Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified

The Easiest Way to Knit in the Fair Isle Style!

Get ready to make your next knitting project an exhilarating journey with the spectacular designs featured in Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified.

Drenched in color and shaped for the utmost comfort, these rich, multihued sweaters use a remarkably simple two-handed method that takes just a few minutes to learn and a few evenings to master. A dazzling array of colors, from traditional heathers and bright, bold tones to calm-and-cool hues, will make your knitting an exciting new adventure.

· Knit beautiful, sumptuous sweaters featuring stunning stars, stained glass, garden patches, and fractured diamonds, plus the popular "Color Your Own" pattern

· Learn the history of the husband-and-wife team behind Philosopher's Wool who built their traditional-style farmhouse, raised their own sheep, dyed their own wool, and designed these dynamic Fair Isle patterns

· Try simple, quick methods for making sweaters larger or smaller, longer or shorter--even after your sweaters are finished

· PLUS--Discover Philosopher's Wool's signature technique for transforming pullovers into cardigans with a few simple snips

Whether you want to start knitting right away or enjoy perusing each page in anticipation of your next project, you'll be inspired to unleash your own artistry with these 16 gloriously simple Fair Isle patterns.

The photography is this book is supurb as is the quality of the paper and printing. The designs are incredible; I want to make every one of them! I can't recommend a book more highly.


What a nice book!   October 27, 2000
Nosewiper (Sterling Heights, MI United States)
54 out of 56 found this review helpful

I had been meaning to attend one of Ann & Eugene's seminars, if I ever got the chance, when a friend bought this book for me. It is delightful--fun reading, beautifully presented, and so far (halfway up the body tube of my first real sweater, with a completed doll cardigan to show that I could indeed do this) the instructions have been exceptionally clear and easy to follow. For all the beauty of the sweaters presented, I think the book would be appropriate for a near-beginning knitter (I'm not a pro myself), as they present a very simple method for knitting a basic sweater, letting the simple fair-isle technique and the colors do all the work. I was a little (OK, a lot) fumbly at first, as they promised, but sure enough, within a few evenings I had it down.

For those that have read the book and wondered, as I did, if Eugene ever did get to grow those mushrooms...I had the opportunity to ask in person, and the answer is no, the township wouldn't allow it. So the book's one loose end has now been "woven in," so to speak.


A Must-Have for Fairisle Knitters   September 7, 2001
Sara Roberts (Eureka, CA USA)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

This is an all around great book. First off, the stranding technique the Bourgeois' teach is worth the price alone. I have several fairisle books, and I have never seen this technique in any of them and IT WORKS. No weird pulling effect, and with a little practice, it is easy. On top of that, the patterns are gorgeous and the story of the start of the Philosopher's Wool company is entertaining. If you like fairisle, but were afraid to try it, or were frustrated with it like me, this book is for you!

I am adding an addendum 6 years after my original review. This is in response to the knitter afraid of steeks who dinged this book because of them. Steeks are an integral part of making fairisle sweaters. Not only do the Bourgeois' sweaters use them, so does Alice Starmore, Meg Swansen, Elizabeth Zimmerman--this list goes on. I am currently knitting a Starmore vest and have just cut the steek. There is NOTHING to be afraid of. It DOES NOT RAVEL. This is my second fairisle with steeks. So steek away knitters--it's OK!!


Fair Isle "Confidence"   October 23, 2001
Patience (USA)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

This book is well worth the investment, no question! I never thought I could knit a fair isle sweater------never!! Guess what, I mastered their technique of weaving rather than stranding and I am now on my second sleeve of the "Garden Patch" pattern done in pastels. I found the book so informative and the story about how Ann and Eugene started out was so much fun to read.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting both of them at a yarn show, and they are truly wonderful people, always ready to give a helpful hand in any way they can. Their book is chock full of info, to say nothing of the many pictures and patterns that are incuded. Five stars aren't enough for this one!