Weldons 637 - Bobble Stitch Bolero

 

Bobble- Stitch Bolero

This lovely long sleeved bolero has a  crochet border and would make a perfect spring jacket.

Date: early 1940s

Measurements: bust 32 to 34";  length 15.5"; sleeve seam 18"

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.75mm US 5 and 3.25mm US 3 needles; 3.75mm US F crochet hook

Original used 8 ozs Sirdar Majestic Wool 3-ply in mid-blue and 1 oz in navy

Tension: 9 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch over pattern using 3.75mm US 5 needles

UK crochet terms used in pattern

5 Pages

Weldons A790 - Egyptian Fair Isle Jumper

 

Weldons A790 - Egyptian Fair Isle Jumper

 

Wowser!! How amazing is this jumper? Perfect for any archaeologist, Egyptologist, Indiana Jones fan (it has a bit part in the Last Crusade), or just someone who enjoys a fun pattern

Although it says it's Fair Isle, it is intarsia with the motif yarns being picked up and dropped as you go.

As well as the full pattern, I have also added the 2 charts separately to make things clearer and for you to copy and cross the lines out (should you want to) as you go

Also, it's in a great modern size but if you need it slightly smaller, then change down a needle size

Date: late 1940s

Measurements: to suit a 36" to 38" 91-97cm bust; length 18.5" 47cm; sleeve seam 5" 13cm

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3mm US 2.5, 2.75mm US 2 needles; 5 small buttons; medium crochet hook
Original used 6 ozs of main colour (yellow), 1 ozs in tan and scarlet; 0.5 oz of royal blue and 0.25 oz each of grey, green, white, and black of Copley's 3-ply Excelsior Wool

Tension: 9 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch using 3mm US 2.5 needles over Fair Isle

Free Pattern - Ribbed Twin Set - Weldons 375

 Twin sets seem to be the main stay of pre-1960s British knitting. They are practical for homes that had limited heating and came in all sorts of varieties. Some have a plain cardigan but a fancier jersey; some match the patterns across the set and some go left at the lights and have a completely different 'matching' set.

This pattern is a classic ribbed twin set with puffed shoulders and neat double breasted cardigan. I especially like the single ribbing across the shoulders on the jumper.

It's slim fitting (which you'd expect with all that ribbing) but stretches to a 34" bust and is made from a vintage 3-ply or more 4-ply judging by the needles. .

Click on the image to download the pattern and have a go at making a classic of 1940s fashion.

'Tis done. The ending of an epic

This is my depression. Not that this jumper has caused my depression but this is what my depression represents to me. Neat enough to get through life without drawing too much attention but random with loose ends and not complete.

It might sound strange, even I’m not sure if the analogy works but it kind of makes sense and kind of is close enough.

I’ve been knitting this jumper for a couple of years. Well I say knitting: I work at it for a few days and then put it down. I might sew a few ends in every now and again and try to kid myself that it’s getting sorted but really I’m just playing at the edges. Every time I think about finishing it, my heart sinks a little and I get a little more paralysed. If I can finish it I can move onto other things. I can find the joy in things, I will not have this hanging over me.

But every now and again I realise that the pressure is coming only from me. When I finish the jumper, my friend will be overjoyed to have it. She’s not demanding and my lackadaisical approach to making it hasn’t hurt out friendship so why am I dragging my feet?

Depression is selfish. This jumper is for someone else. A wonderful person but I just couldn't get round to finishing it for her. When it finally leaves my house, the depression will not go with it but I will always live with the legacy of making it and the small but many joys it brought me. It will exist in my somewhere and if I am careful, I will remember the things that it has taught me. Things do not have to be perfect. Everything doesn't have to be neatly wrapped up and finished and to do the things you love does make life so much better. To not get overwhelmed, that everything has an ending, that with support and a rough plan you can get through it, that things should always give you joy, and that friends are the most important of things.

It is not perfect but it is beautiful and it is loved

 

New lovelies

As part of my new year's resolutions I am going to add one pattern to the shop every day. Granted, it's only been a week but it's going really well. I decided to go for a mix of different style and eras so there's something for everyone (as long as you like ladies' patterns).

There are these fabulous 1930s designs. The Patons jumper is for a 34" bust but should be easy to resize as you can just add another pattern repeat to make it larger. Alternative, you could use a slightly heavier yarn and slightly needles to take it up a few more inches.

The Woman's Weekly stretches to 40" bust (despite the sylphlike model)  and has a great lace pattern. I made one of these beauties last year and it's fabulous. I went up to a 4-ply yarn and used 4mm needles instead of using 3.75mm to get a larger size. My measurements when the photo was taken was a 49" full bust and 42" waist so you see it adapts very nicely to a larger size.

I also included some great and easy to make jumpers from the 1940s, just check out those victory rolls. The Bestway pattern was reprinted with slightly changes until the mid 1950s (I'll do a post later about that) and has a lovely lace pattern. 

The striped pullover from Copley's has a slipped stitch which gives it a slight lace look. I love that the Copley's changed their logo during the war. Pre-war it was a bellboy but during the war, they gave him a tin hat.

A mainstay of British patterns until the 1970s is the bed-jacket. Most homes until the 1980s, and even the 1990s, didn't have central heating so you had to find something to keep you warm whilst reading in bed or before dressing in the morning.

These 2 patterns are light and lacy and look amazingly glamorous. Every woman needs a bed-jacket and you can always use them as a light cardigan for those chilly summer evenings.

The final pattern for the week is this cardigan and jumper set from Twilleys. Both have fabulous deep v-neck and I love the contrast round the neck and welts. I think these made from a soft 4-ply cotton would be wonderful for summer.

All the patterns have already been entered on to the Ravelry database.

Peter the Penguin

It's the May Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK and it's freezing so to celebrate / commiserate, I thought that I'd offer this great pattern for a penguin to remind us that there are places that have it worse.

The pattern was published by Weldons in the mid 1940s but I've seen Pete in later booklets too so he was obviously popular.

Originally he was made from 2 strands of 3-ply held together but the pattern also says that he can be made from the 'NEW' thick wool or as we know it double knit.

Click on the link below if you want to download a free copy of Peter the (slightly sad looking) Penguin

Peter the Penguin Weldons 293