Fair Isle is Fashionable beret and mitts pattern features bold stripes adorned by a very simple colourwork motif: a perfect pattern for playing with colour and getting the hang of stranding! Both hat and mitts are worked in the round, commencing with rib cuffs before giving way to the main event. With minimal finishing, this set is lovely as a quick gift knit!

A simple yet bold motif make Fair Isle is Fashionable an excellent introduction to stranded colourwork — and a pattern you will return to again and again!

The Fair Isle is Fashionable set is knitted using Excelana North fingering weight a soft, fingering weight 100% British wool, spun for us in nearby Yorkshire and dyed in-house by Susan and her team. Shown here in shades Alabaster, Nile Green, Ruby Red and French Rose. .

Our model Theodora is shown wearing the first size beret 45-47.5cm (18-19in), and first size of mittens 16.5-18cm (6.5-7.25in).

The pattern includes instructions for four sizes of beret and four sizes of mittens; to fit measurements between Beret: 45cm (18in) and 60cm (24in) / Mittens: 16.5cm (6.25in) and 24cm (9.5in). The pattern contains both clear written pattern directions, together with charted instructions for detailed colour work instructions on both the beret and the mittens plus a comprehensive schematic diagram and sizing chart.

Yarn kits are available at Susan Crawford Vintage.

Yarn
Susan Crawford Excelana North fingering weight, 100% British wool, 75% Cheviot, 25% Bluefaced Leicester (159m / 174yds per 50g skein approx)
2 skeins, shade Alabaster
1 skein, shade Nile Green
1 skein, shade Ruby Red
1 skein, shade French Rose

Gauge
26 sts and 30 rows = 10cm (4in) over Fair Isle pattern, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm needles.

Suggested needles
Large Needles: 3.25mm (US 3) circular needle (40cm)
Set of 3.25mm (US 3) DPNs

Small Needles: 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (40cm)
Set of 2.75mm (US 2) DPNs

Notions
Stitch marker
Waste yarn