Here you go . . . a real, whole, 4-part video tutorial on stranded knitting, of which Fair Isle is only one flavor. I’m especially tickled because it’s the biggest project I’ve done in my new studio, it fulfills a reward for the Kickstarter campaign that helped build the studio, and it helps prepare a VIP client for the exact sweater she wants to design when she gets here next month. Enjoy!
PART 1: An Introduction to Stranded Knitting
You’ll be able to recognize it, see multiple examples, and understand how the term Stranded Knitting is related to Fair Isle Knitting.
PART 2: 2-Fisted, 2-Color Stranded Knitting, the Knit Side
You’ll learn to do a speed swatch, how to do simple stranding and how to trap the strands or floats on the wrong side to make a dense, textured fabric.
PART 3: 2-Fisted, 2-Color Stranded Knitting, the Purl Side
You’ll learn how to do simple stranding and how to trap the strands or floats on the wrong side when purling.
PART 4: Stranded Knitting, Kaffe Fassett’s Persian Poppy Design
Here I focus on one beloved motif. I learned a lot and I hope you will too. There’s a 12 second black gap starting just before minute 8 . . . breathe through it . . . in a zen way. YouTube and I haven’t been able to fix it yet, and maybe never.
So what are YOUR experiences with stranded color knitting? Triumphs? Goofs? “Mistakes”? Too afraid to try it? Why? You realize by now, of course, that when we are learning new skills that every project is a triumph, right? Even the ones with “mistakes.”
Hi Cheryl, I am doing a project where there are long stretches of main colour stitches where I need to carry the floats. Would it better to consider it intarsia and use that technique instead of carrying all the way around? Secondly if no, how am I to move the the yarns since your video is showing short sections with a right left and centre different way of handling the yarns? Thankyou.
Hi Katherine . . . as for using intarsia mixed with stranded knitting, it works, and is a time-honored way to do patterning. As for how long is too long for floats, that’s a personal choice. And sorry, I don’t understand your second question.
Hi Cheryl,
I am watching your videos for stranded knitting. I have learned tips I did not know. Thank You.
My question is, “ What is reasoning about knitting two stitches at the beginning and two stitches at the end using both strands together?
You very likely referenced the tip in the videos but I missed it.
Have a great day, you deserve it.
*Jean
Hi Jean,
I did that to anchor the strands at the end of the rows . . . no other reason.
My mistake is always pulling things too tight! I try to remember to relax my hands, breath deep, and stretch the fabric every 5 or so stitches to keep things loose.
Notice how far I slide the stitches down on the right needle when I go to change color. That was an unconscious move on my part until I paid attention while making this video series.
Thank you. Very much appreciated.