30 best Fair Isle easy knitting patterns – 15 FREE

I have a bit of a thing for fair isle knitting patterns in general and fair isle cardigans in particular. Not the boxy, big-shouldered numbers I can remember layering over Lady Diana-style high collared blouses back in the 80s. Nowadays it’s all about natural, north country knits that conjure the feeling of being at one with wild, windswept landscapes. To be slightly less poetic about it, there’s nothing more practical on chilly days than being able to pop on a warm cardi, is there? Even better if that cardi has a fair isle pattern.

Fair Isle knitting patterns originated in the 18th century on the Shetland Islands in Scotland, beginning with simple motifs and developing over time into the traditional patterns we’ve come to know.

Cardigans, berets socks & more

I’ve decided to have a go at making one myself, so I’ve done the research. I do love a great project like this – searching for and collecting the most beautiful fair isle knitting patterns around. I started with cardigans and found hats, berets and socks along the way. So, of course, I’m sharing my findings with you. I’m no master of the art of fair isle knitting but I have long been a lover of fair isle designs. Intermediate knitters will be fine and beginners or new knitters (like myself) will also be able to our hand at traditional fair isle. If you like to work from a knitting book, you can’t go wrong with Alice Starmore’s book of Fair Isle Knitting which is full of charts of patterns and traditional techniques to try.

Some of the fair isle knitting patterns I’ve found are free and some of them aren’t. But all of them are beautiful in their own way and would make the perfect crafty project for this time of year. Scroll down for the free knitting patterns. You can buy fair isle tool sets for knitting machines (to allow you to move easily between the different colour yarns) but if you’re hand knitting, the good old knitting (or Norwegian) thimble works a treat. Youtube is a great learning center for such info – this is a simple how to guide I just found on there:

I’ve started here with my favourite knitting patterns to buy – all totally gorgeous finds, in my humble opinion and at affordable prices. If you scroll down the page you’ll also discover my 10 best free Fair Isle knitting patterns – all also utterly beautiful, and totally free to download. Whichever pattern(s) you pick, I hope you find something you love.

I’ve included OXO patterns (a traditional, ubiquitous Fair Isle knitting motif consisting of lozenge shapes (Os) connected by diagonal lines (Xs), forming a OXOXOXO structure, common in Scottish Shetland knitting). I love that Fair Isle patterns are so beloved in a way described as ‘Atlantic meets’; a way of describing the geographic and cultural inspiration behind fair isle knitting (where the Atlantic meets the North Sea).

Fair Isle knitting patterns to buy

Possibly my favourite Fair Isle knitting book is Knitting from Fair Isle by Mati Ventrillon. You can buy signed copies from Mati’s website here.  The book includes 15 contemporary Fair Isle designs using traditional 19th century motifs. Here’s a selection of images to give you a flavour of the loveliness inside…

Tin Can Knits

A creative partnership between Alexa Luderman and Emily Wessel, Tin Can Knits offers free learning materials as well as beautiful knitting patterns for the whole family. It’s all about finding the fun factor for Alexa and Emily. Quite simply, if they didn’t love knitting a new pattern design, they just won’t publish it. Their patterns are seamless, simple and created with your joy in mind. Try making up in new colors and combinations that appeal to you or, for a rustic look, how about combining natural colours free of fiber dyes? Or even learn about fiber dyeing yourself so you can use plant or other natural dyes to make your own colours? I’m always drawn to clearance yarns in wool shops – perfect if you only need a ball or two to supplement your main colour to finish the pattern you’ve chosen pattern. Choosing yarn colour combinations is what gets me excited to get going. It’s all about yarn quality yarn for me. And finding an easy knitting pattern. I’d class myself as an experienced beginner so choosing my next knitting project is about pushing myself a little but not so far I end up stuffing it, unfinished, in a cupboard and giving up. I learned my lesson with a complicated cable sweater that was just beyond me for years and blocked me from knitting anything else. Choosing the next project to make needs to bring joy, not just the frustration of being out of my depth. So I’m draw to fair isle jumpers that aren’t too challenging. West Yorkshire Spinners have a lovely free pattern (scroll down for links) as do Purl Soho.

The Strange Brew collection is described by Alexa and Emily as ‘an adventure in colourwork’ and includes 12 cosy designs of fair isle knitwear for the whole family.

How beautiful is this Strange Brew Recipe sweater pattern?

There’s a fab tutorial here which talks you through exactly how to turn the sweater into a cardigan.

One of the joys of knitting is choosing colour combinations isn’t it? I love this rainbow mixture of hand-dyed yarn from Ginger Twist Studio. The pattern is the Strange Brew recipe pattern again.

Final image from Tin Can Knits is another variation on the Strange Brew sweater pattern. If you’re thinking of making a Christmas Jumper for someone you love this year, surely this is perfect?

Jennifer Steingass

Jennifer Steingass lives in rural Maine with her family and has created an absolutely beautiful collection of knitting patterns, Buy 2 of her patterns in her Ravelry shop and get the third one free.

I just love this Icelandic-style Fern and Feather pullover pattern, which Jennifer says is a great first time stranded yoke sweater project. It’s worked seamlessly from the top down, starting with a simple rolled neckline. Just lovely. Again, not a cardigan, but definitely worth a mention here. Any long floats behind your fair isle (unused yarn strands spanning more than 5-6 stitches on the wrong side) can be ‘trapped’ or ‘caught’ to prevent snagging on fingers or buttons by weaving or twisting the carried yarn around the working yarn.

One simple technique that can add a unique personal touch to a sweater or jumper is to add corrugated ribbing to the bottom and sleeves (a two-color knitting technique that produces a decorative, textured ribbed fabric by alternating colours between knit and purl stitches.)

The image below is by Lisa-Mai (see her other Ravelry projects here)

Kate Davies

As I’m supposed to be writing about fair isle cardigans, I’ll move on to a real find – Kate Davies. Kate’s story is rather an inspirational one, to say the least. A stroke at the age of 36 put an end to her career as a literary academic.

While recovering, she supported herself by designing digital patterns for hand knitting, establishing an independent publishing company and starting to produce books that combined her skills as author and designer. She has produced 15 books to date, including Yokes (click here to buy now),

Interestingly, research shows that the right hand / left hand nature of knitting is beneficial to cognitive and fine motor skills.

Colours of Shetland (click to buy now)

and West Highland Way.

This is Epistrophy (inspired by the Thelonius Monk track of the same name). The tune is characterised by its repetition and modification of a single, imitative phrase. Like the tune, as this yoke progresses, the diced pattern imitates, repeats and modifies a single motif. This is worked in the round and then steeked.

Hilary Grant

If you love fair isle patterns and nordic knitting in general, you need to know about Knitting from the North knitting pattern book by Hilary Grant. It’s her first hand knit project book and includes 30 patterns for contemporary hats, scarves, mitts and jumpers.

My picks would probably have to be this Icelandic jumper and fair isle scarf patterns.

Marie Wallin

When it comes to fair isle and shetland patterns, you simply can’t beat Marie Wallin. Her pattern book Shetland is full of inspiration. It’s a collection of modern fair isle using Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift wool.

Also lovely is her Bloomsbury collection (click to buy now)

This short film gives you a flavour of the patterns and the landscape that inspired them.

SHETLAND – a short film from Marie Wallin on Vimeo.

Laine magazine

Also very lovely is this Marit pattern from Laine magazine, issue 7. A high quality Nordic knit and lifestyle magazine for knitters, Laine is passionate about natural fibres, slow living, local craftsmanship and the simple things in life.

Also by Laine, how beautiful is this fairisle sleeveless cardigan from this Nordic Knits pattern book?

Get this beautiful pattern as part of the Nordic Knits book that includes 17 patterns and is available to buy here.

Or how about this beauty from the Finnish Knitting book also by Laine? Pattern includes all the info you need to know including yarn weight and needle size etc.

On a cold, Winter’s day, can you imagine anything cosier than this beautiful jumper from Laine Magazine issue 23?

Other knitting pattern books with nordic, fair isle sensibilities that I love:

Norwegian Knitting

Norwegian Knitting Designs (click to buy now)

Petite Knit

I love the contemporary simplicity of Petite Knit patterns. How gorgeous is this Celeste fairisle sweater pattern? It’s available to buy here.

Jared Flood

And how adorable is this Atlas pattern by Jared Flood?

North Child

Another cute child’s nordic/icelandic sweater pattern: Heima PDF download by North Child

Also by North Child Trading (on Etsy):

Lichen Lopapeysa Icelandic sweater

Nicki Trench

And if you like pretty pastel and candy colours, you’ll love Fair Isle and Nordic Knits by Nicki Trench (click to buy now)

The book includes 25 projects inspired by traditional colourwork designs, including these favourites:

Fair isle socks

How gorgeous is this fair isle socks pattern by Darling Jadore on Etsy (a great place to find knitting pattern ideas)?

Skill level: Advanced-Beginner / Intermediate. Video tutorials included as well as a stitch chart. Size range: Adult women size medium; Approx. shoe size: U.S. 6-9.5 (39-42 Euro).

This book (200 Fair Isle Designs by Mary Jane Mucklestone) is a pretty seminal reference point with 200 classic fair isle motifs and lots of colourwork patterns, knitting techniques and history.

Learn to read colourwork charts and rapidly gain the confidence to use these stunning designs to create your own stylish fair isle pullover and other fair isle garments. An essential guide for anyone serious about colorwork patterns and learning this knitting technique.

Another essential read is Alice Starmore’s Book of Fair Isle Knitting

Fair isle hats

How beautiful is this fair isle beret pattern by Jennie Atkinson Knits?

Fair Isle knitting patterns – 10 free downloads

Free pattern number 1

Hermione Cardigan by West Yorkshire Spinners

How pretty is this pattern designed by Emma Wright for West Yorkshire Spinners? Made in DK yarn.

Free pattern number 2

Based in Oslo, DROPS Design is a great resource for knitters. As well as offering a wide range of free patterns, there are tutorial videos, lots of tips and ideas.

I have picked out these beauties from their free patterns, but there are many more to browse for inspiration. Click the image or text links to get your free pattern. What’s particularly brilliant is that there are specific tutorial videos to help you at the end of each pattern.

First one I picked out is this After Midnight jacket. It’s worked from the top down with round yoke and nordic pattern on the yoke. I adore the slightly ballooned sleeves too. This might be the one…

Free pattern number 3

How pretty is this Blue Flax Fair Isle pullover pattern by Varian Brandon?

Free pattern number 4

Northern Lights Capelet by Purl Soho.

I love this cute capelet – knitted in a blend of baby alpaca, extra fine merino and linen. Neither sweater nor cardigan, but pretty perfect for warming chilly shoulders. Love the delicate colour combination.

Free pattern number 5

I do realise this Night Shades jumper isn’t actually a cardigan. But I like it so much I decided I wanted to share it with you anyway. It’s knitted bottom up with a lovely nordic pattern.

Free pattern number 6

This Mandal Jacket knitted with round yoke and simple Nordic pattern in extra fine merino wool is pretty.

Free pattern number 7

And if you fancy a cardigan with pattern going further down below the yoke, this Spring Fjords pattern worth considering. It would look pretty in a soft blue with the pattern worked in white don’t you think? Or grey with the pattern in bright orange or rainbow colours? Choosing your colours is half the joy of knitting a fair isle knitting pattern isn’t it?

Free pattern number 8

I was so excited when I found this Ellen Cardigan free pattern by Amy Christoffers. I love the pattern and also how she has used deep forest green here contrasted with pretty pinks, blues and pastels.

Free pattern number 9

How beautiful is this Lapwing semi fitted sweater pattern with 3/4 sleeves, using The Little Grey Sheep’s Hampshire 4Ply yarn. The Fairisle pattern is easy to knit and this design would be a good first Fairisle garment to knit.

Free pattern number 10

How cute is this Fair Isle toy mouse pattern by Clare Hutchinson? It’s her Harold Fatmus pattern and it’s available for free from her Ravelry collection here.

Free pattern number 11

This fair isle hat pattern by Spruce Hill Knits is another great find. It’s available to download for free from the Spruce Hill Knits collection on Ravelry here.

Free pattern number 12

These gorgeous Queen of Hearts socks are by Knitting Hour and available to download for free from the Knitting Hour collection on Ravelry here.

Free pattern number 13

I’ve included these pretty Bella Bella Mittens by Traci Scott because I really like the pretty flower motif. It’s published in her Fleece Love and Happiness collection and is available to download for free on Ravelry here.

Free pattern number 14

How about this cute Fair Isle Christmas jumper pattern for dogs? My spaniel loves a jumper on a cold day – he gets grumpy when it’s time to take it off again. This one is by Red Heart Design Team, ranges from Size Small to Extra Large and is available to download for free from their Ravelry collection here.

Free pattern number 15

I just adore this Sommarkoftan25 fairisle cardigan pattern by Maja Karlsson available to download for free from Maja’s Ravelry collection here.

The Sommarkoftan20 is an enduring favourite and also free to download here.

INFORMATION

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I prefer to use circular needles myself but many of the patterns are also suitable for straight needles and/or short interchangeable needles.

Yarn & Fiber is a useful source of info and wool if you’re US-based but they also have a large collection of free downloadable knitting patterns here.

Find more knitting and other craft ideas in the MAKE section of our blog

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