I sifted around the house for some finished projects, or nearly so, to see if I could find something inspiring. I think I succeded. I found this great sweater that I had totally forgotten about.
It's a vintage Columbia pattern from 1916 or so knit out of Cascade 220 (why is that such a good yarn?). I followed the pattern pretty exactly except that the stripes of the darker green were some sort of fuzzy angora blend thing originally but I thought that looked silly. The buttons are these cool brass knots that were in my grandmother's button box for my entire childhood and then I got the button boxes (wheeee!) to do with what I will, and so this is what I did. They are great buttons, I'm sorry I didn't think to take a good picture of them. I am going to eventually format this one for sale but the pattern notes and the original pattern are on the island and I am in philly, at least for the duration of the cold. The boats to get across get pretty unreliable when the weather is crappy. The boat captains don't like to go out when it's not likely for anyone to be coming or going. There aren't enough sweaters in the world. Okay, now stop laughing. But there are an awful lot of accessories out there and shawls and scarves and hats and stuff but if you really want to make a sweater you're back looking at a Rowan book (not that there is anything wrong with that, my favorite sweater is from Vintage Knits [just re-released btw] and it also has pretty f-ing excellent buttons) or thumbing through the myriad books and magazines which is like finding a needle in a haystack. Maybe it's that people don't knit sweaters as much as they used to. When I started working in yarn shops (first knitting job was at the Weaving Workshop [now the Knitting Workshop] in Chicago in 1997) everyone just knit sweaters. You would come in with your copy of Knitter's or your Alice Starmore book and pick out yarn and go off and knit yourself a thing. You'd make a hat if you had leftover yarn. I want that again. Lets all knit sweaters. They are great.
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4 comments:
I agree with the sweater sentiment. You know, my first project was a sweater because no one ever told me that knitting a sweater was hard (it's not, people!). I have 3 sweaters on the needle right now. I love knitting and wearing sweaters. Fortunately, California is now colder than the east coast, so I get to!
Btw - I started Basil. It's a great pattern once you get into the groove. It's moving along quickly, which is good because there are 4 babies being born in March and April!
I noticed that sweater on you at knitting circle last week and thought it was stunning! Beautiful work!
Emily
Any chance that will be sized for plus sizes? It really looks lovely.
Rita
I *love* this sweater! It looks great on you, too.
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