Who here doesn’t love a good bit of colorwork? It’s fun to knit and even more fun to show off. Nothing beats that sense of accomplishment you get when you finish fair isle knitting patterns!
Do you know how to do fair isle knit colorwork? Also called stranded colorwork, this technique may seem incredibly daunting to the uninitiated, but it’s really not as tricky as it may seem. It’s one of those things that is hard at first, but once it clicks then you’re going to love it!
Fair isle knitting patterns are sometimes knit flat and sometimes in the round and are usually knit in Stockinette stitch. If you are new to the technique, then you will probably have an easier go with patterns that are in the latter group. We’ve got a little bit of both in this post, so you will have options!
Many patterns will include a chart to reference for the color changes. Navigating information this way can be intimidating if you’re used to working from written patterns, but you’ll soon see that it’s much easier to keep track of things visually this way.
The best advice I can give you when trying fair isle knitting patterns for the first time is to start small. There are a lot of fantastic designs out there for gorgeous sweaters (and we even found a stunning skirt design!) but choosing a large pattern for your first go is just asking for trouble. Master the basics first on a smaller scale with a hat, a pair of fingerless gloves, or a potholder.
Oh, and one more thing. It may seem a bit obvious, but I’ll say it anyway. The fair isle knitting patterns that only call for 2 colors are going to be a heck of a lot easier than the ones that call for 3, 4, or more colors, even though a traditional fair isle stitch pattern only uses two colors on each row. So keep that in mind!
So now that our beginners know what to look out for, here’s a quick word for our more experienced knitters. Don’t worry! As always, we have a fantastic range of skill levels present in our free fair isle knitwear patterns today. So if you are in the mood for a challenge, then you are in luck! Scroll down and see for yourself.
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The Best Free Fair Isle Knitting Patterns
Hedgerow Fingerless Mittens
You can appreciate the beauty of the fall leaves all year round with these adorable hedgerow mittens. With just two colors to juggle and a repetitive pattern, this design actually isn’t as complicated as it may first appear. The hardest part may be deciding on the two colors you want to use!
Designer: Mary Ann Stephens
Yarn: Dale Garn Falk (DK Weight #3)
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Nomad Fair Isle Knit Sweater
If you’re going to take the time to complete a complex fair isle knitting pattern then it may as well be one that you can wear every chance you get. This stunning pullover will give you ample opportunities to show off your skills and stay cozy too. The pattern is knit from the top down in the round
Designer: Gayle Bunn for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Patons North America Alpaca Blend (Bulky Weight #5)
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Perception Socks
Add a bit of whimsy to your footwear with the fantastical Perception Socks. The pattern is worked from the cuff down with a german short row heel. And that’s not the only thing that’s short – the colorwork is also designed in such a way as to produce only short floats of yarn.What a neat trick!
Designer: Shelbi Hrkach
Yarn: Woolly Mammoth Fibre Company Natural Sock (Fingering Weight #1)
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Color My Cowl
Do you prefer cowls or scarves? Personally, I love how snuggly I feel in a cowl and a coat. Plus, I never have to worry about it falling off my neck! The Color My Cowl pattern is knit in rows using only 2 colors at a time. My favorite part is that it is long enough to wrap twice around your neck so you can feel twice as cozy.
Designer: Very Pink
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
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Folly Skirt
I never knew how badly I wanted fair isle knitting patterns for skirts until I saw this design! The pattern features a high waist with an elastic waistband for a secure fit. It is a midi length with a generous circumference for plenty of swooshiness! So basically, it’s the coolest knit thing I’ve seen all day!
Designer: Espace Tricot
Yarn: La Bien Aimée Corrie Worsted (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
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Lapwing Sweater
Using fingering yarn for a sweater may sound a bit finicky but it’s a surefire way to make a sweater that moves and drapes like real fabric. The pattern is knit flat in pieces and then seamed so it’s perfect for folks who dislike knitting in the round. I especially love how the horizontal panels of colorwork continue onto the sleeves.
Designer: Marie Wallin
Yarn: The Grey Sheep Co Hampshire 4ply (Fingering Weight Yarn #1)
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Sun Baked
If this will be your first foray into fair isle knitting patterns, then I recommend starting small! This pretty and practical potholder is a great choice for beginners, because it allows you to practice your colorwork without committing to a time consuming project. It’s worked in the round so it’s double thick.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Paris (Aran Weight #4)
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Neptun Sweater
I’ve never seen fair isle colorwork quite like this before! There’s just something so inherently eye-catching about this playful geometric design. It’s modern, it’s unique, and it’s totally my style too! The pattern even includes a special technique for catching floats on the go when you’re working on the wrong side
Designer: Gitte Juhler for Filcolana
Yarn: Filcolana Peruvian (Aran Weight #4) and
Filcolana Tilia (Lace Weight #0)
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Heart Over Head Beanie
There are a lot of fair isle knitting patterns for hats out there, probably because this technique is well suited to being knit in the round. The Heart Over Head Beanie is a shining example of a simpler fair isle design that still looks fantastic. It’s available in sizes preemie to adult, so you can make a matching beanie for your mini me!
Designer: Niki V. for Knit Now
Yarn: (Fingering Weight Yarn #1)
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Roscoe Sweater
Just wow! The Roscoe Sweater looks like it came straight out of a fashion magazine. Here are just a couple of reasons why I love this pattern! The drop shoulder design and the ribbed turtleneck really help accentuate broad shoulders. Also, the colorwork pattern reminds me of a coat of arms. So distinguished!
Designer: Martin Storey for Rowan
Yarn: Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
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Autumn Harvest Knit Pillow
If you are looking forward to fall as much as I am, then you are sure to love the Autumn Harvest Knit Pillow. This fair isle design is pure fun with silhouettes of squirrels, acorns, and some buffalo plaid too. The pillow cover pattern is worked flat and is removable thanks to the buttons on the back.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
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Tulip Socks
You can keep your love of fresh flowers close with these cute fair isle socks. Just imagine these pretty tulip blooms peeking out of the tops of your sneakers! The pattern is knit from the top down with a heel flap. The colorwork section is short, sweet, and relatively easy too, so this wouldn’t be a bad choice for a beginner.
Designer: Purl Soho
Yarn: Koigu Premium Merino (KPM) (Fingering Weight #1)
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Snowflake Hat and Mittens
We are living in a world where you can match your mittens to your hat and you can match your kiddo too! You are sure to inspire all the “awws” with this duet design featuring snowflakes. Every day can capture the joy of a snow day with these Snowflake Hat and Mittens! You can choose from full length or fingerless mittens.
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn: Patons North America Astra (Solids) (DK Weight #3)
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Fleur Isle Knit Cowl
Sometimes selecting the colors for fair isle knitting patterns can be tricky. They need to have good contrast with each other and they also need to match. Two color designs aren’t so bad, but it really gets challenging when there’s 3 or 4. The beauty of the Fleur Isle Knit Cowl is that it’s made with Caron X Pantone yarn that comes with multiple pre-matched colors together.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Caron X Pantone (Bulky Weight #5)
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Betula Mitts
I wear my fingerless gloves every chance I get when the weather turns. They’re perfect for driving and for texting too (not at the same time, obviously). You can never have too many pairs and I would love to add these beautiful Betula Mitts to my rotation! They are knit from the bottom up. The pattern is available in two sizes and there’s also a matching hat design.
Designer: Marie Petra
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (DK Weight #3)
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Audra Boot Cuffs
Dip your toes in the water of fair isle knitting patterns with this simple boot cuff design. The delicate daisy ring is a fast and fun bit of colorwork. Patterns like this will give you experience knitting fair isle in the round and help you build up your confidence for larger projects down the road!
Designer: Bumblebee Knits
Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Sweater Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
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Slouch Hat
One of the most challenging parts of fair isle knitting patterns worked in the round is that inevitable little “jog” in your colorwork that you get when you go from round to round. This stunner of a slouch hat pattern set out to solve that with a clever little hack that will keep your colorwork aligned and keep you looking extra stylish too!
Designer: Simona Merchant-Dest for Interweave
Yarn: Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK (DK Weight #3)
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Spitsbergen Cowl
Combine a striped yarn with a solid one for a fun color changing design inspired by norwegian stars. Designs like this are just so much fun to knit because you get to witness the colors as they unfold. Plus, a cowl that’s long enough to wrap twice around your neck is sure to keep you twice as cozy in chilly weather!
Designer: Marly Bird for Yarnspirations
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Essentials Solids and
Red Heart Soft Essentials Stripes (Worsted Weight #4)
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Jack Fair Isle Scarf
When you get to the end of a project and you have to weave in all your ends, it can be positively daunting with a fair isle design in many colors like this one. Luckily, this tube style scarf is knit in the round so you can tuck all your tails inside and ferret away your floats too. This also makes it double thick and twice as warm!
Designer: Diane Zangl for I Like Knitting
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220® Sport (Sport Weight #2)
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Pemberly Tam
If you’re feeling a little fancy and want something unique to nurture your noggin, then you should really check out this tam pattern. Fair isle knitting patterns for beanies are a dime a dozen, but this tam pattern is really something special. The design features delicate colorwork in muted colors and a smart ribbed brim.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand LB Collection Cashmere (DK Weight #3)
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Scare Isle
Spooky skulls and bats, oh my! The Scare Isle hat is perfect for Halloween and for folks who embrace the creepy side of life all year round. It’s definitely one of those designs that makes you do a double take – in the best way possible. Do you know someone who would totally rock this spooky hat?
Designer: Lorraine Condotta
Yarn: Jamieson’s of Shetland Shetland Spindrift (Fingering Weight #1)
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Fair Isle Stocking
Time spent knitting Christmas stockings is surely time well spent. These fair isle stockings especially are sure to become family heirlooms that will be passed on from generation to generation and they really capture that nostalgic feeling that you just can’t buy from the department store.
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
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Bark-A-Lounger
Pets are kids too, right? So why not spoil them like it! Pamper your pooch with his or her very own Bark-A-Lounger. This fluffy stuffed napping surface is pretty and practical too. Store bought pet beds can look unsightly amongst your home decor, but this dashing design is sure to blend right in.
Designer: Champagne Maker for Knitty
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Ecological Wool® (Bulky Weight #5)
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1 Across Beanie
Are you or someone you know obsessed with crossword puzzles? Celebrate that obsession with this black and white 1 Across Beanie. As far as fair isle knitting patterns go, it’s one of the best ones on this list for beginners. That’s because there’s only 8 rounds of colorwork and you’re only working with 2 colors.
Designer: Denise Sutherland for Knitty
Yarn: Naturally Yarns NZ Loyal 8ply/DK (DK Weight #3)
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Begin the Hours Coffee Cozy
Keep your coffee hotter longer (and keep your fingers from getting burnt) with this attractive cozy. It’s such an easy way to add a homemade touch to your morning routine and it’s also perfect for when you need to take your coffee on the go. Plus, the pattern is super quick and relatively easy too.
Designer: Zaliwa Designs
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette (Fingering Weight #1)
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All’s fair in fair isle knitting patterns. I’m pretty sure someone said that one time. Anyway, which of these designs had you do a double take? I want to hear all about your pattern picks in the comments below!
Don’t forget, sharing is caring! Send this free knitting pattern round-up to all your knitting friends so they can join in on the fun too! Bookmark this page or save the link to your Pinterest board for amazing knitting patterns.
I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
jan
Thanks for putting together all the patterns. What an inspiration. I want to knit them all.