Fairisle

The instructions are for circular knitting where every round is knitted. But this works just as well for flat knitting with knitted and purl rows.

The two-loop join

The two-loop join used for the new background colour

Use this join every time you need to change the colour of the main colour for Fair Isle.

1. Work to the point where the new colour starts and pierce the yarn with marker. 2-3. Cut or tear the yarn 5 cm (2”) away from the marker and unravel a few stitches to have enough yarn length to make the loop [10-20 cm (6-8”)]. To connect the next yarn, interweave the yarn ends. 3. Make the loops (see main instructions). 4. Continue knitting. 5. The join of the loops is between the stitches or on the left “leg” of the last stitch of the round. 6. After one round the join of the loops will shifted slightly to the left.

The sliding loop join

The sliding loop join used for the new contrast colour

1. To start working with additional yarn, make a loop (see main instructions) by passing the new yarn end under the main colour yarn. The loop easily slides on the main colour yarn. 2. Move it to 2 stitches before it is first used and continue to knit with the main colour yarn. 3. Include the new colour yarn in accordance with the colour scheme.
4. To finish, work to the stitch where the loop end of the yarn should be anchored (ideally this should be at a stitch of the same colour) and pierce the yarn with a removable marker to mark the end of this colour. 5. Cut or tear the yarn 5 cm (2”) after the marker and unravel a few stitches to have enough yarn length to make the loop [10-20 cm (6-8”)]. Make a loop (see main instructions) by passing the new yarn end under the main colour yarn. The loop easily slides on the working yarn. 6. Reknit unravelled stitches. To secure the loop, slide it and slip it onto the left needle before working the anchoring stitch. 7. Knit the stitch and the loop together.

The two-loop join (again)

At the end of this small Fair Isle sample, the main colour is changed again. Use the two-loop join as above.

1. Work to the point where the new colour should be started. 2. Pierce the yarn with a marker, cut or tear the yarn, unravel a few stitches, make connected loops (see above). 3. A right side view showing the beginning of the round, 4 circles indicate the joins. 4. A wrong side view showing the beginning of the round, 4 circles indicate the joins.

The Fair Isle sample was made with:

Super Fine Merino Aran by Rowan, 93 yards (85 metres) / 50 g, 100% Merino wool