This is the class for you if you’ve ever looked at fairisle patterns and wanted to knit them as quickly as possible. By learning how to knit with two colours simultaneously – one in the left hand Continental style, one in the right hand ‘English’ style – you can fly through your projects and settle into an easy rhythm. Combined with other traditional techniques such as knitting in the round and steeking, you’ll be following in the footsteps of many knitters before you.

We will be working in the round from a charted pattern, alternating hands and colours to form the motifs. You will also learn how to weave in floats at the back of your work as you go, keeping the ‘shadow’ side just as pretty as the so-called right side!

Knitters will need:

• Two colours of yarn, preferably wool or other animal hair/protein fibre such as alpaca or camel. Avoid drapey and/or cellulosic fibres like cottons, rayons or silks; these are fine as part of a predominantly wool blend (minimum 50% wool, if you’re using a blend), but otherwise they will make the technique hard going;

• Please choose a yarn in the DK, worsted or Aran weight range. Something that knits on 4mm, 4.5mm or 5mm needles (US6, US7, or US8) will progress at a good speed whilst remaining comfortable in your hands.