Knitting Stranded Colorwork or Fair Isle Colorwork Continental! CraftyGarden: N. 62

Hello everyone, my name is Stephanie and In this video I demonstrate how I knit stranded colorwork continental, over my left finger.
I show how I trap both the foreground and the background colors so that they are carried along the back of the work. This prevents large floats on the wrong side of the fabric. I also give some tips I've picked up along the way and show how I knit colorwork in real time towards the end.
To skip the intro and explanation at the beginning you can use this time stamp to jump to the knitting.
7:00
There are many ways to hold the yarn for stranded colorwork and they can result in slightly different fabrics. This is my way and I find it works well for me. I hope you find this video helpful!
Thanks for watching!
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#fleecetofo #shetlandcolorworkproject

[@Sunshine-gh7dr]

This will always be my colorwork video. It gave me the knowledge to knit my first colorwork pattern. . Watching again to trap floats.❤❤❤❤❤. Thank you.

[@mskal23]

I tried your technique, and it's far better than the one I'd been using. Having a knuckle between the 2 strands allows you to tension them separately; kind of a game changer! My colorwork has sped up quite a bit. Thanks!

[@CondorsCroft]

Yay! Such a nice comment to read!

[@teresaoconnell4790]

The fine gauge of your yarn and stitches is mind boggling , that you would do this by hand.

[@Mohairsprinkles]

I had a lightbulb moment watching this video that I think will solve my confusion with catching floats while holding both yards in the left-hand thank you so much!!!

[@CondorsCroft]

You're very welcome!

[@manicspinner1959]

This is stunning! I've never seen colorwork done this way. i can't wait to try it. And your so-fine handspun. SO jealous! I have not yet been able to obtain that level of fine-ness. beautiful beautiful beautiful!

[@CondorsCroft]

Jillaine Smith Thank you very much! I recommend practicing with some fiber you don't mind playing with. Try a woolen and worsted. Spinning woolen makes a nice lightweight fine yarn. Use a higher speed whorl, pay attention to how much wool you're letting into the draft, and keep your feet slow unit your hands get the feel of it. Hope that helps!

[@elviraes552]

Really good wow!! May you share the model that you are working please?

[@personiguess2453]

I swear I'm addicted to this video. I've watched it several times, and it always inspires me to continue knitting. So satisfying to see how easy you work with that thread, and the intricate pattern is so beautiful. I'd say that to knit something like this, and maybe half as easily, is my current ling-term goal in knitting. So pretty..

[@CondorsCroft]

Such a complement! Thank you. You can do it, it just takes practice!

[@ZenMasterChip]

Hey there... lol me too. But, tonight was my first watch. When I learn something new with knitting. I'll watch before I go to bed... Sleep on it. Then watch again in the morning. Then the occasional refresher until I master it. I made notes on the trapping and holding the yarn; but, we'll see how much I retain in the morning! lol

[@hitzchicky]

The "odd" method of trapping was exactly what I was hoping to find. I'm going to start my first colorwork piece soon and just trying to watch as many videos as I can on the techniques for carrying and catching. Great video!

[@CondorsCroft]

That's great! I'm happy to help! If you've never tried colorwork I might suggest you try a tiny project like colorwork balls just until you get the hang of carrying the yarns and trapping floats. Best of luck with your project!

[@ZenMasterChip]

@@CondorsCroft Sorry, to ask again; but, yes, this was exactly what I was looking for too... ways to trap to keep up the pace! And how to hold the yarn... both were great. But, where or what is a good site or source for patterns of fair isle? You mention the colorwork balls, sounds like a great start. But, what kind of needles are you using... Look like Addi's but I don't want to assume. I'm also on Ravelry; I'll have to check out your group. I've been there for years more off than on; but, never found a group.

[@CondorsCroft]

@@ZenMasterChip Addis are good but I prefer Chiaogoo needles. I'm designing the pattern in the video myself but you can find patterns in books, on Ravelry, on the Jamieson and Smith website, and more. I'm sure there is a Fair Isle group or thread somewhere on Ravelry.

[@peacemakerlogic9760]

Awwh, you sound so nervous. You did great sweetie! Your work is beautifully knitted!

[@kater7201]

Thank you, thank you, thank you - I am knitting colourwork for the first time and as a continental knitter, your video has helped me so much. Thank you!

[@CondorsCroft]

You are very welcome!

[@a.leehilliard4716]

Amazing! Glad this showed up in my feed.

[@holyhummer7951]

So beautiful! Thanks for sharing your technique on color work🧶this is very informative and these important tips set your podcast up with the best of them💝

[@CondorsCroft]

Holy Hummer thank you!

[@youngbloodsuz]

Thank you so much for this great demonstration. I knit colorwork 2-handed but am going to try your method. Your sweater is going to be gorgeous and your spinning is phenomenal! I love your podcasts..I learn so much from you. Suzette

[@CondorsCroft]

youngbloodsuz you've very welcome! It takes some practice or it did for me but in time it became second nature. 😉

[@ZenMasterChip]

Knitting podcasts; now that's got to be something. So... where are they??? Guess I'll have to hang around here for a bit till I find out! :-)

[@triplesss7229]

I really really enjoyed this video and the color work instructions and ideas! Thank you!

[@OlgaBobrovnytska]

Great tutorial! My favourite for stranded colourwork 👍

[@ZenMasterChip]

I have to add: hear here! I too found this to be the best fair isle video to date. I've watched a few others; but, always had so many questions; no doubt this is the most comprehensive video on the subject I've found by far. Plus it's continental knitting. That was really important to me; I started with throwing (English) but only did it for a month or two until I found continental. It's so easy to get lazy with it; and still make beautiful work. I've found one way of knitting with a modified continental that makes the purls all wavy, they're actually beautiful... I'll have to document that someday, and come up with a reason to have the purl side out! :-) Hmm, fair isle with wavy purls... I'll have to look into that! But, back to the video; you're right; it's the greatest; and I've watch a lot of knitting videos! :-)

[@2020enoo]

I liked your explanation a lot♥️♥️

[@normamurphy2827]

Brilliant!!! Game changer!!! Thank you very much.

[@kellyhipkins5616]

I just came across your podcast, and wow, thank you so much for sharing this. YOUR work is beautiful.

[@CondorsCroft]

Thanks Kelly!

[@candicevee1]

Great video. Thank you.

[@anepictree]

Hello Stephanie, this is just fantastic. It is a shame that I am nearly at the end of my jumper now I've dioscovered this brilliant lesson. The explanation and diagrams are just so helpful. A really good lesson. I did have to slow the 'Trap' sections as I'm still at a stage where this is all pretty new but i so wanted to find a demonstration for doing this continental style and could not understand why each time I trapped I was getting a stitch that was twisted on the needle. I now just have to try this and then practice it till it becomes autoimatic. MAny thanks for the work you put into making the lessons.

[@kerfuffle9312]

I’ve been searching hi and low on how to trap the “odd float” continental style, both strands coming off the left hand, forever! I’ve just taught myself continental after knitting english style for over 35 yrs. I always enjoyed colour work knitting and have struggled with trapping the odd float, continental style, keeping my strands on my left hand index finger. Very well demonstrated and explained. Thank you! 🤗🇨🇦

[@ZenMasterChip]

Man did you say it! I was happy to learn how to do any float trap. I was able to kind of intuit how to do it; but, it was cumbersome. This way looks much easier. Plus the stranding on the index finger using the ring finger, also adjusts tension a bit... looking forward to trying it out. Oh, almost forgot; I wanted to congratulate you on switching to continental! CONGRATULATIONS! lol I picked up continental from a knitting group I used to belong to. One gal there could knit a whole kids sweater during out two hour meeting. She was a real marvel; but, hated showing me everything over and over. She had a few odd ball trick with continental that really sped up her knitting faster than anyone I saw. It took me a year before I realized the pitfalls to her method. Yes, it was fast for knit and purl; but, other special knits required some tricks that's I had to teach myself. Ironically none of them worked when it came to fair isle. It didn't work with color work. A hard lesson that's even harder to explain. But, I've had to force myself to relearn standard continental just to do fair isle. I think it will be worth it.

[@vidajohn2199]

Thank you, this is such a clear explanation and I love your diagram. Beautiful fabric too.

[@CondorsCroft]

Thanks!

[@contactjoy4140]

TinyOwl recommended to watch your stranding video. She said, "It is awesome!" and she it is right!! Thank-you! It might have been easier to see with larger needles and contrasting yarn but your explanation was terrific! This is my first attempt at color work and I'm grateful that you mentioned the tension being irregular until I get the rhythm of it. Now I won't be frustrated about it!

[@auntylinda7640]

This is lovely, greetings from Shetland xxx

[@CondorsCroft]

Hello over there! Thank you very much. I so hope I can visit one day!

[@rmlrhonda]

Thanks for the video! Your sweater is looking so beautiful, and your spun yarn is so beautiful!

[@CondorsCroft]

Rhonda Murphy thank you very much! It has been a labor of love!

[@ZenMasterChip]

@@CondorsCroft Ah an opportunity to talk about labors of love. I got prostate cancer two years ago; and the woman I married who is the world to me showed me even more how much she is worthy of love. I couldn't have made it these last two years without her. When the medications got me so dragged down, about the only thing I could find to do that I could handle was knitting. And that's after two years...(sigh) It's so peaceful; and it has allowed me to make things for her to show my love for everything she does for me. It seems so little at times; but, it seems to give her as much joy as I get in making them. When she recently saw me trying my hand at fair isle; she has in her way been my greatest fan of it. I think she's on to me knowing that something will come her way. lol ;-) She's right! I mentioned I spin, and I've been working on getting the alpaca ready for spinning, and I'm also learning to dye. I've decided that I want to spin and knit something special in fair isle using an alpaca & merino blend of my own. She's a very fair skinned redhead who looks like she came out of the Shetlands; and her love of everything from that part of the world is something we both share. While I had my doubts over the last couple of weeks while trying to make even the most rudimentary fingerless hand mitts. (Fiber is hard to figure, not only could I not knit to gauge with the suggested wool; I was doing the fair isle horribly. Gauge has always been hard for me until I realized I had to go by the weight and the yardage over the suggested name of the yarn. Try knitting mittens with yarn that's twice as thick as it should be. And all I saw on her video was, Worsted. After making a horrible mitten, modifying the design to fit the gauge... it looks horrible... Yet she kept saying... it's looks great... lol.... liar! ha ha... I realized it had to be sport weight. But, after two weeks of struggle, I started to figure out a little bit; but, you've brought me up to speed. I'm already 10X better than when I started... But your video will get me there... I know it! But, the yarn I bought might work for my size... after I make hers of course. I'm not quite ready to spin yet. Now, let me apologize, if I'm going on and on on your site. I was about to go to sleep when I found your video; and I'm so jazzed up at literally being able to realize my dreams of doing fair isle... I can't sleep! lol It doesn't take much nowadays. (But... shhh, it's all really for her!) I've always been a fast learner, and I love to knit. But, I needed to find the information, and that's not always easy. I probably should buy a book; but, there can be too many bad choices... best to know what you want before buying; and then you may not get it; or hopefully need it. But, from the first moment you started to knit on screen; I realized you really knew what you were doing; and my world lit up! Not a joke! You literally have packed in *almost* everything I knew I wanted to know in one video! (I already mentioned, as did you, that it's missing how to handle or accomplish equal tension; but, not to worry; I know now I need to be able to handle tension for dominance first; then I can work on equal tension. But, that's not here. You mentioned a couple people (I'll get their names again after watching tomorrow. But, if I can find their site, pages, podcasts, or whatever... I think you mentioned they cover the subject. And I feel with utmost certainty, If you speak highly of them, they must know their stuff. ) So... if you're even still with me... (sigh) TL;DR... I'll let you go; and thank you again... and I'll try to wind down... maybe go knit a bit, and try to sleep after. :-)

[@esthersprinkle5797]

Very lovely...both your knitting and hand spun yarn. I’m a colorwork beginner at 75, doing my first yoked top-down stranded colorwork pullover. I’m just finishing my second go at the yoke, but it’s worth the trouble. Now that I have the yarn dominance worked out I need lots of work on my tension. You have given me me hope and the courage to keep going. Thank you!

[@CondorsCroft]

That's wonderful! I'm so glad I could help!

[@Maryrose4436]

Thank you 😊☘️☘️☘️

[@sylviacriveraful]

This was a great video, thanks! I’m teaching myself how to spin and want to knit Fair Isle, lots of learning this year :)). Your yarn looks beautiful! Be well!

[@ZenMasterChip]

Oh my, this is so my goal, to make something as beautiful as this! I really needed to hear your comments about when you were a beginner... that's me right now (fair isle.. that is). I've tried colorwork with two hands; but found that as a continental knitter, my left hand was really dominant. So much that my dominant really dominated to the point where my other color all but disappeared! Shocked, the object because a learning tool. I switched the hands around, and indeed, the other popped up. And then tried continental; better, but still issues with holding two in one hand. But, I persevered, and finished "one" mitt. Junk it is; but, it's my junk. But, I started again... with doing the first mitt again. But, decided I had to learn continental fair isle. I could see my tension was much better; but, not at least had one color more dominant. I'm still clueless on keeping tension even. Anyway, I've learned so much. My source for the mitts didn't mention trapping; but I knew instinctively that I needed to trap for longer runs. But, it was tedious... so I went searching and found you! What a blessing this has been. I've learned so much; and now feel ready to take on doing both mitts. But before I make my wife the mitts with really fine wool; I'm using cheaper acrylic and making a pair for myself, for practice. It's a simple pattern; but I've already learned so much from the first mitt; and now armed with this information, I'm an eager beaver! Thank you so much! *If I may ask, where do I find the patterns to make something as nice as what you're doing now? So I can plan my first real Fair Isle project. I am also a spinner, and I see now that I will want to do a project with this kind of beauty and detail, a "real" fair isle project; but, in my searching I just haven't found any "fancy" patterns.* Sure, I'll work up to it, get the skill first; but, I want to dream and find that perfect first "real" project; but, I've not had any luck. Does such a thing as what you're doing exist; if so, where? I realize that part of what you are doing may be a given as a simpler pattern, but one where instead of a single stitch, one would do 2, 3, or more for each single color block on the chart. That way, we get a much finer appearance to the overall garment. Plus, when I spin, I've always wanted to have a reason to use the fingerling, or lace yarns... And I think a project like this could be a real possibility. I've been carding for months some local alpaca I picked up, white, brown and black, along with some corriedale and merino... waiting for the right project. I literally have pounds of it. I want to make something real special for my wife. Sorry I hope it's not TL;DR. I do tend to go on. But, seeing your work, so serendipitously found and on my first try... Keywords: Continental Fair Isle. I've been knitting for almost 10 years with a 4 year health issue break and just started up again. I taught myself some bad habits with speed knitting continental... Not kosher style; but, great for simple fast work; but, now, I'm ready to get serious. Thank you again so much for such a great video! SUBSCRIBED! And, we'll see you around!

[@CondorsCroft]

Hi I think I answered some of your questions on the other post but I'll add that you can do an advanced search on Ravelry and search for fair isle. You can also look through projects that use yarn typically associated with fair isle. Jamieson and Smith is one another is Jamison's of Shetland. That's how I found some nice patterns. Jamison and smith has kits for sale too.

[@jay_cadiramen]

I really enjoyed seeing your notebook and how you plan your work. I'm also interested in how you hold your yarn and "trap" it for stranded colourwork

[@deianeraaudiffred9157]

thank you so much for this video. i have been searching quite a lot and this is the first (maybe even only) video i found on how to catch the mc in continental knitting. the only thing i want to know is how to catch the floats when knitting purl on the wrong side. maybe i can figure that out myself now. :)

[@anitabracey-wright3164]

fabulous technique wonderfully explained. I'm looking at trying this technique and wanted to know what ply wool you are working this

[@CondorsCroft]

Anita Bracey-Wright thank you! This is my own handspun wool it's around a lace weight and has 2 plys. I talk about making it in my shetland colorwork project videos. Hope that helps! You definitely don't need the same yarn. Many wool yarns are suitable. Shetland yarn is very traditional though.

[@celestegarcia486]

Thanks for your video. I am relatively new to color work and hold one color in each hand. How does one anchor the floats when holding the 2 colors in each hand instead of the 2 colors in one hand as you are doing. Thanks!

[@CondorsCroft]

Celeste Garcia I'm sorry I don't knit that way, so I can't help you. You'll have to look around for another video. I know there are some out there.

[@candicevee1]

I knit just like you do for the knitted side of stranded colorwork. I’m working on a Marie Wallin blanket that is knitted flat. I can purl with both yarns held in the left hand, however, trapping the floats is difficult for me on the purl side. I’ve kind of given up and have been resorting to two handed knitting on the purl side. I can’t seem to find a video demonstrating continental purlside knitting and trapping.

[@CondorsCroft]

I avoid it at all costs! Haha I’ve added steeks in the past to patterns that are flat so I can knit them in the round but some patterns are challenging to do that with.

[@beftefur1]

I enjoyed your video. Does the way you catch your yarn allow you to stack? I mean, do you catch your yarn in the same place each time. When I do that, I see a line going up of the opposite color. Thanks!

[@CondorsCroft]

I think if you're knitting long columns that could happen but it's not a problem I notice. It might also depend on the type of yarn. A smooth worsted yarn might be more likely to show through. A woolen yarn fills in and sort of hugs its neighbor.

[@beftefur1]

I haven't done the technique that you have shown for catching the yarn, so I think that will make a difference. Also the yarns I have used recently have been heavier weight and smooth. I know I'll have to review the two catches again and practice. I think this video is one of the better ones for one handed fair Isle knitting that I've found. Thanks for making it.

[@TB-il5co]

how do you think about when to "lock" in the strand on long sections, to get the nice pattern on the inside? my colorwork look like a mess from the inside and you can't tell the pattern based on that. but I get the strands even so I'm happy with that ;)

[@CondorsCroft]

Hello, good question! If the strands on the back won't be too long I'll just trap it about half way but if the section is very long then I might trap every 3-5 sts depending on the pattern, length of the section, and the thickness of the yarn. If you are consistent with whatever you do, it will look nice on the inside but ultimately it doesn't matter that much. 😉

[@TB-il5co]

CraftyGarden thank you for all the tips and tricks! Can’t wait to get started on my new project🤩

[@zerlinavansickle8645]

May I ask what project you are knitting on? It's gorgeous!

[@CondorsCroft]

Thank you so much! It's my own design and a very, very slow work in progress. 😊 I talked about it in a more recent video Fleece to FO part 10.

[@Maryrose4436]

Please teach from the beginning love 💓 ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@CondorsCroft]

Hi, this video only shows a specific method of stranded colorwork and was not made for beginners. I'm sorry it's not what you're looking for. If you're new to colorwork you might look for a basic how to knit colorwork video. ☺️

[@elviraes552]

Hi may you tell me how I Can find a book with a models?

[@CondorsCroft]

Search for books on Fair Isle or Standed Knitting. Many yarn stores that have knitting books will have some. Hope that helps.

[@libalibansky9994]

Amazing! Do you sell this pattern?

[@CondorsCroft]

No I never finished it, sorry!

[@carolynpiatt]

What do you do when you have a third color?

[@CondorsCroft]

I have yet to do that but you can pick it up and drop it as needed or try to hold all 3. I hope to try it one day but I haven't needed to yet.

[@biaberg3448]

The pattern is beautiful and the yarn is realy thin.