Knit Stranded Colourwork or Fairisle
Many of my designs involve knitting with multiple colours, usually only two per round — a Pattern Yarn (PY) in lighter shades and a Background Yarn (BY) in darker shades. To change from BY to PY, just begin knitting with the PY. Carry or strand BY loosely along the back of the work.
If one shade has not been used for several rows, it is best to break it off and introduce it again when required. For example, when you have finished knitting rounds 27 - 33 of the Meitheal Headband with Yarn E, break Yarn E off, and then introduce it again when required.
In stranded colourwork, one yarn will stand out more than the other — the yarn that is taken from below will dominate more. So to make sure the pattern stands out against the background, hold the PY to the left of the BY — or carry PY underneath BY. Please refer to the excellent video by Knit Purl Hunter above.
Patterns that use this technique:
So cozy and soft, you won’t want to take it off. The ultimate accessory to wear while spring cleaning in the garden or being out and about in the woods, and a perfect project for using up those bits of colourful yarn in your stash. Experiment with colours, be brave – spring is almost here!