Fair Isle

1. a banded geometrical pattern knitted into garments using variously colored woolen yarns.
2. clothing featuring such a pattern, especially sweaters.

Fair Isle

noun

1. an intricate multicoloured pattern knitted with Shetland wool into various garments, such as sweaters

Word History and Origins

Origin of Fair Isle¹

After Fair Isle, one of the Shetland Islands where the knitting pattern originated

Word History and Origins

Origin of Fair Isle¹

C19: named after one of the Shetland Islands where the pattern originated

Example Sentences

Fair Isle is a distinctive form of stranded colorwork used to create rows of intricate patterns.

From Washington Post

There is the girl with the tie-dyed purse and the woven Fair Isle flats (so Urban Outfitters).

From The Daily Beast

IN the fair isle of Cyprus, long ago, lived a young sculptor named Pygmalion.

From Project Gutenberg

Fair Isle is a lonely island midway between the Orkney and Shetland islands.

From Project Gutenberg

On the third day after leaving the Orkneys we sighted Fair Isle, looming faintly through a mist of snow, far to starboard.

From Project Gutenberg

On Fair Isle, one of the Shetland group, the art is first said to have been discovered, very many years ago.

From Project Gutenberg

It would seem as if the Fair Isle had some attraction for “persons of quality.”

From Project Gutenberg