Knitting Level 5: Two-Handed Fair Isle

In this class you will be introduced to Fair Isle knitting (two-colour stranded colourwork). The instructor will cover basic techniques and support you in working through a simple colourwork cowl. Students are required to purchase their own yarn, needles, pattern, and notions. Students get a 15% discount on materials purchased for their class. Run time 4 sessions x 1.5 hours. Project Beginner Colourwork Cowl by Beehive Wool Shop. See our sample on Ravelry. Skills Taught Knitting with both hands: pickers learn to throw, throwers learn to pick Colour theory and colour dominance Carrying floats Following charts Ladder Back Jacquard Skills Required Cast on and bind off Knit and purl Working in the round Maintaining even tension Following a pattern Picking up a dropped stitch Materials Provided Beginner Colourwork Cowl pattern by Beehive Wool Shop. Resource Sheet Supplies to Purchase 2 colours of worsted weight yarn for practice 4 mm (US 6) or an appropriate size needle for swatching Worsted weight yarn. Approx. 200 m in main colour and 100 m in contrast colour. Browse suggested yarns. 4 mm (US 6), 60 cm (24”) circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge in colourwork) 3.5 mm (US 4), 60 cm (24”) circular needle (or 0.5mm smaller than colourwork needle) for ribbing. Tapestry needle 12 stitch markers, one should be unique Measuring tape Lesson Plan Class 1 Learn how to hold yarn in opposite hand Learn how hold one colour in each hand Practice 2x2 colourwork Discuss colour dominance – which colour to hold in which hand Learn how to make a swatch in the round Homework: Swatch to meet gauge. Start cowl and complete ribbing. Class 2 Start colourwork section How to catch floats Tips for keeping tension even and floats loose Homework: Work on project Class 3 Review skills taught in previous sessions Continue project Introduce Ladder Back Jacquard technique Homework: Work on project Class 4 Review Ladder Back Jacquard technique Finish project Review blocking and how to even out stitches