Fair Isle and Color Stranding . . . The Challenge . . .

Fair Isle is a unique knitting technique using yarn in multiple colors.   Usually you only use two colors per row or round while knitting.    It is named after Fair Isle, a small island in the northern part of Scotland.

This technique is very popular with knitters who create sweaters, hats, scarves, mittens, etc.    Usually you follow a pattern to create motif designs in fabric.   There's much out there in the form of books on this technique for knitting, but I have not found anything for crocheters with the exception of a few YouTube videos that touch on the basics of using Fair Isle in crochet.

Fair Isle motif designs done in crochet will never look like those in knit fabrics because of the nature of the stitches, but you can practice and explore different designs in your crochet work to add color to hats, scarves, etc.     Unlike tapestry crochet where you hide the secondary color in the working stitches, in fair isle crochet, you "float" the secondary color in back of the fabric that you're working with.   Below is a picture of what I mean. 

I have been experimenting with the use of color in crochet fabric, mostly making hats.   I'm still learning, working on perfecting this style and adapting it to my crochet.

Below you will see some finished items and some that are still in the works.

Written patterns will be released in the near future.

For some more free patterns, go to my link on Ravelry click here

(this is the inside of the hat with the purple, light blue and yellow yarn being "floated").

The finished project (above)

Another version

As always, I thank you for stopping by and visiting my page.  Stay safe!

The HookDude

Who am I (HookDude West)??

First off, an explanation of the quirky username ... "hookdude" was just an easy name to remember and "west" just something that popped into my head because whenever I make plans to travel, I always think of going west to Southern California, my favorite destination.   

I'm a native Texan and have lived all of my life in South Texas except for the nine months that I lived in Louisville, Kentucky while attending graduate school at U of L.    After I returned to Texas, I never considered leaving because I'm a person who enjoys the warmer and milder South Texas winters (no snow nor blizzards down here).    I experienced first hand the cold winter weather and snow in Kentucky when I lived there, and I really didn't like walking on slick and icy sidewalks.    Besides, we have just about everything (well, maybe not the ski slopes)here, the mountains in West Texas, the snow up in Abilene, Lubbock and Dallas, the beaches down by South Padre Island and the piney woods in East Texas.

My daily life in South Texas is patterned by two languages, English and Spanish.  Yes, I'm bilingual, and I feel very fortunate to have grown up speaking two languages.      

I have always gravitated towards colors, but unfortunately have never dabbled in artful activities like watercolor or acrylic.   It wasn't until I taught myself how to crochet and to knit that I really began paying attention to color and its nuances.    Of course, I'm still learning, and I still have a long ways to go.

If you've read some of my earlier blog posts, you know that many of my projects go to charity.    That's something that gives me much personal satisfaction, and I will continue to work on these projects as long as my health and my budget allow it.

Thank you again for taking the time to stop and visit.   

The HookDude