Knitting Jenny Pattern 18: Fair Isle Inspired Fisherman’s Kep

Knitting Jenny Pattern 18: Fair Isle Inspired Fisherman’s Kep is a modern interpretation of a traditional Fair Isle fisherman’s kep (or cap or hat).

The kep is long, conical, colorful, and meant to be worn folded at the crown, in the historic style of fishermen and sailors. 

The book includes knitting patterns, motifs, and instructions in the following inclusive formats:

• Color Charts
• Color Written Instructions
• Grayscale Charts
• Illustrations
• Photographic Tutorials

The fisherman’s kep was designed by Jennifer Daley at her studio in Fair Isle, Shetland Islands, Scotland, the historic birthplace of Fair Isle knitting.

The kep is knit circularly. Firstly, provisionally cast on. Secondly, knit the brim, then cast off. Thirdly, unravel the provisional cast on, then knit the interior brim ribbing. Fourthly, continue knitting upward to the head, crown, and apex.

The knitting pattern utilizes Jamieson’s of Shetland brand Spindrift wool (or alternately substitute any fingering weight, 2 ply jumper weight, or 2 ply equivalent to a 4 ply).

This pattern requires ten colors of wool.

However, grayscale designs are included to enable the knitter to envision personal color preferences for this Knitting Jenny pattern, by seeing the charts and motifs alone, in grayscale, without color distraction.

The following tools are suggested for this pattern.

• 2.0mm knitting needles (for the ribbing)
• 3.0mm knitting needles (for the stranded colorwork)

The knitting needle sizes stipulated in this pattern are designed to achieve a knitted kep that fits a medium size head. However, this book also includes advice to achieve a finished kep hat size that is either larger or smaller.

The gauge (or tension) for this Knitting Jenny pattern is:

34 stitches and 40 rows to 4 inches (10 centimeters) over the stranded colorwork pattern, knit circularly with 3.0mm knitting needles, after washing, blocking, drying.

The book includes a discussion on the topic of Color Dominance, to support consistent, uniform stitch definition. 

Additionally included is a Tassel Tutorial, to adorn the apex of the kep in the traditional way.

The book includes 27 illustrations and 62 pages. 

The book is intended to be read electronically, in consideration of the environment.

Published in the United States in 2023 by Mall & Mall Press, a publishing imprint of Mall & Mall LLC.

The book is delivered as an immediate digital download in PDF format and therefore cannot be returned, exchanged, or refunded.