Easy Fair Isle Sweaters for Kids and Adults

January 24, 2025 by Sarah White Leave a Comment

I was perusing the patterns on Lion Brand the other day, as one does, and I saw these two patterns that are not identical, but they’re related enough that you could make a mom and me pairing out of them. They also alerted me to the news that Lion Brand has a DK weight yarn now, which I definitely need to check out!

To start with the kid-sized version, the Mercer Street Pullover is worked from the top down in five colors and is rated easy. It comes in sizes for kids ranging from 6 to 12 years (four sizes in all), with chest measurements ranging from 28 to 33 inches, or 71 to 84 cm. The colorwork is Fair Isle style, meaning you’re only working with two colors at a time. This pattern does require you to be able to read charts.

The adult-sized Fair Isle Pullover also uses five colors, but the patterns used on this pullover are a little different. (You’ll still need to be able to read charts to complete this one, but it’s really not hard!). The pattern is rated easy and is available in eight sizes, ranging in chest measurement from 36 to 64 inches, or 91.5 to 162.5 cm.

Either of these patterns would be a fun way to learn the basics of Fair Isle (and chart reading if you’re not already comfortable with that) and get yourself and/or a little someone you like to knit for a colorful way to stay warm through the rest of the winter.

Both patterns are free on the Lion Brand website as linked above.

Looking for more fun projects to try out Fair Isle knitting? This sweater from Wool & Pine only has colorwork on the sleeves and pocket, so it’s another great way to work a bit of stranded knitting without committing to a full multicolored project.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Free Knitting Pattern – Northen Lights Fair Isle Sweater

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Book Review – 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter’s Directory

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Learn All About Ribbing (+ a Free Pattern to Try)

It might sound weird to you, but one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns is ribbing. I find it kind of fun to knit, because it feels mechanical after a while and I don’t really have to think about it, but it makes a texture that’s more interesting than stockinette stitch.

Over at Our Daily Craft I recently wrote a giant post all about knitting ribbing that includes most of what I know on the subject. There’s a fun variation on the cable cast on that is perfect for using with ribbing, tips on how to follow the stitch pattern, binding off in pattern and more.

I even talk about everyone’s least favorite part of knitting ribbing, which is what to do when you have to increase or decrease in ribbing (short answer: it’s going to mess up your pattern but it will also be OK).

I also share a few of my favorite ribbing patterns, because of course it doesn’t have to be knit 1, purl 1 or knit 2, purl 2 all the time. (In fact my favorite is probably 3×3. I find it super fun and love the texture of the fabric.)

You can check out the post all about ribbing here.

And if you’re ready to try an allover ribbed project yourself, check out my ribbed cowl knitting pattern. This one is fun because it starts out being knit flat and ends up in the round, so it opens up over your shoulder for easy wearing but is snuggly as a turtleneck at the top.

This one uses worsted weight yarn and is pretty quick and easy to knit. It’s a good one to try if you’ve never done a project in the round because you don’t have to worry about twisting the cast on since you’ll have already knit flat for several inches before you join. (Of course you could work the whole thing flat and make a seam where you want it to be closed, but knitting in the round is easier.)

Do you have a favorite rib stitch? I’d love to hear about it!

Practice Ribbing with this Hat and Mitt Set

Have You Tried This? Ribbing with No Purling

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