Monica Knits

The Whirligig glove pattern is now available with two colorway charts: regal gold and purple; or winter white and nature colors. The four-color, Fair Isle style Whirligig gloves feature a contrasting 2 x 2 ribbed cuff and windmills in 3 colors, staggered across a gold or sky blue background. A provisional (waste yarn) thumb was employed to reduce knitting complexity, speed the knitting and provide a streamlined thumb. A fingertip guide was used for the stranding technique. A video illustrates the use of the fingertip guide to knit with 2 colors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0ApmvvhTA . Read on ... for additional links, tips, instructions, pattern and yarn information.

Whirligig Gloves Promise of SpringThe late winter colors of sky blue, brilliant sunshine, snow, dried grasses and leafless trees evoked the sense of spring awakening. The effect was both uplifting and fascinating and inspired Fair Isle style gloves in 4 cheerful colors: sky blue, cream, rust and yellow. Read on ... for Independent Designer Pattern (IDP) and yarn information.

Both of the patterns shown use two-color techniques. In the example on the left a mosaic knitting method is used and, on the right a Fair Isle technique. For the mosaic technique, each row is knitted with a single color only. While the main color is being worked, the contrast color is slipped purlwise. With the Fair Isle technique, two colors are typically knitted in a given row. While the first color is being knitted, the second, unused color is stranded on the reverse side. Each of the techniques has advantages. Read more... for benefits and additional photos. Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image.

Stranding and weaving are techniques for carrying yarn not in use across the back of the work until it is needed. In the Rocking Horse Bib weaving was used, and in the Single Digit Hat stranding was used. Each of these garments was knitted with two colors of yarn. There are advantages to each technique and there may be occasion to use both in a given garment. This article discusses the stranding technique.