I love a good matched set of knitting patterns (though now that I think about it, the only matching things I have are a shawl and a pair of mittens I worked in the same yarn). They’re great to knit for gifts or to make for yourself, and kind of give you an extra air of being a maker because matched sets like that aren’t that common in stores.
The Wavebreaker hat and fingerless mitt pattern from Francoise Danoy features a take on the Ng?ru (wave) pattern in traditional Maori designs, evoking the swirling waves caused by a canoe paddle going through the water. The intent is to bring a sense of calm, both in the knitting and wearing these objects.
The repeating design, which looks a little bit like hearts on their sides, is repeated in bands of different background colors. You’re still only working two colors at a time, but if you’d rather you can always work the background in a single color.
The pattern uses sport weight yarn in three colors total. The hat is 20 inches around and the mitts are 7 inches around, so both should fit a small to medium woman. Both have ribbed edgings for a good fit.
The patterns are sold as a set, and you can get them with their pay what you can model on Ravelry.
If you’re new to stranded knitting, I’ve got a quick Fair Isle tutorial on my blog. Looking for more fun stranded colorwork patterns? I love these Summer Picnic Socks (which of course don’t have to be just for summer if you stitch them in different colors) and the Kenora Cowl pattern is perfect for the cold time of year because it’s knit with a lining layer that covers up your floats and brings an extra layer of coziness to the project.
[Photo: Francoise Danoy]
Book Review 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter’s Directory
