Fair Isle Knitting: 22 Traditional Patterns from Where the Atlantic Meets the North Sea

by Carina Olsson

Overview

Bringing together the stunning complexity of traditional Shetland patterning and the raw natural beauty of Nordic landscapes.

The centuries-old art of Fair Isle knitting evolved on the Shetland Islands, inspired by colors and forms found in nature, for a distinctive look that’s instantly recognizable. Now, Carina Olsson, one of Sweden’s leading experts in Fair Isle knitting, is here to guide you through this technique’s fundamental principles: how to choose and combine colors in vivid, organic palettes, with over 20 sample patterns for sweaters, mittens, hats, and gloves, ready to adapt to your favorite motifs—plus inspiration and instructions for designing a Fair Isle sweater of your own.

Inside, you’ll find:

• 22 designs for garments and accessories, with pattern panels of varying size and complexity
• A pattern library of traditional motifs ranging from edgings for cuffs and necklines to classic Nordic stars and eight-petaled roses
• Technical tips and easy-to-follow explanations to help you decide how to arrange Fair Isle patterns, understand what ribbing and texture will do to the overall look of a design, and use colors and contrast to their maximum effect

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646011933
Publisher:	Trafalgar Square
Publication date:	05/16/2023
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	995,703
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Carina Olsson is a textile artist and course leader. She is one of Sweden's leading experts in Fair Isle knitting. Carina has a unique ability to recreate and capture the colors of nature in her Fair Isle knitting garments and we actually have the pandemic to thank for that. For months Carina sat and knitted swatches with inspiration from among other things, nature on Gotland.

Editorial Reviews

This excellent work is chock-full of helpful and fascinating facts about a popular knitting technique. Ideal for intermediate and advanced knitters, and an essential purchase for crafts collections.”—Library Journal

From the Publisher

★ 05/01/2023

Leading textile artist Olsson gives a thorough, detailed explanation of the background and traditions of this specific type of stranded knitting technique, named after a northern part of Scotland that's part of the Shetland Islands. The book includes the craft's geographic and historic origins, along with intriguing information about the sheep, wool, and production of the yarn used in the knitting. Readers are treated to 22 patterns—best for advanced knitters—for a variety of different garment types. Visually lush, this book has plenty of illustrations, charts, and photographs of the Shetland Islands that serve as color and pattern inspirations and a launchpad for tutorials on color mixing and yarn selection. There's also a section that spotlights additional resources, such as traditional Fair Isle motifs. VERDICT This excellent work is chock-full of helpful and fascinating facts about a popular knitting technique. Ideal for intermediate and advanced knitters, and an essential purchase for crafts collections.—Marjorie Mann

Library Journal