the knitters go shopping! Well, that’s what I do anyway! I’m kinda tired of my current projects and I’m ready for a change of pace. Enter all of the new fall/winter magazines. I haven’t been blown away by anything, until now. It’s Helga. Perhaps there are a few things you should know. First of all, I don’t know how to knit fair isle. I’ve only had one venture into intarsia and it’s not what I would call a successful venture. But here I sit, in love with a fair isle sweater. What’s a girl to do? When it comes to knitting, I’ve always taken the attitude that I can figure it out. Nothing is too difficult for me. This has caused many late nights of pulling my hair out, but it has also resulted in the aquisition of many skills I didn’t think were possible. I might just have to try Helga. If I make a big swatch of the pattern and get familiar with the method first, it should be okay, right? Any Fair Isle folks have feedback?
The problem is, as usual, too little money. I’m also eyeing the Webs summer sale. They have yarn with CASHMERE in it for $14 a cone. They say it takes no more than 2 cones to make an average sweater. I could have a sweater with CASHMERE in it for $28! Does that seem crazy to anyone else? Quick, somebody, transport me to my yarn closet so I can stand there and realize that I do not have the need or money or time for anymore yarn!!!
onestitchshort 
Take that lovely band across the sweater and try part or all of it in a hat. Wait to do the decreases after the FI or just make it a square one and tassel it. All of the FI hats on my sight were bands taken from a sweater and used in the hat.
You can do it!
Helga is a beaut! I say go ahead and jump in! I have not tried FI before, but I want to start this fall… that are just so many gorgeous patterns that use it. Good luck!