The Knitting Man Ep 5 How to Knit a Fairisle Vest with No Pattern & No Floats in Stranded Colorwork 

I Love your videos/podcasts. I am binge watching because RU-vid has only just brought you up on my feed (January 2024). The ultimate knit and natter ... I knit while you natter. I'm a 74 year old, experienced knitter but have only recently decided to explore Fair Isle. I'm still at the stage that it's not a relaxing experience. Thank you so very much for your time and for sharing. I enjoy the whole caboodle; the chat and techniques - I am learning so much, please don't go all 'professional'. I was born and brought up in Dagenham, Essex and now live in Norfolk ... its such a pleasure to listen to home grown delivery and reminiscences. Please don't stop. Jennifer

Just re-watched this and my husband saw your stash baskets, decided I needed some too, and that he'd start clearing the spare room out for me to use as a craft room! Result!! Thank you 🤣

Would love to see what's in those black trash bags, and see how nice your yarn would look on shelving! I really enjoy your videos of your trips to small towns nearby- so beautiful! Can you talk in a future episode how you choose your colors? This is something that I think a lot of people struggle with. Thanks!

What a joy it is to find an honest real individual with a history such as yours....and one who is willing to share so openly. Very pleased to be able to follow along as your channel grows. Thanks to Mrs. Smith for her patience and wisdom. :)

Very interesting. I love how you create a vest without a pattern. Tip from me: if you dip circular needles in very hot water, the cord softens. You can then stretch the needles and get rid of those annoying curls.

I’m only a little bit into episode 5 and am already reduced to laughter and excitement over your upcoming podcast projects! With all due respect to Mrs. Smith, please don’t try to be businesslike…although the attempt was quite amusing!🤣❤️Just be yourself…there’s too much “businesslike” in the world already and you are a refreshing original! And I’m so excited about the vest, and of course, “Hare and Brambles”!! 👍😁❤️ I’d better get my bluebird cushion done so I can start the new projects. So back to the podcast…😁

Don't stop being funny sometimes - the world is serious (and just in the moment horrifying) enough. We can need some friendliness and fun around us.

Thank you so much for your lovely videos and letting us take part in your creative process!

I’m looking forward to following your journey knitting the fair isle vest, you make it sound so simple 😊

How do I find the part about no floats?

I enjoy the” welcome to our home and knit with us”, realism and personality.We can learn your artistry and gain from your knowledge while getting a glimmer of the joy that you and Mrs Smith (aka. The Knitting Widow)share. Thank you for sharing, waffle away we all need a little waffling.

Did I miss the bit where you joined your work after casting on?

I love you Mr and Mrs Smith 💞 thanks for visiting me and living a smile on me to last until next time I see you stay healthy both of you and your family is my biggest wish from Corona CA 🤗🤗😘🤗

I am more of a crocheter but I really love your blanket designs. Hope someday I will be able to knit your blanket pattern. BTW thanks for the David Byrne music recommendation I love it

Your workmanship is just perfection. The level of your expertise is daunting to me as I’m just returning to knitting after around 35 years. Your designs look very challenging. I’m not at beginner level but I don’t feel advance enough to knit like you do. I just finished doing scarves, a blanket and hats. Any advice? Thanks.

Great podcast, love the image of your stash hidden away in the loft 😂😂

Just finished episode 5 …another wonderful podcast! Gary, you and Mrs. Smith are such a great team, and I love the idea that she, as a non-knitter, asks questions that more experienced knitters often don’t think to ask. Thank you for trying to demystify choosing colors, which I know can be quite intimidating. And it’s fun to at least hear Mrs. Smith in the background!😁👍So I’m thinking that I need to start knitting the vest even though I’m not quite through with my bluebird cushion …I think you’d approve!🤣Going to pick out some colors!❤️

Well I have just discovered and watched episodes 1 - 5; what a wonderful discovery. It is so real and so interesting. I am thoroughly enjoying the format, the grandkids, the history, the artist process, the technical bits, the repartee between you, and your gorgeous work. I love the organic process... thank you for bringing all of this. I look forward to the creation of this fairisle and if I were not in the midst of a colour work project of my own I would be tempted to see what my stash might yield in the creation of my own... I do see one in my future. Thank you.

I love your humour and "frivolousness" - very British humour (I'm Canadian). "I seem to have a problem with things exploding in a bag", LOL. Please don't change. I love your creative process. You really do need to write these things down and sell them. A lot of people like to follow exact colours and numbers. But I really like the idea of starting with even numbers. Amazing!

This is another awesome podcast! Thank you for mentioning that you only buy fingering weight & DK weight yarns. I have just discovered Fair Isle & Color Work and need to build my “solid color” stash. Do you mind me asking ~ are you particular about the content of your yarn? I mean, is there nylon in some of it or do you look for 100% natural, animal fiber? Thank you & Mrs. Smith too!!

At the moment I am 'inbetween knits'. Meaning: I finished all sweaters, socks, etc. I planned to make (last year). But I like to have something to knit, to do with my hands when I'm sitting and not doing other activities. I like your blankets, but I think I like it even more to design my own patterns. So I'll follow you while you show how you turn a painting into a pattern ... In fact I already started trying that out, with a small drawing of an Icelandic horse, which I knitted into a project bag ...

Hello, from a modest french knitter enjoying your videos, discovered only a few days ago. Never knitted fair isle. So beautiful ! I might give it a try. Is your yarn 100% wool, or do you also knit with acrylic yarn ? In flee markets or charities, it's often impossible to find out the yarn composition. Best regards to you and Mrs Smith.

So glad I found your site. Luv your patterns, I also follow my own piper. Your vest (jumper) are so beautiful, the bunny blanket is so cute. 😎👍

Gary, You said you use “mostly” Spindrift, and yet I see great balls of hand-wound yarns , which makes me wonder: can you buy Spindrift in a size different from those little 25g skeins? 😘 to you and Mrs Smith.

Wow what a fun podcast. I just enjoy the humorous snippets along with the awesome knitting adventure. Can’t wait for the Knit A Long someday. What fun that would be. : )

Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration in this style. For now it's on my dream list. I've only recently started to knit but I want to try fair isle one day.

Again a wonderful afternoon spent with you and Mrs. Smith. It’s always a delight and I cannot wait get started on my jumper.

This was a great video. I loved the artistry as well as the music! I can't wait to see more. Rachelle in Seattle

I’ve been binge watching your episodes while knitting my first fair isle vest (it’s a pattern by Japanese designer Yoko Hatta). I gasped when you said you were inspired by music to break the “rhythm” of pattern repeats because I thought of music rhythms too! Although I thought of a different type of rhythm play in music where a melody in the 3/4 time signature runs in parallel against another in the 4/4 signature, causing a dynamic and intriguing effect. The Arabesque 2 by Debussy has this feature and it was quite challenging but fun to learn to play for me. Thanks for the inspiring podcast, Gary! I am learning a lot from you.

I thinks mrs smith need to butt out of your knitting- your explanations are great

You two are such a great team with such a great rapport! So - I think I may cast on.... I have always wanted to have a go at freestyle fair isle and I think you give us the confidence to have a go! I like the reference to disrupted pattern - thats fascinating. Yes - an instagram hashtag would work well I think

do you only use 100% wool or do you mix fibers in the same project?

Love to learn from a true knitting artist. I dream of creating my own on the fly but never seem to veer from published patterns. Appreciate you and your wife putting these videos together.

How much stash have you got in the attic and does Mrs Smith know?

I'm watching the subscriber number climb

Hi, Gary. I’ve recently discovered your channel and am enjoying your videos! I truly appreciate your avant- grade approach to the craft. I am curious about the objective of knitting two rows flat before joining and continuing the round. What does that provide for you? Thank you! I hope to catch up to your current videos someday soon.

Welcome ! Enjoying it so far! As far as being more serious, to quote Ben And Jerry ( US) 'If its not fun, why do it?"

Can't wipe the smile off my face. Your content and presence is such a delight. Very excited for learning to knit a vest "as I go". Thank you and Mrs. Smith again.

I am watching your back catalogue. This episode made me smile at so many times. I have a bit of a confession to make. I started and knit the majority of, a Kaffe Fasset vest (or was it a waistcoat) in a complete random selection of yarns , which from memory were probably different weights. This must be 20 years ago. I still have the incomplete project in its bag with the balls of yarn. Some life event intervened and stopped me in my tracks. Now I feel that I don't have the skills to finish it. But watching your work has helped me to feel that I can. Hopefully the moths haven't ruined it.....I must at least get it out and see where I stopped. And then perhaps finish it without colourwork, as a way to finish but also maybe a little piece of my history. I recently bought the packs from Wee County yarns that you curated, and I would like to start the Charlie Brown pattern, as a way to move forward and do one of these off piste vests. I don't often create goals for myself. But this feels like a good one for me right now. Writing this is making me cry: I haven't been well and life feels fragile. Thank you for your videos. You both make me smile. :)

your work is so beautiful! Im so glad to have discovered your podcast! very inspiring, and learning alot here, thank you!

Thoroughly enjoying your podcasts! Please, please, do not become more serious! ps. thank you for answering my question.

I love the ease and unpretentiousness of your videos Gary, and feel very proud to own one of your ghost jumper drawings. You were pointing out how you weren't over happy with the top part of the bunny and brambles painting but I really like how the two sides are similar but not exactly the same. There's something very Kit Williams-esque about the illustrated tank tops and can almost image characters stepping off out from the knitting, or those flowers blossoming. Your yarn selection isn't quite like Crackerjack though, as you weren't struggling to catch a flying cabbage being chucked at you by Ed Stewart.

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

My take on Sasquatch is a Chewbacca like character who stomps around the forest on the East Coast of Canada.

I am loving your colour and patterning talk Gary! You mentioned that you buy yarn from charity shops; do you use a mix of wools and acrylic then? If so, what about washing?

At last another married man whose wife hides the wool! I taught myself to knit in three months and have only done flat knitting so far. Is it possible to do these Fair Isle vests on flat needles?

pls share how you do the neck edges and the armholes

When you said "Ghost jumper" I thought that your camera woman is a ghost participant in your videos - invisible but critically important to the quality of the finished production. Thank you both.

Hello from Germany. I love the rabbit blanket a lot. It is gorgeous. I forgot to vote for the polar bear or the tiger. I would choose the tiger. I think they are cool. And my sweetheart is born in the year of the Tiger. (hint, hint) I came up with a trick for myself to avoid twisting the knitted cast on when joining in the round. This is what I do: I simply knit the ribbing in the flat and then join it in the round. E voila, no more twisting into a Möbius loop, lol. The seem you can sew shut later. Easy peasy. :-) Blessings to all of you.

Thanks for such an informative podcast. I am just knitting my first fair isle project - a beanie from a pattern by Alison Rendell of Shetland which I am so far pleased with. I want to create my own patterns and I love your idea of cutting off the pattern before it's finished - it is very like things I do with patchwork, traditional patterns that suddenly change colour and fabric and so the pattern disappears until your eye catches up. You are doing that here. I love it! Thanks for sharing. Thank you Jo for your behind the scenes input. xoxo

Absolutely love your RU-vid channel, so inspiring, thank you!! I too am an ex art school kid, studying textiles and Fashion. I’ve knitted all my life and mostly made up patterns. More recently I’ve started to follow patterns, which I actually find harder and now have lost my make it up mojo. You’ve really encouraged me to just cast on again and free style, I’m so happy about this!! I’ve binge watched up to episode 5 so far and can’t wait to watch the rest!! 😊 🙏

Well King Georges walk is one of my fave walks ...looking at the wonderful plants , I don't think it pretentious to listen to David Bryne's Catherine Wheel in fact I'm going to,Spotify I now havnt listened to it yonks ...Next to Bowie Talking heads and David Bryne are my go to 🎶

Love this! Thanks! Will go op-shopping to gather a big stash of bits and bobs of 4 ply and hope to (belatedly) knit along (or follow) this fair-isle process. For sure I will learn a lot. 😊👍

Another enjoyable video Gary. I'm power watching them all now. Keep them coming! I'm learning so much and feeling excited about colourwork. Also, you and Mrs. Smith make me laugh a lot. 🤣

You 2 are absolutley the best of my week. Looking forward go meet and follow your knitting Eliza 😉😁 I'am not a total novis, but I struggle with 2 color-knitting. It would be fantastic to meet your crochetting brother. I looked up Marta-Stina and her work What an amazing caracter the was. Thank you for your lessons. I do my best to understand. Best regard from Sweden // Maggie

Well, a Mobius loop, ey? Ya learn somethin' new everyday! Thanks. Nice pictures of your part of the world.

I liked the way you talked about music and knitting colourwork. I have thought of that too sometimes! Very much enjoyed your episode.

3 min. in, and I already love your channel! Will watch all the episodes now while having a nice afternoon tee with my knitting. Cheers!

I, too, buy almost all my yarn in thrift (e.g. charity) shops. I also buy and unravel wool sweaters. It makes this hobby very affordable, and I spend more money on needles and so on.

What cast on did you use. I’m thinking long tail because you purled the first row. I’m glad you do a few rows then start in the round.

I am so excited to cast on with you. I have some J & S so will work perfectly . Thanks for sharing your knowledge

So glad I find your podcast Love it,and your knitting is lovley.Look forward to next episode.❤🇧🇻

Oh our electricity went out from 9.30am to 6.00pm good job for wood burner stove

Hi. I just want to say: you were right when you told (before, other episode) about knitting a design like your blankets: it goes fast, because you want to go on to see the picture!

Amazing color work, and visuals…thank you, so interesting, I am catching on….

I just love the Hare vest the way it is now, would love to knit that pattern. I would so much love a sheep vest or blanket

I love this. I have knit a lot of fair isle, but have not designed my own. Can't wait to see how yours progresses.

Funny! What’s that background music at the end (and beginning)? Looking forward to watching the backlog. Thanks! Bobby (not Ross)

Fab episode. I love seeing your yarn baskets and could listen to you talk about colours all day.

Has anyone started a Ravelry group? We could share there....

Just found your podcast, and can't wait to view your previous ones.

What's your opening music?

Your work is just amazing

Hi…🙋 I was thinking I would love to knit along with you on this vest, but I already have two knitting projects on needles right now. This brings up a question I’m curious about….do you have more than one project going at a time or are you a monogamist knitter? You might have mentioned that in previous podcasts, but I can’t remember. I love your podcasts, and I have learned something new each time I watch. Thank you so much for such an fun and relaxed way you and Mrs. Smith interact with each other…true love! ❤️🧶💃