Knitty: Winter 2007 - Fair Isle Rapids

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by Kieran Foley

When I first learned to knit in the '70s, stranded knitting was referred to as Fair Isle. I've always found this to be a very evocative term.

This design came about when I was trying different ways of shifting yarn overs in a lace sample. I was playing around with increasing and decreasing stitches and wondered how the technique would transfer to stranded knitting. The result was this wavy stripe pattern which reminded me of deltas, rapids and New Zealand's braided rivers.

I chose the Debbie Bliss colors to emphasise the water reference. The Rialto yarns are a pleasure to work with and the scarf is wonderfully soft and warm.

Making Fair Isle Rapids was a learning process for me: the quality of the knitting improved as the project progressed, and I'd now like to make a more technically assured version in finer yarns.

model: Kieran Foley photos: Jonathan Law

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Length: 45 inches
Width: 10.5 inches

MATERIALS

Debbie Bliss Rialto [100% Merino wool; 115 yd/105m per 50g skein]
[MC] #23018 Blue; 3 skeins
[CC] #23006 Beige; 2 skeins

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #6/4mm straight needles
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

GAUGE

24 sts/23 rows = 4 inches in pattern
Note: Gauge given is approximate. It is not critical to achieve given gauge for this project.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty’s list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

As you work the charted pattern, the fabric will pucker and bulge as it is shaped by the increases and decreases. Don’t worry, this is normal; it will be corrected when blocking.
Information about blocking can be found here and here.

M1L: Insert left needle from front to back under the horizontal strand which lies between the st just worked, and the next st. Knit into the back of this loop.

M1R: Insert left needle from back to front under the horizontal strand which lies between the st just worked, and the next st. Knit into the front of this loop.

SKP: Sl 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped st over.

1x1 Rib (Worked over an odd number of sts):
Row 1 [RS]: [K1, p1] to last st, k1.
Row 2 [WS]: [P1, k1] to last st, p1.
Repeat these 2 rows for 1x1 Rib.

PATTERN

Using MC, CO 65 sts.
Work 5 rows in 1x1 Rib.
Next Row [WS]: P all sts.
Work Rows 1-20 of chart 12 times, or until scarf is desired length. Note that the stitch count will remain constant throughout, EXCEPT Rows 9-12 will have only 63 sts.
When all repeats of chart are complete, break CC.

Next Row [RS]: K all sts.
Work 5 rows in 1x1 Rib.
BO all sts in pattern.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.
Block as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

A lover of old fashioned complicated knitting, Kieran would love to see this design adopted and adapted by other knitters. He also dabbles in gardening and digital art and likes frisbee and mountain walks.

Visit kieranfoley.com.