Two jumpers from the same pattern with slightly different sleeve ease, but both are superb. The pattern is the Homefront jumper available on Sidney's delightful Squid's School of Vintage Knitting Patreon page. This pattern is a schematic for you to plug in your own measurements and gauge, and then knit something perfect. And let me confirm, it is perfect. The Patreon is totally worth it! There is a new pattern every month, monthly zoom knit-nights, and general knitting greatness (on the USD $8.50 tier). The green version came first and is made from leftover yarns. The green is from the Land Girl jumper and the cream is from the 40s fair isle vest. The stripes idea was heavily inspired by Sidney's red version of the same jumper. The stripes on the sleeves stop before the CO and dec because who wants to set in striped puff sleeves? Not I. The light buttons at the back next were from my stash. They're a recently added "stock item" of small mother-of-pearl buttons which seems to suit everything I make. A happy coincidence. One brilliant thing about this pattern is that you take separate measurements for front shoulders and back shoulders. Finally my broad upper back is catered for! As long as you dec down to the same top shoulder measurement then everything lines up nicely. The forest berry version is knit in a superwash yarn from Morris & Sons bought especially for this project. I used the forest berry pattern by Fabel Knitwear up the centre, and keen eyed friends will notice that there is one little forest berry repeat in the centre of each sleeve. Somehow, this is the most romantic and feminine jumper I have ever made. Not sure if it is down to the yarn colour, the sweet little berries, or the delicate puff sleeves? Probably a combination of all three. Feminine magic. The buttons are little purple shanks from my stash. No idea what they were for originally. Eh, they have a home now on this precious jumper. Honestly, I could probably get my head through without needing the buttons but they are a cute detail on the back. Speaking of squeezing my head through I of course used the super stretchy, double-worked cast off method for the neckband. I will never use a regular rib cast off again for a neck. Not after that time I cast off a vest so small that I got a bit stuck... Both Homefront jumpers are styled with me made skirts from vintage patterns. Maroon-ish corduroy skirt paired with the green jumper is a vintage 1940s mail order pattern. Grey upholstery skirt worn with the forest berry jumper is vintage 1960s Simplicity 3744. More knitting details on my Ravelry page. Basically, these are the 3 colours in my wardrobe: green, maroon / wine red, grey. Throw in some mustard and burnt orange shades for good measure and you're ready to go. And finally, I can't help but have visions of more of these jumpers. So I started sketching them and writing notes... Do you have a preference for the next Homefront design?
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How great are vests? This pattern is available on Squidney Knits Patreon and it's brilliant. Her whole method is to use your own measurements and spi (sts per inch) to create a personalised pattern. My version is knit with leftover Bendigo yarn from a jumper finished earlier this year so I was being yardage conservative at best. The ribbed band should be a bit longer but it's nothing between friends. The stitch pattern is a mix of knit and purls that is easy to 'read' what row you are up to. I much prefer to read my rows rather than make tally marks of where I'm up to. Makes me feel like even more of a knitting wizard. One interesting thing about this pattern is that the upper back and upper front are different widths. As you take your own measurements and work that in line with your gauge (5spi for me), it can be a different width for the front and the back. I have never knitted a garment where the front is not an exact repeat of the back but with neckline shaping. What a revelation! This did require wet blocking as the armholes and neckline are only 4 rows of ribbing deep. They kept wanting to flip upwards. They soon discovered my patience is not infinite. (Just a little Black Jack Randall quote there.) The wet block took an age because just after the vest had soaked, it rained for 3 days. Oh, and I used the double-worked super-stretchy bind off for the neck. I don't think "bind off loosely" is enough stretch. Aside: How much mileage can I get out of this 18th C shirt? Honestly, not enough. I love it so much. It can do Poldark, Outlander, any Jane Austen / Regency period, might even be able to shove it into early Victorian! Drama. Linen. Comfort. Historical. Vest: Knitted from Squidney Knit's Patreon Pattern - Scarecrow Vest Shirt: 18th C mens shirt Skirt: Squared out pencil skirt from the Blue Suit Shoes: American Duchess Claire IT'S SO CUTE!
My sister-in-law is having a baby soon and requested a 10-12month old knitted thing for Winter 2021. Why yes, I can deliver! This is a pattern I have used before but this is a larger size. Previously, I made the newborn / 3 month size in a beautiful cornflower blue merino. This time I went for a lovely rich green by Bendigo Woollen Mills - do they ever get it wrong? No. No they don't. It's the colour 'Clover' in Luxury 4ply. Seriously, I think this has to be my favourite yarn for knitting. The white buttons came from my stash. Pre 2020 lockdowns I ordered 50 white buttons from eBay thinking they would be a great basic to have and boy was I right. The contrast between the green and white is adorable. If I have the choice, I don't think I would knit this pattern again. The body is simple with limited shaping. However, there are so many separate sections to pick up and knit: front crotch band, back crotch band, front left shoulder, front right shoulder, back left shoulder, back right shoulder, front neck, back neck. GROAN. It creates a nice finish, but mate is it tedious. Anyway, very happy it's done and now... onto the next thing! A new knit has been finished! This whole project was started and completed in less than a month, and that included a few days off while I waited for new yarn to arrive. It's a fast knit but there has been a lot of 'down time' where I have been in my house, listening to music or watching Star Wars to help pass the time. Knitting makes me happy so of course I have been doing a lot of it. I was short of yarn by 3 rounds of decreases, 10 stockinette rows, 13 rows of ribbing, and a stretchy cast off. So.... yeah, that's a bit short! I'm not sure if the pattern underestimated the amount required, or if there wasn't the correct amount in the skien. Perhaps both? More yarn was ordered, and it turned up a few days later. Imagine how relieved I was to discover it was the same dye lot as the original ball! :D This gorgeous yarn is by Bendigo Woollen Mills, Luxury 4ply Sweetheart in the colour Sienna Kiss. It's such a rich and warm colour perfect for autumn and winter. If you are a fellow Aussie knitter, you should know and use Bendigo Woollen Mills. Seriously, their yarn is an absolute dream to knit. If you want more tech notes then have a look at my Ravelry page for the project. Here, it has been styled with some old faithfuls from my wardrobe on an overcast day. Top: Beauty School By Poison Grrls
Skirt: Wool blend from eBay Beret: Part of my high school uniform circa 2000/01 Lipstick notes: Certainly Red by Revlon Amy Appel from Poison Grrls does it again. Cute, effective, easy, top down, no seams perfection! This top is part of the retro Pink Ladies Collection. It can be knit in short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve and long sleeve options. This is the long sleeve version and knitted in a Medium size. Honestly, I could have knit the arms a smidge longer and a touch wider... but it's okay! The yarn is from an Etsy shop called Trichromat Yarns, local Aussie shop, hand dyed, in a colourway called 'Flying Nipples'. It was a gorgeous yarn to work with and excellently priced for something handmade. I absolutely would work with this yarn again. The colour is a stunning apricot/peach/pink that is a dream to wear in my mid century wardrobe! Sadly, the colourway is no longer available. But there are some other inspiration colours for sale. I had some issues with the needle cable size for the lower arm section. I'm not great with magic loop method and didn't have DPN's in the right size. Drat! I bought a really short cable needle in the 3.25mm and just struggled through - some of the most joyless knitting I've ever done. A change in tension can seen on my right forearm. This is due to that change in needles. The second sleeve was better at that change point as I purposefully knitted at a looser tension. As usual, I added an extra row in each decrease set of the body to spread them out a bit and extend the length. Good idea. It a comfortable tuck-in-or-out length. Check my Ravelry page if you want some more info about mods etc. This knit makes me happy. Top: Beauty School Top by Poison Grrls Pants: Simplicity 3688 in a chocolate brown mechanical drill Shoes: Wittner Hair flower: eBay trawling depths |
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April 2023
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