Fair Isle Cardigan Finished At Last!

[Frivole]

I forgot to come and post here about my cardigan I finally finished!! I mentioned it in this forum last year (how time flies!) but tatting seems to take up all my spare time these days so it wasn't until the weather turned cold this year that I picked up my knitting needles again and decided it was time I got it finished so I could wear it.



I improvised as I went along with this cardigan as I wanted a raglan sleeve (instead of the square one that was in the design) and I also made up the collar as I went along.

I've worn it a few times already and I'm pleased with it.



Predominantly blue and green, this cardigan is made up of 10 different colours and I particularly like the purples mixed in with the greens.

[PattyD]

Wow! Is there anything with thread that you don't do and magnificently at that! Well, well done and I find the colors good enough to eat!

[carolivy]

Stunning Frivole!

[corin1110]

You waited until the weather turned cold to start this? You must fly when you knit. How long did it take you to do this? Just beautiful!

[dharts04]

It's GORGEOUS! (Sorry...I know I'm yelling...but it's too beautiful not to yell about!)
You are so talented! I love that you share your talents with us this way. It makes me want to get better at my own!
Again, a beautiful, magnificent job!

[rsmre]

Oh my goodness! Your sweater is amazingly beautiful. The colors are wonderful. I'll bet you can't wait to wear it. How on earth do you get that much knitting done so quickly?
Rosemarie

[Frivole]

Oh no! I'm laughing, don't give me credit I don't deserve!! Perhaps I worded my post wrong... I started this cardigan TWO years ago but I tend to only like to knit in winter so it sat waiting all through two summers not being knitted on... And then at last, this autumn, I picked it up again and finished it. I was up to the shoulders on it (knitting in the round and with a raglan so all the stitches on one circular needle) so I finished the shoulders, knitted the button bands and the collar. See, not that fast a knitter!

But I really love knitting Fair Isle. I find I don't tire of all the colours and watching each different row as it emerges from my needles... The only problem nowadays is that I'm always so drawn to my shuttles that I don't give enough time to knitting.

And I already know what my next project is going to be!

Now you know why I always say there are just not enough hours in a day.

Thanks for all your nice comments.

[Maureen L]

I've just seen this! - it's absolutely gorgeous and you're so clever! How many colours did you have to manoeuvre in each row?
And I think you said you steeked the front - was that nerve-racking?

[Frivole]

Hi Maureen,

Well, I think that's the beauty of Fair Isle: looks very complicated but you only ever have two colours per row (some people knit with one colour in each hand but I knit with both colours in the same hand). As for the steek, yes, it is a bit worrying the first time but now I love them! They don't come apart, you can just cut them down the middle when you're finished, it means all your wool ends are dealt with (they end up being cut with the steek) and it enables you to knit in the round which I love. So all good!

[Lynn]

Lovely, my Dear. I know I said this before when you posted the first photos of it, but again I say, that faint streak of purple is brilliant! I'd never have thought to put that with greens and blues, but it works a treat! Now for the technical side: are your yarns carried or twisted? The most I've ever done with Fair Isle are hats. I'm afraid a cardigan would never get finished.