A slightly slouchy Fair Isle patterned beanie in one of my favourite colour combinations — grellow. Deep ribbing keeps things simple and streamlined from the front, with the colourful Fair Isle a beautiful surprise when you turn your head. The stitch patterns make a sampler of traditional peerie and “X and O” motifs that’s a fun way to try out stranded colourwork or to play with colour shading if you’re more experienced. Three shades of grey and two of yellow are used to subtly shade the patterns. Which colours are contrasted and which blended, which are background and which are pattern, changes throughout to create a lively sense of movement. The pattern is charted to focus on a pattern being worked against a background, rather than on individual colours. Work the pattern colour so that the yarn is dominant and use the blank columns at the side of the chart to plan out your own colour scheme. Don’t be afraid to rip back if the colours aren’t working but remember that a certain level of discord makes the patterns come alive. The pattern uses 1 Main Colour and 4 Contrast Colours. You will need a 3mm and 4mm 40 cm circular needles to complete the project.
