Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Fair Isle

I want to learn Fair Isle knitting so I can make stuff with fishies:





And damask:


I normally knit Continental, but the video on knittinghelp.com says the easiest way to do Fair Isle knitting is to combine Continental and English knitting. So I've been learning English, and in my search on youtube for English knitting I found this:


I always thought Continental seemed faster and more natural, but after trying English and watching this video, I'm pretty sure I'm wrong. Anyone out there have a preference?

5 comments:

  1. IMAGINE IF WE COULD KNIT THAT FAST?
    Man the possibilities would be endless.
    You can do it man.
    I can't wait to see the fishies.

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  2. Wow! Maybe I should learn English too! Only I know I'm too lazy. But I would like to fix the imbalance between my knit and purl, a new method would be a good time.

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  3. I'm not sure what you call my method, but I've been told by conventional knitters that I do it "wrong." A knitting teacher told me last year, though, that I knit in a conventional European style. Maybe it's English. I'm not sure. It's fast, though, but it does mess up some pattern stitches, and I need to be aware that my stitches wrap differently.

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  4. When I was looking for a better way to purl a while back, I ran across some ways that were Asian or European or something that were awesome. But I didn't think I would ever be able to figure out how do do all the weird increases and stuff that patterns call for if I didn't use a popular method. But maybe once I get a better understanding of how it all works I could switch over. I'd like to see your style, Kathleen. We should knit together some time.

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  5. English all the way! I can't do continental with all that yarn flying everywhere. Good luck learning English.

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