Mary Jane MucklestoneFair Isle Style: 20 Fresh Designs for a Classic Technique

FAIR ISLE STYLE is the latest addition to the superb Interweave Press "Style" series (for another new one, see  Scarf Style 2 ), and it doesn't disappoint! All of the patterns are attractive and wearable, and the how-to material on the Fair Isle knitting technique is among the best I've seen anywhere.The technique section at the back clearly and concisely explains the important, subtle things a Fair Isle knitter needs to know to get good results--methods of holding the two yarns; holding the yarns so the desired color will predominate; managing the floats (on the wrong side); reading charts; using the jogless join; and cutting and reinforcing steeks.The patterns are fresh indeed. They're simpler to knit than many Fair Isle patterns because the background colors don't change every few rows (as in Alice Starmore's traditional designs, for example). The ones I particularly liked are the Kulli Cowl (by Ysolda Teague), the Ketlin Skirt (by Kat Coyle), the Bressay Dress (by Gudrun Johnson), the Hap-Lapghan (by Kirsten Kapur), the Fara Raglan (by Courtney Kelley), the Mareel Shrug (by Nora Gaughan), and the Mayflooer Mittens (by Elli Stubenrauch).Each of the designs I mentioned have an intriguing new twist or special look. The cowl is knit with bands of garter stitch alternating with bands of small (peerie) patterns. The skirt is perfect for cat lovers, with its two rows of black cat faces. The dress has a simple shift shape but is decorated with an uncomplicated Fair Isle yoke, sewn-on semicircular Fair Isle pockets, and a few rows of Fair Isle at the hem.The afghan has an op-art look, with alternating-color rectangles in the center and a checkerboard-y chevron border. The raglan sweater has crossways bands of solid teal color alternating with small-figured (peerie) bands. The shrug is knit as a pentagon in back, and then the sleeves and fronts are constructed by folding two pieces that are knit as a pentagon plus another section (yes, it's complicated!). The mittens are knit with a pretty curving "mayflower" design.This book includes some good discussion of designing your own Fair Isle patterns. If you're interested, you may also want to consider author Mary Jane Mucklestone's new stitch pattern book,  200 Fair Isle Motifs , or one of the classic Fair Isle reference books, Ann Feitelson's  The Art of Fair Isle Knitting  or  Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting) .

When I heard of this book I ordered it right away!! I love anything to do with Fair Isle or Nordic style knitting, and I do LOVE the author's book on Fair Isle Motifs ,so it was a no brainer to me that this book would be a wonderful book,,,,after all,,,just LOOK at that cover sweater! Gorgeous,,,,,yes?? Unfortunately, it is the ONLY pattern in this book that I find worth making, bc it is top down Fair Isle knitting and I have never tried that, I have only done bottom up~ I plan to knit this sweater for an upcoming trip to Alaska along w/ some of the Icelandic sweaters I love so very much.I think the main problem w/ books like this is that they toss out a call to all kinds of knitting teachers to create what they deem to be a " fair isle " garment and then place it in the book as a collection.First of all TRUE fair isle does change BOTH yarns repeatedly during the course of knitting. so one gets that lovely shaded halo of color and this book does not contain what I would deem true fair isle~ therefore the name,,,Fair Isle STYLE. Fair enough,,That is acceptable to me,,,,but the projects are just plain BLAH!!!! If you think you will get even one more lovely like the cover sweater, you are very mistaken, the rest of the projects are just plain lazy like patterns!! ( barring one cardigan perhaps,,,and that is a big perhaps for me) Oh,,,and the baby booties are cute alsoSave your money and invest in this author's motif books, then add that( and the knowledge you will obtain from explainations in the motif books) to design your own sweater, its fairly easy to also add a few motifs here or there as the gloves are in this book, just use your favorite glove or mitten pattern~For a scarf, just knit in the round and add motifs,( VERY simple to do,,,)I thought I would knit the tam in this book but the designer makes it a WHOLE lot more complicated than just following a simple " recipe" from the writings of Elizabeth Zimmerman ,,,this is not meant to be so complicated as it is presented here!Why do they TRY to make it more difficult than it is?? To me, simple, simple, simple is best, and that brings out the beauty of the shaded colors and patterns.Additionally there is a new Lopi yoke sweater book out,( and it is to die for!) if you also love Nordic sweaters w/ color, a I could personally knit out of that book FOREVER. tweaking things here and there ( adding short rows would be my number one change but that is easy enough to do)That Icelandic book does not have the instructions as some books do but it is easy enough to figure out how to knit a yoked sweater,,,,,,,,and, that book has a TON of projects that can be made for every single member of the family.Don't care for Icelandic yarn? A lot of those patterns are using Lopi Light which is a worsted weight yarn, so for the kids I am using a washable wool that is soft, for myself and DH, only Icelandic will do, I do like the real deal.This book is simply not worth the money I spent on it, I only wish I had viewed this book b/f I purchased it, bc it is a pain to return the bookThe new motif book is great,,,,,when you get into " collections" from all knitting instructors I find that I am repeatedly disappointed in what they design, some are willing to toss in whatever,,,,,and it does look like" whatever" was tossed inSave your money for a better book~

Right up front I'll have to state that I do not like some of the designs (they are a bit blah as others have written) although perhaps it is because I don't like the colors. I do love Fair Isle colors of lichens and rocks, sea, sky and earth, and most of these designs have color ways which are rather modern (although I do love the Mirry Dancers yoked pullover, which is a modern interpretation) and thus not to my taste. What is so wonderful about this book is that, like Ms. Mucklestone's other books, it is extremely well written as an informational and instructional guide. I've been knitting for 60 years but I've always had trouble knitting with different colors in this style. This book makes me feel that even I could pick up my needles and with a maximum of concentration and a few mistakes make the garments or at least the sweaters and fingerless mitts, socks and scarves. The Bressay dress and the Ketlin skirt are plug ugly (maybe it is the color ways?) but the Valenzi cardigan is gorgeous -- it would make a stunning vest! -- and so are some of the other designs.The strength of these books (and Ms. M's authorship) is in their careful organization, explicit and easy to follow instructions, and wonderful illustrations and diagrams. The scenery is spectacular too.

I knitted the cover design on this book with the recommended wool. It was the fist time I had knitted a jumper from the neck down in one piece and I found the pattern easy to follow and knitted true to size, although I am probably a more experienced knitter even beginners won't have problems following it. Everyone who has seen the end result has commented on how much they like it. I am gong to try other designs but I would advise trying to go for as good quality wool as you can afford as this does tend to make fairisle easier to knit evenly which creates a better finish.

Where to start? This is a fantastic books from the amazing Mary Jane Mucklestone and is a complete delight. It is full of gorgeous designs and beautiful projects. Fairisle is, perhaps, not for the fainthearted but is not beyond the ken of most knitters, especially those with a few years of experience. However, this book is an excellent resource and should find a happy place on many knitters bookshelves. Give it a go.

A bit disappointed in this book. For me the only pattern that I would knit is on the front cover. I would of like to be able to view inside before I bought the pattern this book.Regards Jean Naylor

Fast delivery, good price and I love the book. There are several patterns I'm going to knit, they are well written and adjusted for different skill levels.

Depends on what your after to knit...I would say for myself there are about four or five patterns that I would do. But it is a lovely photographed book and fairly inspirational.