Why “fearless”? In the past, knitters have considered Fair Isle knitting, or stranded knitting as it’s also known, to be an advanced style that involves the frightening task of taking scissors to your hard-won work. As intimidating as this may seem, the cutting process, or steeking, is actually not something to worry about. In Fearless Fair Isle Knitting, best-selling knitwear designer Kathleen Taylor walks knitters of all levels through the technique. With Taylor’s simple patterns and large, easy-to-follow charts, the projects yield delightfully vibrant results. The 30 stunning designs, which represent Taylor’s updates on classic Fair Isle motifs, include sweaters, socks, dresses, vests, mittens, hats, and bags. With this book, Fair Isle knitting has become more accessible than ever — and serious knitters will agree… that’s a beautiful thing.
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About the Author
With over 30 years of knitwear design experience, Kathleen Taylor is the author of the best-selling The Big Book of Socks, I ♥ Felt, and Knit One, Felt Too and has published over 500 craft and needlework articles in such magazines as Spin-Off, Crafts ‘N Things, and Knitting World. She has designed many knitwear projects exclusively for the Knit Picks yarn company and has appeared on HGTV’s Smart Solutions. Check out her blog, Kathleen Taylor's DakotaDreams at http://kathleendakotadreams.blogspot.com/
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More About the Author
Kathleen Taylor is a writer, spinner, knitter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has written six Tory Bauer Mysteries, and five knitting books.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you love Fair Isle knitting like I do, this is a must-have book for your knitting library. It contains thirty patterns of sweaters, socks, and mittens. The first chapter is on Fair Isle basics such as steeks, wet blocking, weaving in the ends, changing to double pointed needles, charts, etc. The rest of the book contains beautiful patterns.
Some of my favorite patterns are The Children's Cardigan in lovely shades of pink and green for a girl in your life. It is for child size 2 through 6. The floppy hat in yellows and oranges is great for ear warming and for fashion, perfect for men and women. The Women's socks are lovely in rose and blue. Though I'm not sure I'd go to the trouble to knit Fair Isle socks, they are beautiful to look at. There are lots of cardigans, mittens, purses, hats, pullover sweaters and even a dress.
When I purchase a knitting book, I ask myself three questions:
Is the book a good resource?
Will I knit the patterns in the book?
Are the patterns clearly written?
The answer to all three questions is 'yes'.
The book is definitely for more advanced knitters but it is beautiful to look at and any knitter will appreciate this. It is reminiscent of Alice Starmore books. I highly recommend it for knitters who have a background already in Fair Isle and want to expand their abilities.
Some of my favorite patterns are The Children's Cardigan in lovely shades of pink and green for a girl in your life. It is for child size 2 through 6. The floppy hat in yellows and oranges is great for ear warming and for fashion, perfect for men and women. The Women's socks are lovely in rose and blue. Though I'm not sure I'd go to the trouble to knit Fair Isle socks, they are beautiful to look at. There are lots of cardigans, mittens, purses, hats, pullover sweaters and even a dress.
When I purchase a knitting book, I ask myself three questions:
Is the book a good resource?
Will I knit the patterns in the book?
Are the patterns clearly written?
The answer to all three questions is 'yes'.
The book is definitely for more advanced knitters but it is beautiful to look at and any knitter will appreciate this. It is reminiscent of Alice Starmore books. I highly recommend it for knitters who have a background already in Fair Isle and want to expand their abilities.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pattern Collection, Plus Intriguing Ideas for Simplifying Fair Isle Knitting
January 29, 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A collection of attractive Fair Isle designs that remind me of the best contemporary knitting designs from Norway, as seen in Norsk Strikkedesign: A Collection from Norway's Foremost Knitting Designers and Poetry in Stitches: Clothes You Can Knit (both available now only from third-party sellers). The talented Kathleen Taylor's approach to Fair Isle knitting is to use patterned bands with geometric or nature-inspired motifs, stacked harmoniously, to create the fabric for a variety of largely unisex Fair Isle garments.
The "Fair Isle Basics" chapter has a wonderful discussion of steek finishing techniques that is illustrated with photographs showing crocheted, hand-sewn, and machine-sewn steeks both before and after cutting. The chapter also discusses a couple of intriguing technical innovations: (1) knitting Fair Isle sleeves two-at-a-time and sewing them in (instead of picking up the sleeve stitches around the armholes in the traditional fashion); and (2) shaping curved necklines after the knitting is off the needles by folding back a facing.
Unfortunately, the "Fair Isle Basics" chapter seems inadequate for novice Fair Isle knitters. For example, the discussion of placement of yarn balls--one color on the chair arm and one color on the lap--doesn't really communicate the need to knit the yarn colors (and floats) with one color always above the other color. The advice for beginners to knit one color at a time, as the easiest Fair Isle method, fails to mention that the knitter must skip the stitches to be knit in the other color when knitting the first color, and says nothing about spreading the unknit stitches or otherwise controlling the tension along the "twice-knit" row. Also, the chapter doesn't really explain how steeks relate to the rest of the knitting (the fact that extra stitches are cast on at an opening, which will be cut open later).
There are a couple of chapters that I really liked for their technical presentation. "Geometric Dazzle" includes three designs that use the same chart with different colorways, and clearly illustrates how dramatically color choices can change the total look. "Stripes, Checks, and Curliques" explains how to use self-striping and gradual-color-changing yarns to knit from charts and get a Fair Isle look from only two yarns, so that most weaving in of ends is eliminated. The book cover design is a two-yarn design.
Be sure to check the "Look Inside This Book" feature, to see whether there is a pattern included that you would like to knit. My personal favorite, the "Nordic Snowflake Dress" with a Fair Isle yoke, is not shown, but its close relative, the man's "Nordic Snowflake Pullover", is included. Another favorite of mine, also not included in the preview, is the Christmas stocking with reindeer, tree, star, and Santa-hat motifs.
I rate this book at 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars, because of the author's excellent ideas for "fearless" (somewhat simplified) Fair Isle knitting. Although brand-new Fair Isle knitters probably will not be able to knit the designs in the book by relying solely on the "Fair Isle Basics" chapter, they can get the additional information they need from online videos, or from either of the classic Fair Isle reference books, Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting or Ann Feitelson's The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color & Patterns.
The "Fair Isle Basics" chapter has a wonderful discussion of steek finishing techniques that is illustrated with photographs showing crocheted, hand-sewn, and machine-sewn steeks both before and after cutting. The chapter also discusses a couple of intriguing technical innovations: (1) knitting Fair Isle sleeves two-at-a-time and sewing them in (instead of picking up the sleeve stitches around the armholes in the traditional fashion); and (2) shaping curved necklines after the knitting is off the needles by folding back a facing.
Unfortunately, the "Fair Isle Basics" chapter seems inadequate for novice Fair Isle knitters. For example, the discussion of placement of yarn balls--one color on the chair arm and one color on the lap--doesn't really communicate the need to knit the yarn colors (and floats) with one color always above the other color. The advice for beginners to knit one color at a time, as the easiest Fair Isle method, fails to mention that the knitter must skip the stitches to be knit in the other color when knitting the first color, and says nothing about spreading the unknit stitches or otherwise controlling the tension along the "twice-knit" row. Also, the chapter doesn't really explain how steeks relate to the rest of the knitting (the fact that extra stitches are cast on at an opening, which will be cut open later).
There are a couple of chapters that I really liked for their technical presentation. "Geometric Dazzle" includes three designs that use the same chart with different colorways, and clearly illustrates how dramatically color choices can change the total look. "Stripes, Checks, and Curliques" explains how to use self-striping and gradual-color-changing yarns to knit from charts and get a Fair Isle look from only two yarns, so that most weaving in of ends is eliminated. The book cover design is a two-yarn design.
Be sure to check the "Look Inside This Book" feature, to see whether there is a pattern included that you would like to knit. My personal favorite, the "Nordic Snowflake Dress" with a Fair Isle yoke, is not shown, but its close relative, the man's "Nordic Snowflake Pullover", is included. Another favorite of mine, also not included in the preview, is the Christmas stocking with reindeer, tree, star, and Santa-hat motifs.
I rate this book at 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars, because of the author's excellent ideas for "fearless" (somewhat simplified) Fair Isle knitting. Although brand-new Fair Isle knitters probably will not be able to knit the designs in the book by relying solely on the "Fair Isle Basics" chapter, they can get the additional information they need from online videos, or from either of the classic Fair Isle reference books, Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting or Ann Feitelson's The Art of Fair Isle Knitting: History, Technique, Color & Patterns.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By C. Bowman
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I own many books on Fair Isle and this one is my favorite so far. The designs are beautiful and some are perfect for a beginner and yet the experienced knitter such as myself will love this too. The projects are "Knit Picks.com" yarn friendly. She uses their Palette line for some of the projects and that yarn is VERY affordable. In fact, I just ordered two of their yarns for two of the gorgeous sweaters in this book~ I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fair isle knitting. It's a beauty!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book to add to your library
The book is good for beginning and experienced knitters. It also covers from the history of the country and origin of these patterns to the detailed patterns fallow to do own... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Calif reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Super Patterns
Great book of 30 items. Most are in fingering wool and a couple in worsted. Although with a bit of chart work most can be converted to worsted, less pattern repeats and naturally... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bodicia
5.0 out of 5 stars
For an intermediate knitter who wants to try Fair Isle but has been...
(Full disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Taunton Press.)
As the title suggests, this book is specifically about the stranded colorwork technique... Read more
As the title suggests, this book is specifically about the stranded colorwork technique... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Underground Crafter
5.0 out of 5 stars
exc
Fearless Fair Isle Knitting
30 Gorgeous Original Sweaters, Socks, Mittens, and More
Pub Date: February 15, 2011
Fearless Fair Isle Knitting
30 Gorgeous... Read more
30 Gorgeous Original Sweaters, Socks, Mittens, and More
Pub Date: February 15, 2011
Fearless Fair Isle Knitting
30 Gorgeous... Read more
Published 14 months ago by jbarr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Traditional and Non-Traditional Fair Isle Knitting
Fair Isle knitting is the stranded color knitting that produces color motifs with two colors per line or round of work. Traditional patterns have been beloved for a hundred years. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Anastasia McPherson
5.0 out of 5 stars
great book
I find she has packed a great deal of information and encouragement into this book. More of a formula than a concise pattern book but has good basic patterns in it. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Eve
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun ways to play with Fair Isle designs
Honestly, I'm not afraid of Fair Isle (as a place or a technique), but I know that many people are. It looks intimidating, after all, especially if you've never tried it... Read more
Published 23 months ago by D. Boyken
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice book
This is a very nice and complete book. There are many wonderful motifs. I like the color choices, patterns, and ideas. Great photos. Provides lots of ideas for other projects too. Read more
Published 24 months ago by reddog mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and approachable
Wow! What I love about this book is that the beautiful motifs are used on a variety of projects. If an entire garment seems intimidating, practice on a hat, gloves, socks or bag... Read more
Published on March 20, 2011 by Joyce Owens
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not your average Fair Isle knitting designs
The patterns in this book are a bit different than the standard, OXO or peerie designs you see in traditional fair isle. Read more
Published on March 13, 2011 by Joanna Daneman
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