I’m proud to share this project because it marks a new skill set for me in knitting.  Although I’ve attempted basic stripes before, I’ve never been brave enough to have a go at a true pattern.  This project from Boutique Knits was the perfect first step.  Hats are small projects that are hard to get lost on – making it easy for me to concentrate on the 19 rows of fair isle pattern involved. 

I anticipated feeling dislike for the numbers game that fair isle necessarily requires.  I thought I’d hate the counting and repetition.  Instead, I found it soothing and relaxing.  It’s also not nearly as difficult as the beautiful and intricate finished product would suggest.  

 As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a continental style knitter - a style that originated in continental Europe and is best recognized in German knitters.  It’s chance I learned this technique since my teacher learned  to knit while in England.  Most Americans do not knit this way.  I feel lucky, though, to have learned continental since it makes this kind of detail work breeze by.  Unfortunately, to Ilenia who is a beginner English style knitter, it makes watching as I knit very confusing.  I’m glad I didn’t attempt to teach her one style when her teacher at school instructs in another.  Still, I feel bad that she is learning the less efficient method first.   I can see why professional knitters prefer the continental method.  It’s probably better for your hands too and my genetic predisposition to arthritis will thank me later. 

I have a giant head and although I followed the pattern, this hat fits me like a yamaka.  It fits Ilenia and David fine however, as my model below demonstrates.  Let’s hope Julia’s head is slightly smaller than the planet Neptune. 

Advertisement