Knitting Skerries – Fair Isle Wrist Warmers by Marie Wallin
Fair Isle knitting is a beautiful way to create colourful, cosy accessories with traditional-inspired patterns. If you have always wanted to try stranded colour work but feel intimidated by larger projects, Fair Isle wrist warmers are the perfect place to begin. They are quick to knit, practical to wear, and provide plenty of opportunity to practise working with two colours.
What You’ll Need
To make your Fair Isle wrist warmers, you will need:
- The Skerries pattern by Marie Wallin (available on the Ravelry site for approx $8.00 CAD)
- Yarn: I used the recommended Shetland Spindrift purchased from Sheeps Ahoy
- Knitting needles
- A tapestry needle
- Scissors
The Spindrift Wool is an excellent choice because it is warm and has enough elasticity to make comfortable wrist warmers. I find the colours are wonderful and vibrant as written in this pattern. You can of course you make your own colour combinations too; especially colours with plenty of contrast so your Fair Isle pattern stands out clearly. I can also note that if you buy the skeins as recommended, you will have quite a bit of wool left over.
Before you Start
This pattern is a one-size fits most so you don’t need to choose a size. You do need to choose whether to knit in the round or flat. Directions are separate for your choice here.
I decided to go with in the round, so I could avoid purling and to read the chart right to left for each round. However, I had to switch to flat knitting to create the thumb gap. I was confused at first as to how to do this, but ended up just purling back reversing how I read the pattern while staying on the circular needles. After about 16 rows of this, you go back to in the round and finish up with moss stitch (I went with ribbing here).
The Fair Isle Pattern
Fair Isle knitting traditionally involves working with just two colours in any one round.
You can hold one colour in each hand, or hold both strands in the same hand. Follow your chart carefully, changing colours according to the design. When a colour is not being used, carry it loosely across the back of the work.
One of the most important Fair Isle knitting tips is to avoid pulling your floats too tightly. Tight floats can cause the fabric to pucker (ask me how I know).
Finish Your Wrist Warmers
Continue knitting until your wrist warmers reach the end of the chart. As mentioned, I finished with a ribbing stitch instead of the moss stitch. This created a nice neat top flexible edge which I found preferable here. Personal choice only.
Use a tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I find the shetland wool weaves in well and holds especially after blocking. I’m not sure if is was necessary, but I did gently block the wrist warmers using Soak.
Make Them Your Own
This Fair Isle wrist warmers pattern was a cosy and rewarding project for me. The resulting mittens are a gift for my lovely DIL but I may also make myself a pair. Whether you are a beginner looking for a manageable colour work project in fairisle or an experienced knitter searching for a quick handmade gift, I suggest looking at this pattern. Grab your needles, choose your favourite colours, and enjoy creating something beautiful and practical. With lots of wool leftover for you next pair 🙂
