This sweater has been sitting in my to finish pile for too long. It was halfway put together, and then I never finished it. Totally finished, I think I remember why I wasn’t falling all over myself to wrap this project up: it’s a bit wonky in the shoulder area (a bit tight and the armholes are higher than I like). Which I can only attribute to having finished knitting this during our last trip to California (1 1/2 years ago!): I’ve noticed I tend to tighten my gauge a lot when I knit while traveling.

But a little background first! This was knit from the original Stitch in Time by Jane Waller and Susan Crawford and is a 1930s sweater. The 1970s edition of this book is only facsimiles of the original patterns (while the new editions of the book have been thoroughly updated), which also makes me wonder if perhaps part of it was not only my tension but the original 30s pattern as well. Anyway: lesson learned! I remember sitting on the plane, thinking to myself “this looks rather narrow through the shoulders“, but soldering onward. At the time I wasn’t quite as confident with my knitting skills: now I would go with my gut and alter the pattern!

Even with it’s little fitting misses, it’s still a cute, wearable sweater. The yarn is a very nice, undyed, fingering weight merino that I picked up on the cheap. I love the button detail along the left shoulder too (I used some shell buttons I picked up on Etsy awhile ago). It’ll work especially well on days where the weather is chilly, but not frigid (such as today! We’re once again bouncing back from some rather cold days and hitting the upper 50s!).

For those interested, the pattern has been included in the newest edition of A Stitch in Time: Volume 1 (or so Ravelry tells me; I sadly don’t own a copy of either the first or second volume of the Stitch in Time books!), and is called “It Cannot Fail to Please”. Fellow Ravelry members can view my project page for this sweater here.

I’ve been contemplating this post for awhile, as it’s the sort of thing I wish I had been able to find when I started exploring the world of vintage knitting. There is a lot of information out there, the problem is finding it half the time! Like sewing with vintage patterns, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, the sizing can be funky, and terms and needle sizes have changed over time. So where do you start if you’re interested in knitting with vintage patterns?

For general knitting information I’d highly recommend reading Retroknit Design series. Everything from substituting modern yarns to how to alter specific aspects of a pattern, to vintage pattern copyright are included. It’s pretty extensive and well worth book marking for future reference.

Ravelry is almost always my first stop when I’m hunting for patterns. It’s members only access, but it’s free and easy to sign up for (if you’re a knitter and haven’t, I don’t know what you’re waiting for–it is too much fun!). Not only can you find loads of vintage patterns that have been cataloged here (many of them available for free online), but if another Ravelry member has knit the pattern, there are often photos and notes on those individual project pages.

There are many websites that offer reprinted patterns and booklets, my favorite being Iva Rose. But others I have run across are Vintage Knitting Patterns (a variety of eras) and Vintage Knitting (mainly 30s and 40s).

Of course, free patterns are something we all like finding! They are a bit hard to track down sometimes, but here are a handful that I’ve managed to find:

One of the things that I find most often can be intimidating when working with vintage patterns is the yardage of yarn and gauge. Needle sizes are often a lot smaller than most modern patterns call for (I often work on 0′s or 1′s!), and therefore require finer yarn. Since most of the yarns specified in the patterns have not been manufacturer for decades, information on yardage and weight can be scant! This is where you often need to do a little detective work. Wise Needle is a good starting point for figuring out yarns, but if you can’t find anything start with the needle size specified for the pattern. (Just be aware that many patterns use vintage UK needle sizes, so you’ll need to figure out the conversion.) Familiarizing yourself with what yarns work with certain needle sizes will help a lot. Finding similar modern patterns that are similar in design (such as if you’re knitting a long-sleeve sweater, find a long sleeve modern sweater) and use similar needle sizes can help with estimating yardage. But most importantly: the gauge in the vintage pattern is what will really help! Make knitting a swatch prior to casting on your entire project a habit; it’s helped save me from a couple recent knitting projects gone wrong! (Believe me: I have been lazy about this and there are a couple mostly-knit sweaters that are either too big or too small, waiting to be unraveled!) Yes, it’s a pain–especially when you’re itching to get started. But often it’s the different between a sweater and fits and one that is grossly off (especially since vintage sizing does differ from what we’re used to!).

What are some of your favorite vintage knitting resources? Please feel free to chime in with more links and such–I’d love to see them!

( 1940s knitting image found via stay fancy free )

I have been itching to show off my latest (completed) knitting project all week–and finally got a chance to photograph it yesterday. This sweater was something I knit over the past month; I had bought the yarn and chosen the design with a summery knit in mind–but somehow the end of summer crept up on me and I very nearly missed finishing it to wear (at least if not in summer proper, before the weather turns chilly)! It’s a 1930s design from A Stitch in Time aptly titled “The Frilly Jumper” (if you’re a member of Ravelry, you can check out the pattern’s page here). It was a super quick knit, I have to say, which is always satisfying. I used KnitPicks Comfy Fingering yarn, as I wanted something soft and lightweight since it is a “summer sweater”. I made a slight alteration to the pattern in that I didn’t make the body as wide as it specified (only because I knew I’d be swamped it in!), and I also added the border of single crochet in white on the ruffles. The only thing I don’t like is the ribbing–I wish I had gone down a needle size; but I’m not sure if I can frog the bottom ribbing easily (any experienced knitters willing to weigh in on this?) without touching the rest of the sweater, as it’s knit from hem to hem in one piece. Anyhow, it’s still fun to wear!

[ more photos here. ]

Oddly enough, my knitting needles are getting empty. I usually keep two projects going at a time, but right now all I have is the sleeve to a sweater I’m finishing up. Not sure how I managed to blaze through everything and forget to procure yarn for another project (no, I don’t have a stash of yarn hiding anywhere to raid in emergencies). But now I’m having the darndest time picking out a project to work on next. Do I want to knit another 30s sweater? Or maybe a modern and whimsical one? Or a plain jumper from the 40s or 50s? Too many possibilities and enticing patterns! So I ask you: out of the sweaters below, which would you pick? (Yes, I’m in need of decision-making help.)

[ Owls by Kate Davis, Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston, Betty Jean McNeil Cardigan by Emily Johnson, Stella's Blouse by Robin Melanson, Acorns by Carol Sunday, The Perfect Christmas Jumper from Vintage Gifts to Knit by Susan Crawford (although I think I'd change the motif pattern, so I can wear it throughout the winter--not just at Christmas!). ]

Have a lovely Friday, everyone!

[ click for a larger view. ]

With the temperatures in the 90°F+ range, I usually wimp out and decide that I’ve had enough of knitting until the weather turns cool again. This year, however, I’ve been knitting up a storm! I think perhaps it has partly to do with the trips we’ve taken over the past several months, and I’ve started carrying my knitting with me whenever I go out in case I have a few moments of lull in the action–so there have been plenty of opportunities for knitting. So far I’ve managed to finish putting together I 1940s chunky knit cardigan I knit last year (yes, I know… it has taken me over 6 months to put it together!), which I embellished with some pretty glass buttons that my friend E. sweetly gave me. The pattern is from this reprint booklet from Iva Rose, and the yarn is Plymouth Encore Chunky (wool blend) in a lovely tweedy purple. I think it’ll look smashing with my grey wool skirt I made last winter!

[ even the sleeves have a cable each! ]

[ more pictures here. ]

I also knit up a quick little project last week (I find I like having two projects going: one large one–usually a sweater, and a smaller piece that goes together quickly. I’m impatient and like instant gratification!): a 1940s moss stitch turban. It’s quite out of season right now, but I have plans to wear it if we go visit our families in Virginia this winter. The pattern is from the V&A website, and was super easy to make and put together–I rather like how it turned out too! I used a lovely alpaca and silk blend yarn from KnitPicks for this, so it’s super soft and a bit fuzzy.

[ 40s moss stitch turban; more pictures here. ]

I’ve actually got another sweater that I knit earlier this spring being put together right now, so once I have that tucked away there will be more knitting pictures no doubt! I am also trying my hand at sock knitting; something I’ve been eager to try for years but never got around to. I recently checked out Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson out of the library, and got excited about the possibilities of sock knitting. So I’ve picked out a pattern and went yarn shopping last weekend with E. (who is an experienced sock knitter), and am all ready to get started! We’ll see how that goes–I know most knitters are either wild about sock knitting or dislike it. It’s worth a try though!

So tell me–what creative activities have been taking up your spare time lately?

[ the book, my knitting, and my oh-so classy yarn holder; née oatmeal box. ]

I recently was able to get my hands on a copy of A Stitch in Time: Knitting and Crochet Patterns of the 20s, 30s, and 40s by Jane Waller. While this book has been reprinted, the version I got to look at is the original 70s edition, which is basically reprints of vintage needlework publications. Let me just say that I think my heartbeat quickened quite a bit when I paged through this book! I am absolutely in love with just about all the designs that have been reprinted–I think if I were an octopus I’d try knitting them all right now! lol.

[ peek inside the book. ]

As it is, I can’t knit more than a couple projects at a time (and certainly not at the same time). I decided to frog a sweater I had started several months ago (and completely lost interest in), and use the yarn to start a new project. I had been looking for a new use for this yarn long before I checked this book out, since the sweater I had been knitting just wasn’t coming together. Now I’ve got something new on my needles!

[ the design that is currently on my needles. so fun to knit up! ]

Perhaps it’s because so many of the books I read as a child were published in the 70s (we spent a lot of time at the library growing up–it was a weekly event!), but these older “vintage style and craft” books always make me feel nostalgic. Partially because I wish I could time travel back to the early 70s when vintage was only just starting to gain interest and things were still widely available, and also because it reminds me of the books that got me interested in handcrafts and vintage clothing as a child. There is something rather wistful in returning to one’s roots nearly 20 years later… it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and just a bit sad that time has passed so quickly! (Although I think part of this is due to my birthday coming up in two weeks–I’m turning The Big 25! I always get silly and nostalgic like this around the end of April…)

[ another sneaky peek inside... more pictures here. ]