Aside from the Unisex Pullover, all the pieces in Knitbot Yoked contain color work. This is different from my usual design work, and perhaps Fair Isle knitting is new to you, too.
I want to invite you to DIVE IN, don't be afraid! It's very very possible. The thing you really need to learn is how to switch between colors and carry strands of yarn across the back. I have just added a video on this very thing to my tutorials page, scroll down it's at the bottom. There's also a short video of Aimee knitting the Willard Pullover that will give you a sense of what the wrong side of the sweater should look like.
A great way to gain confidence is to knit yourself some nice big swatches. In the first episode of knit.fm Pam and I talk all about gauge. You will hear some helpful information there on swatching. Knitting swatches is a great time to not only practice stranding yarn but to play with color. A knitter left a comment on yesterday's post asking if they could use the lice stitch chart on the Unisex Pullover. YES! That's exactly what I hope knitters will do, take the charts and make them their own. In fact, we included a spread at the back of the book with more charts that can be substituted into some of the designs and blank charts so you can design your own!
If you are going to be substituting or playing with charts, the thing to remember is that it will be easiest if you keep the chart the same number of stitches wide and the same number of rows high as the original. Otherwise you might have to do a little math to make sure it works out evenly.
So for example, the lice stitch pattern for Kaye's Cardigan is 6 sts and 10 rows. If you want to try and work this pattern on the Unisex Pullover, figure out where on the yoke you'd like it to begin. Let's say it was after the second increase round. Take a look at the stated stitch counts. Some of them are divisible by 6, some are not. If it's divisible by 6, perfect, carry on, plug that chart right in. If it's not, you could work a few more or less increases on the previous round to arrive at a stitch count divisible by six. Or you can play with the chart and make it, for example, 8 stitches, wide instead of 6. PLAY.
Here is one of the extra charts included for the Willard Pullover or Beret. I love these dots, I can't wait to see them all the way around a yoke.
And lastly for today, I'll leave you with some photographs I just took of Owl. A little color combination inspiration, perhaps?
