This London workshop explored colour and yarn choice for Fair Isle and stranded knitting through direct comparison, sampling and play.
Yarns that play nicely together
The starting point was my sticky-versus-slippery method: understanding how fibre, twist and surface affect whether yarns sit together as one coherent fabric. Gauge matters, but equal label weights do not guarantee equal behaviour.
Participants handled different yarns, matched gauges and tested combinations before investing in a large swatch. Colour was evaluated through proportion, contrast and proximity rather than as isolated balls in a shop.
Bring your own visual appetite
Phones and tablets were part of the table. Participants brought images with colours, textures and structures that attracted them, then used those references to create combinations and design ideas.
A collection of mitten samples made the discussion concrete. Small pieces reveal a surprising amount: dominant and subordinate yarn positions, how a bright accent travels through a motif, and where similar values cause a pattern to disappear.
Fit and finish
The session also covered templates and methods for well-fitted stranded mittens and arm warmers. A beautiful surface deserves a thumb, cuff and hand shape that people will actually wear.
The spirit of the workshop remains simple: bring plenty of yarn, make the comparisons visible, and give colour decisions enough room to be playful before they need to be correct.
Back to the journal