Fair Isle Knitting

[pug]

I am wanting to do some fair isle knitting (inspired by Ingrid), and I have just bought the book by Alice Starmore. She says she uses 2 ply jumper weight yarn. I do not know much about the different yarns and was wondering what she meant by jumper weight. Can anyone explain?
thanks

[Jan in CA]

Sweaters are called jumpers in Britain and possibly elsewhere, but the term "ply" is often confusing. Go by gauge if there is one. You can estimate yarn gauge using this chart if you want to know beforehand. Most if not all yarns have gauge/tension numbers on them as well.
http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/weight.html

Stranded knitting (fair isle) can be done with most weights of yarn although I would never use bulky.

[Ingrid]

The two-ply jumper weight that she uses is just like this:

http://schoolhousepress.com/Jumperweight.htm

It's considered a fingering weight yarn. I used the Jameison Smith for my sweaters and the colors are just so beautiful! It doesn't feel soft the way many yarns do, but it's not supposed to. The sweaters feel nice, though, and look as good as when I made them.

If the price isn't what you're looking for, Knit Picks has some that would work. It doesn't have the heathered look of the J&S.

I don't think the Starmore yarn is available anymore but it might be worth a Google.