering weight yarn
• Standard Length Version
  1120(1220, 1325, 1425) (1525, 1630, 1770, 1850) (1975, 2100, 2225) yd/1024(1116, 1212, 1303) (1394, 1490, 1618, 1692) (1806, 1920, 2035) m fingering weight yarn
• Needles
• Ribbing US 2 - 2.75 mm in both large and small circumference for body and sleeves, see pattern for details 
• Body US 4 - 3.5 mm in both large and small circumference for body and sleeves, see pattern for  details
• Stitch markers 
• Tapestry needle
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• Highlighter Tape
• A copy of the Dissent Pullover by Andrea Rangel 

Preparation:

Knit a gauge swatch in both stockingette stitch and in the fair isle pattern. Please measure your swatches both prior to and after washing and blocking. If you do not get gauge, change your needle size accordingly. If you have questions about gauge please email the instructor prior to class.

Advanced: Feel the Bern 

Skills needed:

• Prior sweater making experience - this pattern is not suitable for a first sweater 
• Knitting in the round
• Increases, decreases, knit, purl
• Basic Fair Isle Skills 

Materials:

• 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) {7, 8, 9, 10) Finished circumference at bust: 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) {56, 60, 64, 68}” [81.5 (91.5, 101.5, 112, 122, 132) {142, 152.5, 162.5, 172.5) cm] 
• Worsted Weight Yarn*
• C1: 184 (207, 230, 253, 276, 299) {322, 345, 368, 391} yards
  169 (190, 211, 232, 253, 274) {295, 316, 337, 358} meters
  C2: 274 (308, 343, 377, 412, 446) {480, 514, 548, 584} yards
  251 (282, 314, 345, 377, 408) {439, 470, 501, 534} meters
  C3: 63 (71, 78, 86, 94, 102) {110, 117, 125, 133} yards
  58 (65, 72, 79, 86, 94) {101, 107, 115, 122} meters
  C4: 70 (79, 87, 96, 105, 114) {122, 131, 140, 148} yards
  64 (73, 80, 88, 96, 105) {112, 120, 128, 136} meters

Note: pattern is written for a cropped length and short sleeves. You will need additional skeins of yarn if you wish to lengthen the sweater.

• US 7 - 4.5 mm in both large and small circumference for body and sleeves, see pattern for details 
• US 5 - 3.75 mm in both large and small circumference for ribbing on body and sleeves, see pattern for details 
• Stitch markers
• Highlighter Tape
• Waste yarn or stitch holders
• A copy of the Feel the Bern pattern by Caitlin Hunter

Preparation:

Knit a gauge swatch in both stockinette stitch and in the fair isle pattern. Please measure your swatches both prior to and after washing and blocking. If you do not get gauge, change your needle size accordingly. If you have questions about gauge please email the instructor prior to class.