I’m known for being a bit of an enabler through this blog and my various social networks. I have an overwhelming urge to share lovely knitty and crafty things with my followers – it’s a compulsion, I cannot help it! However, for once, I have been the victim of some serious enablement! (Is that even a thing?)
Chloe, from Sparkly Shoes are Faster blog, has joined me in getting excited about all things fair isle. First she knitted Sheep Carousel by Kate Davies (a fab tea cosy) and then she started knitting the Rams and Yowes blanket, also by Kate Davies. The blanket uses all 9 shades of Shetland wool and is just gorgeous. I knew I had to have one!
So I treated myself to a kit which included enough yarn to knit the blanket and also Kate Davies’ Sheep Heid hat. I have started with the hat in order to learn the pattern and make sure I have my gauge under control. Then I’ll move on to the blanket.
Strangely enough, my gauge IS under control. I think this is something to do with the wool. I am knitting the hat using Jaimeson and Smith Shetland Supreme Jumper Weigh Wool. This is “proper” fair isle knitting yarn, and now I know why. The wool has a sort of “sticky” quality making fair isle much easier. Also the natural colours are simply gorgeous. The hat and blanket use all 9 natural shades of the yarn. The 9 natural colours are made from fine Shetland fleeces, hand-sorted in the J&S wool room in Lerwick, Shetland. They are completely dye free. You can see 7 of the shades photographed above (these are the colours I have used in the hat so far, there are 2 more to add).
I cannot recall a time when I have knitted with 100% wool and loved it this much. I have always been drawn to soft, squishy yarns such as Malabrigo worsted. Baby alpaca and merino blends are more my thing. But I am am really in love with this yarn and I expect to be a bit more experiment with pure wool in the future.
You can buy Jamieson’s yarn from my lovely blog and podcast sponsor Great British Yarns: Jamieson’s Wool.
If you want to learn more about fair isle knitting I can highly recommend Mary Jane Mucklestone’s Craftsy class Fair Isle Vest – Stranded and Steeked.
Expect a few more progress photos on Twitter and Facebook and a finished item blog post soon. But for now, I am off to queue the vast majority of Kate Davies’ designs on Ravelry… cheerio!
PS this is what the final hat will hopefully look like (photo by Kate Davies)…
I agree about Shetland Wool; it really is magical to work with.
It is – I don’t really understand why, but I love it!
I think it’s a combination of the fleece itself and the way it is spun.x
I love Fair Isle too! I have yet to try it, but it is on my list!
It’s addictive, Linda
I’m half way through making the Mary Jane Mucklestone fair isle vest. Her Craftsy video class is excellent, I’m learning to steek as well as Fair Isle. Just hope I’ve got the nerve to cut into the vest when the time comes! Agree completely about Jamiesons Shetland wool.
Oooh it is a great class Chris – steeking is exciting. When I start the blanket I will need to steek. Do let me know how it goes
There is a Fre Craftsy Course on Know Your Wool, I know you are a fan of Craftsy, I’ve just started it and it is so informative about wool and the different textures, colours, make-up etc of the wool from different sheep. I’m really enjoying it. Deborah is so easy to listen to, have a look.
Thanks for the recommendation Judi – I will check it out
You mentioned you got a kit that had all the yarn you needed for both the blanket and hat – is that kit available online somewhere? I’ve had this pattern in my queue for a while now and this might just be the push I need to get it started…
Hi Shanna, here you go http://www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk/epages/BT2741.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT2741/Products/%22Kit%20-%20Sheepheid%20%26%20Rams%26Yowes%22
It’s one of the best knits I have started in ages – I am loving it
Martine
I really want to knit some Kate Davies but don’t have the time right now. I will definitely knit some though. I love the carousel tea cosy!
Did you watch Shetland (TV drama)? There was loads of fabulous knitwear in it. Peerie Flooers by Kate Davies looked fabulous and the men’s jumpers made the lead look rather sexy!
I didn’t get to see Shetland but intend to watch it on Catch Up – it sounds fab. I am so in love with fair isle that I might try and design something. It’s really easy when you get going
x
I am so jealous of your working with J&S! I have been eyeballing it for a l o n g time! I just started Ms Davies Sixareen Cape & love it! I am using Quince & Co’s American wool for the first time ever – very different from your J&S, but very lovely in its own way!
J&S has really surprised me Sarah – I didn’t expect to like it but I really do. I’ll look up that cape and yarn – sounds fab!
This is looking really good. I’m a huge fan of Kate’s designs. I have the sheep tea cozy kit at home and I really must give it a go – I wanted to try something where size wasn’t as much of an issue first before tackling a hat (I have the worst luck with hat sizing!). It’s great to hear that you can easily get gauge with the J & S and I love the idea of using the undyed wool. I really, really want to do the Sixareen cape!
Awww thanks! I love the tea cosy
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