You have seen this jumper in progress before ;) I think if you click on it you can see the pattern in much better detail.
The yarn is a cheap acrylic because I was experimenting :) 1. I have to have something that will not irritate my neck (wool does, as I have found to my cost :(), and 2. I wanted to check what type of yarn I could use. I discovered that a sportweight yarn is very consistent with the 4ply used back in 1940s America (it is an American pattern), and will get me 7sts per inch on a no. 4 (US) needle (I think that is a 3.25mm).
I did one thing special to the sweater, and that was how I bound off the collar. I used the Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. It was wonderful for a collar- no getting my big head caught in the opening ;)
And because I am thinking about adding this to the Yarn Along (click here to see others), you can see my current read, The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri. I love her books. They are well written and fun to read. I highly recommend them, especially for summer reading.
I just took a class with Franklin Habit on knitting vintage patterns and thought about you through the whole thing---you would have LOVED LOVED it. (you probably already know he does a vintage pattern rewrite and chats about vintage patterns in every issue of knitty---I didn't know this....I used to just look at the pictures!)
ReplyDeleteAdore this sweater....!!!
Thank you Steph :) Actually I didn't know... so I am off to check it out (sometimes these things pass me by!)
DeleteHello Rachel,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful jumper and the color is quite pretty too! I work a lot with acrylic yarn because I am allergic to wool, but there are differences in quality, don't you think. Again, my compliments for your beautiful knitting work:)
Thank you :) That is why I chose the yarn... it was soft and a very pretty colour ;) I am not allergic to wool as such, but I *am* sensitive to it around my neck and arms, so I have to be careful. And if the collar will rub my neck, it can't be wool... so acrylic.
DeleteAnd yes, there are definitely quality differences.
Hi Rachel! I love that jumper you have made. I am falling in love with a lot of vintage knits. What a beautiful pattern!
ReplyDeleteThe book you are reading sounds right up my alley. I'm off to the virtual library to see if they have it. :)
Thank you Emily- I really, really love the vintage knits! They have a totally different construction style!
DeleteAs for the book- GET IT! If you like Sarah Addison Allen, you will love it :)
Beautiful! I'll have to try that super stretchy bind-off. I tried a sewn bind-off on a toddler sweater but toddler cannot fit his head through it! Time to frog and try again.
ReplyDeleteRachel: thank you :) It really is a nice bind off. It is usually used on socks- but definitely try it on the toddler top! If all you have to do is undo the bind off and then do this one, it would be a good save :)
Delete(My Mum always adds buttons ;))
Very cute jumper! I love the color. Beautiful knitting :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate :) I love the colour too- robin egg blue is a favourite of mine!
DeleteHow fabulous to use a vintage pattern like that ~ and it is lovely! What a happy colour too :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you :) It is a lot of fun!
DeleteThat jumper is very pretty, such a lovely design. I'm going to take a look at the bind-off method you used because sometimes the head holes are just too small and I have to resort to adding buttons :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lucy- My mum does the button thing too. I wasn't sure the stretchy bind off would work at all- but it did, and I was thrilled (because I thought the hole would be too small for my big head LOL)
DeleteAren't there some gorgeous vintage patterns. The cable pattern is lovely. I hope you enjoy wearing it. Jacinta
ReplyDeleteThank you Jacinta- there are indeed :) Alas, I shall have to wait until it cools down, because- even though I am motivated- I am not about to wear it in 90*+ heat ;)
DeleteThe sweater looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz :)
DeleteI love it! Great work!
ReplyDeleteThank you Erin :)
DeleteI love discovering patterns like that on my antique shop visits. Your sweater looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Hannah- I do too! I think I wiped out this source though ;)
DeleteHi sweet Rachel, I hope you don't me commenting on an older post. I've been having a lovely time reading through some of your back posts this evening and just had to say how much I adore this cute, sweetly beautiful 1940s sweater. (I'm allergic to wool, too, and have to avoid direct skin contact with it all times lest I break out in hives or a case contact dermatitis - not fun at all, as you know, but at least there are nice alternatives like cotton and acrylic out there to sub in for wool.)
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
I don't mind at all Jessica :) Thank you, indeed. I love this jumper- it is very comfortable, and I have enjoyed wearing it a few times now :) I still need to make some more bottoms (trousers and skirts) to wear it with though ;)
DeleteAnd yes, thank goodness for acrylic and cotton (and bamboo etc) so I can still make these things!