Trying your hand at a Fair Isle pattern is fun and the end result is worth the time and trouble

CHRISTA SWANEPOEL

MATERIALS

2 balls each ELLE PURE GOLD CHUNKY (100 g) in Mist, Midnight, Lily, Terracotta and Navy

2 balls ELLE FAMILY KNIT CHUNKY (50 g) in Red

4,5 mm knitting needles

5,5 mm circular needle

stitch holder or extra needle

SIZE

Fits small to medium

Abbreviations

dec – decrease

gs – garter stitch (1st row: k. 2nd row: k.)

inc – increase

k – knit

p – purl

rem – remaining

rep – repeat

sl – slip

st st – stocking stitch (1st row: k. 2nd row: p.)

sts – stitches

WSF – wrong side facing

KNITTING INFORMATION

Always join colours at the end of a row. Carry the colour that you are not using on the wrong side by twisting the thread once around the thread you are using every four stitches. Don’t pull, so that the pattern won’t bunch up. This creates a neater finish on the wrong side.

INSTRUCTIONS

Front and back panel
Using 4,5 mm needles and Navy cast on 71 sts.
1st row: k1, *p1, k1, rep from * to end.
2nd row: p1, *k1, p1, rep from * to end. Rep 1st and 2nd rows with Midnight, Mist and Lily. With 5,5 mm needles, start the colour diagram and st st and inc 4 sts evenly in 1st row. 75 sts. Continue according to colour diagram until work measures about 40 cm, end with WS row.

Nxt row: cast off 10 sts, pat to end.
Nxt row: cast off 10 sts, pat to end. Sl rem sts onto stitch holder or extra needle and

Keep on one side. 55 sts.
Sleeves
With 4,5 mm needles and Navy cast on 41 sts. Work in 1×1 rib in colours as follows: (2 rows Navy, 2 rows Midnight, 2 rows Mist) 3 times, 2 rows Lily. With 5,5 mm needles, start with colour diagram as indicated for sleeves and inc 1 st both sides in 5th and each foll 6th row to 55 sts. Adapt pat to inc sts.

Cont without shaping until sleeve is about 51 cm, end with WS row.
Nxt row: cast off 7 sts, pat to end.
Nxt row: cast off 7 sts, pat to end. 41 sts. Slip rem sts onto stitch holder or extra needle.
Chest part

With 5,5 mm circular needle and WSF , sl sts of first sleeve onto circular needle, sl front panel onto circular needle, then second sleeve and lastly back panel. 192 sts. Change colours in any order for each row and work 13 rows in gs.

Nxt row: dec 32 sts evenly over row. 160 sts. Work 10 rows gs.
Nxt row: dec 28 sts evenly over row. 132 sts. Work 4 rows gs.
Nxt row: dec 28 sts evenly over row. 104 sts. Work 2 rows gs.
Nxt row: dec 22 sts evenly over row. 82 sts. Work 5 rows gs.

Vlg ry: dec 18 sts evenly over row. 64 sts. Work 6 rows 1×1-rib in 2 rows each Mist, Midnight and Navy. Cast off in rib.

TO FINISH

Sew cast off sts of sleeves and front and back panels together on both sides, stretching slightly to fit. Sew sleeve and side seams. Fold over ribbings of sleeves. Spread work out flat, cover with damp cloth and leave to dry. Follow instructions on yarn packing for care.

SOURCES
ELMARIE KNAPTON