The general shape of the pattern is modeled upon Lynne Frederickson Rago's Beginner’s Fair Isle Baby Hat!, but the Fair Isle part my own creation. After knitting Rago’s pattern, I realized how simple Fair Isle is and was so excited about learning how to do it that I had to write my own pattern. It’s still simple, but a step toward more complex colorwork.
Materials
US size 6 double pointed needles (or size to get gauge)
Partial skeins of 3 contrasting colors of worsted weight yarn
US size 6 double pointed needles (or size to get gauge)
Partial skeins of 3 contrasting colors of worsted weight yarn
Gauge
20 inches/4 inches
Instructions
With MC, CO 80 stitches, join without twisting.
Knit for 3 inches.
20 inches/4 inches
Instructions
With MC, CO 80 stitches, join without twisting.
Knit for 3 inches.
Fair Isle Pattern
1. [K1 CC1, K4 MC] around
2. [K2 CC1, K2 MC, K1 CC1] around
3. [K1 CC2, K4 CC1] around
4. [K1 CC1, K1 CC2, K2 CC1, K1 CC2] around
5. [K2 CC1, K2 CC2, K1 CC1] around
6. [K2 CC1, K2 CC2, K1 CC1] around
7. [K1 CC1, K1 CC2, K2 CC1, K1 CC2] around
8. [K1 CC2, K4 CC1] around
9. [K2 CC1, K2 MC, K1 CC1] around
10. [K1 CC1, K4 MC] around
Knit one round in MC, then begin to decrease.
1. [K8, K2 tog] around
2 and all even rounds: K around
3. [K7, K2 tog] around
5. [K6, K2 tog] around
7. [K5, K2 tog] around
9. [K4, K2 tog] around
11. [K3, K2 tog] around
13. [K2, K2 tog] around
15. [K1, K2 tog] around
K around
K2 tog around
K around
K2 tog around—4 stitches left on needles
Slip all stitches to a single dpn and continue in I-cord about 1 inch
To finish I-cord:
K2 tog, K2 tog
K2 tog—1 stitch left
Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to weave in. Pass yarn through last stitch and pull tight.
Weave in all ends.
1. [K8, K2 tog] around
2 and all even rounds: K around
3. [K7, K2 tog] around
5. [K6, K2 tog] around
7. [K5, K2 tog] around
9. [K4, K2 tog] around
11. [K3, K2 tog] around
13. [K2, K2 tog] around
15. [K1, K2 tog] around
K around
K2 tog around
K around
K2 tog around—4 stitches left on needles
Slip all stitches to a single dpn and continue in I-cord about 1 inch
To finish I-cord:
K2 tog, K2 tog
K2 tog—1 stitch left
Cut yarn, leaving a long enough tail to weave in. Pass yarn through last stitch and pull tight.
Weave in all ends.