Free and easy Fair Isle patterns

The recent fashion renaissance of stranded colorwork sweaters, hats, and mittens is the latest of its once every 20-year pushes, but the technique has never really ever gone out of style with knitters. Scarlett Johansson's classic sweater in the new movie, We bought a Zoo, is evidence of the current craze for Fair Isle knitting designs. It's designed by Lopi, the Icelandic yarn stronghold and creator of hundreds of Fair Isle patterns. It's free, one of many free patterns in multiple sizes for men, women, and children in several color and design combinations, offered by the natural fiber company.

 

Johansson's Fair Isle sweater is knit in the round on a US 7 circular needle. Gauge is 4.5 stitches to the inch. The jumper is knit as a tube, and the sleeves are knit separately in the round and attached at the yoke. Unlike the traditional steeking method of knit and cut technique for attaching sleeves, this free pattern is a little less stressful for stranded colorwork knitting.

 

If new to Fair Isle knitting, try a simple two-color hat pattern first or a free headband pattern. Watch a tutorial, using multiple colors of yarn. But heed Judith Durant's warning: "Never knit your man a sweater (unless you've got the ring)."

 

We bought a Zoo, starring Matt Damon and Johansson, opens nationwide December 23, 2011. As always, you can use single skeins for different colors, in the correct gauge of course from your stash, but find the main color yarn at your local Rhode Island yarn shop. Knitting Corner and Beadery in Middletown, RI has some lovely Lopi yarns that are perfect for Scarlett's We bought a Zoo sweater. Lopi offers Scarlett Johansson's Fair Isle sweater as a free pattern along with several free patterns in multiple sizes.  Click the links and find patterns in English or French.

 

Fair Isle headband pattern  by Paige Waffle of Woolwinders.com