Thursday 26 September 2013

Fair Isle and Fingerless


I have been knitting gloves this week. There seem to be so many patterns around for fingerless gloves and wristwarmers. Is it because we all need our fingers more these days? Tapping our PIN numbers in or texting while we are on the go. The reason I love them is they are so handy when your are out in the cold and taking photographs.

I found this pattern in a book in my local library, called Mollie Makes Christmas. It was full of lots of seasonal craft ideas, not just knitting. They are a pretty easy Fair Isle, as you never have more than two colours on each row.


This pair caused me some stress, as I thought I was going to run out of the brown wool. I didn't, but I spent much of the second glove thinking how I might have to adjust the pattern or unravel the first glove.


My daughter then said she would like a pair. So for her gloves I did alter the pattern a little. Her hands are smaller than mine, so I shortened the gloves. I missed off the garter stitch at the end, which was probably a mistake, as you can see they curl up a bit. I also reduced the colours, from seven on my gloves to just four, as I thought it would look a bit nicer. And less ends to run in! You will also see that I knitted the thumb in stocking stitch, as she said she would prefer this, and I think it does look nicer. 


The palm of the gloves is knitted in double rib.

Fair Isle Gloves Can Be Cool!


50 comments:

  1. Oh wow, those are some fabulous gloves!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE those mitts and the colors you picked. I do love colorwork!

    ReplyDelete
  3. They look great. I love them both. The colors work so well together.

    ReplyDelete
  4. They are gorgeous. I love the look of fair isle but I'm a bit too chicken to try. Maybe one day.
    Rosie xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the colours. Both pairs look wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your mitts have me wanting to get back to some colorwork. Great project.

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are fab, you picked great colours .
    Clare x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm a little intimidated by the thumb part.... I'm hoping I get brave enough to try because my daughters really want some of these. I'd like to start out with a solid color even though I love the fair aisle. I may have to see if my library has this book. Thanks for sharing at Get Crafty Friday! ~ Mama Ging

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think I prefer the SS thumb as well. I absolutely adore these, the colours are so fresh and I'm jealous of your daughter!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like the thumb mod.....and I agree that less ends to weave in can only be a good thing. Both pair look great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. They look really good, I think the stockinette stitch looks better for the thumb too but it certainly doesn't detract from the brown pair

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very, very nice. I've been thinking of fingerless mitts and now I'm thinking of making fair-isle mitts.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the comment at the end- 'fair isle gloves can be cool'! LOL. Both sets of gloves look fab. I'm actually drooling over the second pair.

    ReplyDelete
  14. They are lovely, you are invited to share this with Show Your Stuff:

    http://www.treasuresmadefromyarn.com/2013/09/show-your-stuff_26.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Those are very fun and I like the stockinette thumb better too. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just love your creations, they are wonderful. Congratulations!

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  17. They're lovely, and as a knitting ignoramous I got all excited as I do know the difference between garter and stocking stich (thank you grandma) so understood what I was looking at with the thumbs!
    Fair Isle looks so lovely, but also so difficult!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Super knits, my hands feel warmer just looking at those lovely gloves.

    ReplyDelete
  19. They are lovely, great colour combinations. Hope you have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  20. They are just great, love your colour choices too. I have that
    MollieMakes Christmas craft book and remember them being in ther, thanks for reminding me xox Penny

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sounds like a good book - I like the magazine already.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love these, especially the brown ones. Another project to add to the to do list :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I wish I could knit like that! They look great!

    ReplyDelete
  24. These look cosy, they're a great idea when out and about, I hate having to continually taking my gloves on and off so these would make a great alternative. :)

    Jan x

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love these. You are so clever. Fair Isle is not at all easy. I fear that I would get everything into a right tangle.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful:) I'm off the library tomorrow, hopeful for the book!! I really must make a start on knitting some otherwise the cold weather will arrive before I am ready!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. These are wonderful! And really great colour combos as well. I love working fair isle patterns but am terrified of DPN's! I made a pair of mittens a couple of years ago but just made them on straight needles and sewed up the seams - ET would be proud of them, they seem to come to such a point, but they keep my hands warm! I might look up the pattern, thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have mentioned, but no DPNs or knitting in the round. These are just knitted with 2 needles, and there is a seam up the side.

      Delete
  28. I admire your knitting skills. These gloves turned our beautiful and the color combinations really are nice. I made a pair of crocheted fingerless gloves for my little grandson but they are not as fancy as your pattern. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful gloves and I love the colours, I much prefer the thumb in stocking stitch also, gives a much smarter finish in my opinion x

    ReplyDelete
  30. so impressed by your knitting skills, fab results! thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  31. They are really lovely, I hope they keep you both warm in the coming months.

    ReplyDelete
  32. that's a really good point about people needing their fingers more now, i hadn't thought of that!

    your gloves are soooo gorgeous and really cosy looking too. I especially like the ones you adapted for your daughter - i have little hands so they would be about perfect for me i think! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. i knit myself so can appreciate how lovely these are :D

    ReplyDelete
  34. They're lovely. I wish I could get the hang of knitting with two colours. I always end up pulling the yarn too tight xx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your fingerless gloves are fabulous!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. These are stunning! I'm off to find the pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wow, your mitts look impressive. You work wonders with you needles and yarn. Love the result!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I saw these on Ginny's Yarn Along and they immediately caught my eye. Just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  39. They look so warm and cosy - nice work :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. These are so pretty! I am trying to gear myself up for my first Fair Isle project one of these days... lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  41. these look really good - I love that you can just whip these kind of things up - amazing! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  42. OO, they are lovely! I'm just getting back into knitting after a 15-year break (my dear old grannie would have been chuffed to know her efforts didn't go to waste). I'm a long way off complex knitting like this thought - K1, P1 is about my limit for the time being.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Gorgeous mitts. Your colours are perfect.
    Enjoy warm hands.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the gloves you made! Especially those for yourself.

    ReplyDelete