Next Steps in Fair Isle: Mittens & Hat
Donna Druchunas
Class Preview
- In-depth Instruction; over 141 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Getting Started
14:40
Meet knitting instructor and author Donna Druchunas and get an overview of the Caribou Snow hat and mittens you'll be making as you learn essential Fair Isle techniques. Donna shows you how to create a two-color cast-on and how to knit while holding one color in each hand.
Knitting the Hat Brim
20:46
Get started on your hat by knitting with one color and purling with another to create corrugated ribbing. Then make a gorgeous Baltic braid by purling with both colors. Get Donna's tips for managing your tension and keeping your yarn from getting too tangled. You can knit your hat with a circular needle, double-pointed needles or two circulars.
Two-Handed Fair Isle Knitting
27:07
Donna guides you through the Fair Isle patterning on the Caribou Snow hat. Learn how to read the pattern chart and review knitting with two colors using both hands. Donna shows how to trap your floats as you go and keep them from tangling and she shares tips for keeping your colors even.
Finishing the Hat
24:36
Finish up your hat with two kinds of decreases to shape the crown. Donna demonstrates how to switch to double-pointed needles or two circulars as your number of stitches gets smaller. When you've finished the crown, learn how to make a cute pom-pom to adorn your new accessory!
Mitten Cuff & Thumb Gore
17:22
The Caribou Snow mittens both complement the hat and add to your Fair Isle skills. Knit along with Donna as you create the ribbed cuff and begin the motif of the hand, then learn how to increase stitches to accommodate the thumb gore.
Finishing the Mitten Body
11:30
Set your thumb stitches aside on waste yarn and start knitting the caribou pattern in the body of the mitten. Donna demonstrates how to cast on stitches to close up the top of the thumb hole, then follow the chart to decrease the mittens to the tip.
Knitting the Thumb & Blocking
24:00
Finish up your fabulous mittens by picking up stitches for the thumb and knitting up to the final centered double decrease. Then learn how to close up any holes at the base of the thumb and use a duplicate stitch to fix any mistakes in your colorwork. Finally, block your hat and mittens to relax the stitches and give your accessories a polished finish.
Description
Take the next step in stranded colorwork! Join returning Craftsy instructor Donna Druchunas and unlock a new frontier of eye-catching colors and remarkable patterns for your knits. During class, you’ll get equipped with the Fair Isle skills you need to create the exclusive Caribou Snow hat and mittens, both patterns included with your class. As she guides you step by step through marvelous motifs, Donna will show you how to knit superb two-color corrugated ribbing and vibrant stranded colorwork. Plus, you’ll learn how to finish with a centered double decrease, create a Baltic braid for breathtaking trim and more!
Donna Druchunas
Donna is an expert on ethnic patterns and techniques and is the author of six books, including Arctic Lace. She teaches workshops around the world on topics such as rug knitting, spinning and dyeing, Lithuanian socks, Japanese sweaters and Norwegian pullovers. Donna lives in a 150-year-old New England farmhouse with her husband, mother and three cats, who all help her test the usability and comfort of her finished knitted items.
Bonus materials available after purchase