My Einstein Coat

Last fall, I completed this adapted version of the Einstein Coat from one of my favorite books, the Knitting Experience, by Sally Melville. Done all in garter stitch, it is an easy pattern to adapt, it’s knitted and constructed with knitting as you go along, and requires very little sewing, which I really don’t enjoy doing. I made a large version of the child’s pattern, to get a garment more jacket than coat length. Always get lots of compliments when I wear it, and it’s very warm.

Louise Knit Top - FO

It’s finished ! The purple one, obviously, is mine. This pattern is a pleasure to knit. Can’t wait to wear it, though I really do not want to wish the summer away. Something to look forward to in 4 or 5 months.

Started this a few days ago, using 127 Print wool yarn. About 1/3 completed:

Knit in one piece, sideways. Size 10 (US) circular needle. Yarn must have soft and flowy hand to achieve proper fit.

http://www.onesheephill.com/louise.html

Vintage Shortsleeved Cardigan

From McCall’s Needlework book- Fall/Winter 1953-54.

BLUE NYLON CARDIGAN

Sizes: Directions for size 10. Changes for sizes 12, 14, 16 are in parentheses.

Materials: Spinnerin Nylon, 7 (7-8-9) 1 oz. Pull skeins. Knitting needles Nos. 1 and 2. (Or, English sizes, 12 and 11.) Eleven buttons.

Gauge: 81/2 sts = 1″; 12 rows =1″.

PATTERN (Multiple of 6 sts plus 1):

Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 (right side: *K1, p5, repeat from * across, end k1.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14: *P1, k5, repeat from * across, end p1.
Rows 15, 17, 19: *K1, p1, repeat from * across, end k1. Be sure to have k1 over the k1 rib already established.
Rows 16, 18, 20: *P1, k1, repeat from * across, end p1. Repeat these 20 rows for patt.

BACK: With No. 2 needles, cast on 115 (125-131-139) sts.
Note: Sizes 10 and 16: Work in pat as given above. Sizes 12 and 14: Beg row 1 of patt: P5 (2), repeat between *s in patt, end k1, p5 (2). Beg row 2 of patt: k5 (2), repeat between *s in patt, end p1 k5 (2).

Work in patt for 3/4″. Keeping to patt, dec 1 st each side of next row, then every 8th row 6 (7-8- times more. Work even on 101 (109-113-121) sts. until 5″ (5″-51/2″-51/2″) from start. Mark center of each side of next row, then every 6th (6th-5th-5th) row 14 (14-17-17) times more. Work even on 131 (139-149-157) sts until piece measures 13″ (131/2″-131/2″-14″) from start or desired length to underarm. Keep track or patt row ended.

Shape Armholes: Bind off 8 (8-10-10) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then dec 1 st each side every other row 7 (8-9-10) times. Work even on 101 (107–111-117) sts until armholes measure 7″ (71/2″- 71/2″-8″) above first bound-off sts.

Shape Shoulders: Bind off 11 (9-10-11) sts at beg of next 6 rows, 0 (8-7-6) sts next 2 rows. Bind off remaining 35 (37-37-39) sts for back of neck.

LEFT FRONT: With No. 2 needles, cast on 83 (87-91-95) sts. Starting at side edge, beg row 1 of patt: p3 (1-5-3), repeat between *s only to last 20 sts, k20 (center border and facing). Keeping 20 sts at center edge in stockinette st and remaining sts in patt, work even for 3/4″. Dec 1 st at side edge of next row, then every 8th row 6 (7-8- times more. Work even on 76 (79-82-86) sts until 5″ (5″-51/2″-51/2″) from start. Inc 1 st at side edge of next row, then every 6th (6th-5th-5th) row 13 (14-15-15) times more. Work even on 90 (94-98-102) sts until same length as back to underarm, end same patt row as on back underam.

Shape Armhole: Bind off 9 (9-11-11) sts at beg of arm side, then dec 1 st every other row 8 (9-9-10) times. Work even on 73 (76-78-81) sts until armhole measures 51/2″ (53/4″-6″-61/2″)
Shape Neck: Bind off 20 sts at beg of center edge once, 9 sts once, 6 sts once, 2 sts once, then dec 1 st every row 3 (4-4-5) times. When armhole measures same back, Shape Shoulder: Bind off 11 (9-10-11) sts at beg of arm side 3 times, 0 (8-7-6) sts once.

With pins, mark position of 11 buttons on left front center border: first one 1″ from lower edge, last one 1/4″ below neck edge.

RIGHT FRONT: Work as for left front, reversing center border, facing and patt: also forming buttonholes to correspond to buttons>
Double Buttonholes: k3 sts at beg of center edge, bind off next 4, k6, bind off next 4, finish row. On next row, cast on 4 sts over bound-off sts.

SLEEVES: With No. 1 needles, cast on 91 (91-97-97) sts. Work in stockinette st for 2″, end p row. Change to No. 2 needles. Work in patt, inc 1 st each side every ½” 5 (5-7-7) times. Work even on 101 (101-111-111) sts until piece measures 6″ (61/2″-61/2″-7″) from start or 1″ longer than desired length to underarm, end same patt row as back underarm.

Shape Cap: Bind off 5 (5-6-6) sts at beg of next 2 rows, then dec 1 st each side every 4th row 2 (2-3-4) times, then every other row until armhole measures 5″ (51/4″-51/2″-6″) above first bound-off sts. Bind off 3 (2-3-2) sts at beg of next 4 rows. Dec 1 st each side of next 6 rows. Bind off remaining sts.

COLLAR: With No. 1 needles, cast on 120 (126-130-130) sts. Work in stockinete st for ½” Change to No. 2 needles. Work even for 1″. Change to No. 1 needles. Work even for ½”. Bind off.

FINISHING: Matching patt, sew shoulder, side and sleeve seams. Sew in sleeves. Make a 1″ hem at each sleeve edge and sew to wrong side. Turn in and sew front facings in place (buttonholes meeting). Pin bound-off edge of collar to neck edge, having right side of collar facing right side of cardigan, and leaving ½” free at each center edge, sew to neck, easing in fullness. Sew cast-on edge of collar to wrong side of neck. From right side, sc tog each short end of collar and top of center borders. Finish buttonholes. Sew on buttons. Steam carefully, using light pressure to avoid flattening pattern.

Linda’s Picchu Picchu

A tale of a sweater.

Two years ago, my husband Tony and I took a wonderful trip to France, spending 3 weeks in the southern region of Languedoc, in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We rented a cozy, art filled apartment in the little known town of Couiza, a practice we’ve developed for all out trips abroad, because it’s much cheaper and more comfortable than staying in a hotel and eating out all the time. We visited many local markets, where we always try to buy our food for the meals we make at our home away from home, and at one of them, I was delighted to some upon a booth selling yarns and other needlework items. The price was fantastic, and I chose a bag of off-white wool blend yarn, with the Picchu Picchu sweater from Berroco in mind.

It didn’t take too too long to finish that sweater, and with excitement, I tried it on, only to find that the neckline was too big. Filled with dismay, I put it away with other UFOs. That sweater did not see the light of day again until 3 days ago, when for some reason unbeknownst to me (who knows what lights a fire under any knitter?!) I recalled it and dug it out. Ripped out the neckline ribbing, picked up fewer stitches this time, and hallelujah, it fits perfectly. So now, at long last, I’d like to introduce to the world, Linda’s very own finally finished Picchu Picchu!

And, in case you like it as much as I do, here’s the pattern link:

http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/picchu/picchu.html

Vintage Knits: Little Jacket

Another from American Thread Co. Star Book No 185. Amazing how trendy this jacket is after 40 years. The timeless influence of Chanel .

Vintage Batwing Sweater

from American Thread Co. Star Book #107

http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/women/bat-wing-bulky-sweater-pattern.html

History of the Sweater

When most people, especially non-knitters, think of knitting, the image of a sweater pops up in their minds. Actually, the sweater as a knitted garment is the new kid on the block. It’s believed that the sweater began with 19th century British fishermen, who needed a garment that would keep them relatively dry at work. Wool repels water and is the only natural fiber that retains its ability to keep the wearer worn even when wet, and at some point, wives devised a form of pullover for their men. There’s been a rumor circulating for a long time about the different cable and Celtic stitch patterns being developed by each knitter so that if her husband/father/son was lost at sea, their washed-up bodies could be identified. Most experts view that as a myth, though. Tattoos, now, do seem to have been originally devised by sailors for similar reasons. At any rate, Guernsey, Aran, and Fair Isle patterns, all fairly to extremely intricate, developed relatively quickly after about 1870.

The wearing of sweaters as casual wear in the general population seems to have evolved as a result of the wardrobes of 2 English military heroes.

The cardigan was popularized by the 7th Earl of Cardigan, James Brudenell, who lead the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade. The Earl favored close fitting jackets after which the sweater is modeled.

The raglan sleeve came about because Lord Raglan, Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, another Crimean War officer, lost his arm and needed a coat that he could get into and out of without assistance. His tailor designed the slanted, wider sleeve opening to accommodate his injury.

Vintage Raglan V-neck sweater

1966 Bernat Yarns

click on picture for instructions:

I haven’ t made this one, so can’t offer comments. I found it in a stack of old knitting mags my mother-in-law gave me ages ago. But it lends itself to your choice of sport or worsted weight yarn. Click on image for instructions and photo.

Sport weight yarn:

• 1 pair each size 3 and 5 (US) straight needles.
• gauge: 6 sts = 1 inch; 8 rows = i inch on size 5 needles in stockinette.
• Yarn requirements: sizes 10-12-14-16-18

# of 4 0z skeins 4- 5 -5 -6 -6

Worsted weight yarn:

• 1 pair each size 5 and 8 (US) straight needles.
• gauge: 5 sts = 1 inch; 7 rows = 1 inch on size 8 needles in stockinette.
• yarn requirements: sizes 10-12-14-16-18

# 4 0z skeins 4- 5 -5- 5- 5

All directions written with the figures in the first set of parentheses for sports weight and in the 2nd set for worsted weight. When only 1 set of figures is given, it applies to both weights.

Carolyn Striped Cardigan

I’m about to start this one this morning. Been saving the pattern for a while, and its time has come! It’s a beautiful, warm spring day here in eastern Connecticut and I’m planning to knit outside.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/PATTcarolyn.html

Self Striped Child’s Cardigan

Isn’t this cute? Made with fingering weight, self-striping yarn in front, with a solid color in back. Size 3 (US) needle.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/PATTdevan.html