Free Pattern - Emu Cardigan

 

Today's free pattern is this slimline cardigan with patterned collar from the early 1950s. Just click on the picture and it will download for you.

Measurements - 30 to 32, 34 to 36, and 38 to 40" bust; Length 19.5, 20.5 and 21.5"

Materials

3-ply yarn; 2.25mm US 1 and 3mm US 2.5 needles 7 buttons and matching ribbon

Tension 8 sts and 10 rows to 1 inch

Patons 55 - Lady's Cable Coat

 

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This fabulous cable and twist design is perfect for this lovely cardigan or coat.

Date: late 1940s to early 1950s

Measurements - bust 34-36"; length from shoulder 22"; sleeve seam 18"

Materials - double knit or light worsted; 4.5mm US 7 and 3.75mm US 5 needles; 15 buttons; cable needle

Original used 17 ozs of Patons Moorland Double Knitting or 18 ozs Patons Bulldog Double Knitting

Tension - 5.25 stitches and 7 rows to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 over stocking stitch

Ladyship 3048 - Lady's Twin Set

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This is a great twin set. Not only is it in a good modern size, it is also a simple to follow pattern. The cardigan has a great all over diamond texture and the short sleeved jumper is plain but with a band running up each side of the front.

Date: mid to late 1940s

Jumper
Measurements: bust 35.5 and 37.5"; length 19.5 and 20.5"; sleeve seam 5 and 5.5""
Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.25mm US 1 needles for 35.5" bust; 3.75mm US 5 and 2.25mm US 1 for 37.5" bust; Stitch holder and 6 buttons
Original used 5.5 or 6 ozs Baldwin & Walker's Ladyship 3-ply Fairlady
Tension: 8 stitches and 10 rows to 1 inch with 3.25mm US 3 over stocking stitch, or 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5 over stocking stitch

Cardigan
Measurements: bust 36 and 38"; length 20 and 21"; sleeve seam 16.5 and 17"
Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.25mm US 1 needles for 35.5" bust; 3.75mm US 5 and 2.25mm US 1 for 37.5" bust; Stitch holder and 6 buttons
Original used 7.75 or 8 ozs Baldwin & Walker's Ladyship 3-ply Fairlady
Tension: 1 pattern (16 stitches) to 1.75" using 3.25mm US 3 or 1 pattern to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5

9 Pages

Hema 523 - Lady's Cardigan Jumper

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This short sleeved cardigan is a really attention getter. The trellis pattern adds visual interest without being too tricky.

Date: early 1940s

Measurements: bust 34 to 36"; length 19.5"; sleeve seam 7"

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 4mm US 3 and 3mm US 2 needles; 6 buttons
Original used 7 ozs Hema 3-ply Super Merino Wool or 7 ozs Dainty Wool

Tension: no tension given

Golden Eagle 976 - Lady's Twin Set

 Golden Eagle 976 - Lady's Twin Set

Another fabulous twin set. The cardigan has a simple wheatear lace on the fronts with plain sleeves and back. This pattern is then matched on the yoke of the short sleeved jumper

Date: late 1940s

Measurements: 33 to 36" bust; Cardigan 20.5" and Jumper 19.5" length; sleeve seam 6" for Jumper, 18.5 for Cardigan

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.75mm US 2 needles; 11 small buttons
Original used 13 ozs Polyknit 3-ply or Lomond Fingering 2-ply (3-ply thickness)

Tension 7 stitches and 10 row to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles over stocking stitch

5 Pages

1930s Belted Cardigan

 

Belted Cardigan

This is a great late 1930s cardigan in a good modern size. The short cardigan has wrap over sides and it held in place with a belted tie.

This pattern does not have any tension or gauge advice

Date: late 1930s

Measurements: bust 36 to 37"; length 18"; sleeve seam 17"

Materials: aran or worsted and 3-ply or light fingering; 4.5mm US 7 and 3.75mm US 5 needles
Original used 7 ozs of tweed effect wool and a little 3-ply wool in a colour to match

Stitchcraft February 1933 - The Chic of Check

 

Stitchcraft February 1933 - The Chic of Check

This is wonderful - that deep ribbing around the waist and cuffs and the check just sets it all off

Measurements: Bust 34"; Length 18"; sleeve seam 18"

Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3mm US 2.5 and 3.25mm US 3 needles; 7 buttons
Original used 6 ozs brown and 4 ozs natural Patons Super Scotch Fingering 4-ply

Tension: 8 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm needles

Language Note
This pattern had a word commonly used to describe dark brown for much of the 20th century: the N-word. I have edited it from the pattern and substituted with the word ‘dark’. The original pattern was a product of its time, and although the word is not being used in a racially hateful way, it allowed prejudices to continue. By editing the word I hope that I am not suggesting that these prejudices never existed, merely that they are not acceptable today (nor were they in the past).

Free Pattern - Munrospun 6751 Twin Set

 Munrospun 675 - Twin Set

 

To download the pattern, click on either the link above or the picture

 

The twin set is a classic for a reason - they look so good together

This beauty is from the late 1940s or even early 1950s. It has a short sleeve jumper and the option to choose either a round or V neck

 

Measurements

Jumper - bust 34"; length 20"; sleeve seam 5.5"

Cardigan - bust 34"; length 21"; sleeve seam 18"

 For a 36" bust use 1 size larger needles 3.25mm US 3 and 2.75mm US 2

 

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3mm US 2.5 and 2.25mm US 1 needles; 11 buttons and 3 snap fasteners

Original used 11 ozs Munrospun Fairytex Wool - 6 ozs for the cardigan and 5 ozs for the jersey

Tension: 9 stitches to 1 inch using 3mm US 3 needles over stocking stitch

 

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.

Fun Friday Freebie Pattern - Dorette Dressing Jacket

 I did a post a few years ago on Dorette designs. Dorrete was a subscription based magazine that emerged after WWII. It was produced a few times a year and prided itself on beautiful and modern designs. This design dates from 1946 - although there is no date, the magazine features Rhondda Kelly, who was Miss Australia at the time, and her trip to London.    

This elegant dressing jacket could easily be worn as a light summer cardigan or in the boudoir for that extra bit of glamour.  

The measurements are : bust 36", length 19"; sleeve seam 19"

The original used 8 ozs William Briggs 3-ply Melody wool and used 3.75mm US 5 and 2.75mm US 2 need;es, 3 press studs and ribbon to make the bows that trim the front.

If you'd like a copy of the pattern, just click on the image and it will take you to the pdf.

Free Pattern Friday - 1930s Garter Stitch Jacket

How wonderfully chic is this gorgeous jacket? I love it as it subverts the idea that older clothing was knit in a standard way. The body is worked from side to side, decreasing slight under the arms then increasing for the back so it sits right. Once you've done that you pick up the stitches along the top of the body for the yoke. Finally you knit the arms and just sew everything together. The pattern suggests patch pockets of garter stitch but placed across the body to make them stand out. 

It's a lovely early 1930s example of knitted perfection (there are a lot I know). As knit, it's for a 36" bust - using 4-ply on 3.25mm US 5 needles, but I think that increasing the weight of the yarn and the needle size might bring it up to a couple of inches. To be frank, the pattern is that simple that it would only take a little bit of maths to make it larger using 4-ply. 

If you'd like a copy, click on the link below and knit your own 

Garter Stitch Jacket

Free Pattern Friday - A Child's Sun Suit and Cardigan Bestway 1525

Look at this little cutie, isn't it a sweetie? And the kid isn't bad either.

I like how this is such a summer image with the sun-suit and the parasol but the designer also knew about the British summer so included a cardigan.

Not sure how such a baggy suit would keep shape when paddling. Surely this would be on the ground by the end of play but these were very popular so there are loads of designs out there. My dad tells of my gran trying to get a 3 year old me into one she had made. Every time she tied me into it, I stripped it off  - he thinks it went on for about an hour. In the end my gran relented and let me run naked across the beach 'cause it was the early 70s and kids did that then.

Anyway if you have a toddler that you think would love this click on the link below to download the pattern
Sun Suit and Cardigan

New Year, New Project

 In the Sheffield group on Ravelry we're having a 12 in 2015 Challenge. It's simple, just knit 12 things over the next year using your stash as much as possible. Some of the projects are themed but most are a do what you like. It can be any size project but the crux is to use as much of your stash as you can whilst making marvellous things. For January we are having a deep stash sub-challenge so you have to use the oldest yarn in your stash. It can be oldest as in years, or oldest in terms of one of the things you recorded on Ravelry. I've gone with a ball of 320g or 11 ozs of roughish wool that I bought in 2004 in the Yorkshire Dales and a pattern from my vintage collection.

It's always tricky marrying up unknown quantities of yarn to unknown patterns and this one seems to be going very well. It starts on 3mm needles then jumps up to 3.25mm, then just before the bust jumps again onto 3.75mm. But I realised after I had knitted about 20cm that I wasn't going to make it to a full jumper as the 3mm section ate so much of the wool that I knew that I wouldn't have enough to finish and with no chance of getting more I had to find something else

So I am now working on this lace cardigan worked on 3.75mm needles so it's nice and open without being loose. I'm still a bit worried about running out of wool but figure if I can get the back, fronts, and button band sorted, I'll work the sleeves together from the top down so will stop when I run out. What could possibly go wrong?

Will it never end?

Of course it will. But only when I have run out of yarn.

This week has been a busy week at work (not the nice side of work which is my patterns and archaeology but the dull office side I have to do to pay bills) so haven't really done that much in term of adding things to the shop: but there are lots of lovelies being sorted and scanned and ready to go in soon. I've also decided to get rid of most of my vintage sewing patterns so they will be making an appearance too.

Knitting wise I still seem entrenched gleefully in vintage. I have finished the back for my Making Meshy cardigan and have nearly finished one of the sides. I was going to knit them both at the same time but forgot (c'est le vie). At first I was a bit worried that I was going to run out of wool but it's loose and meshy and the pattern carries a small amount a long way so looks like I'll be fine.

 It does look a bit short but it is very stretchy and hopefully I can block another few inches into it.

The Sheffield group on Ravelry are having a K/CAL for September: kind of part of a year long set of projects where you have to (if you can) knit from stash attained before December 31st 2013. Our theme for September is Winter Warmers so I have decided to go with another vintage pattern but in a decidedly un-vintage colour.

This is the cuff of  glovey gauntlet type of thing: part of a beautiful Fair Isle Skating Outfit but for the moment I'm just concentrating on the gloves. I might do the hat if I have enough time but you know what it's like - there is never enough time to knit vintage without coming across another amazing pattern.

Friday Freebie - Lady's Jumper Cardigan

 Hurrah it's Friday and to get everyone in the mood for the weekend I have this wonderful free pattern for you.

It's a classic of 1950s design: all tight waist and unusual stitches and what's more it's in double knit (or light worsted) on big needles so shouldn't take long to knock out. It has 2 sizes: 33" to 35" and 35" to 37" bust but with the stitch I think that it might even fit someone a bit larger without any modification.

I've already added it to Ravelry so you can start immediately. 

Click on the link below to get the pattern
Lee Target 1235 - Lady's Jumper Cardigan

Sirdar 1085 - Lady's Fitted Jacket

Sirdar 1085 - Lady's Fitted Jacket

Wonderful double cable cardigan in a 34" bust. This is a great style and could easily be added to another cardigan if you needed to up-size the pattern
 

Date: early 1940s
 

Measurements: bust 34"; length 21"; sleeve seam 17.5"
 

Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 2.75mm US 2, 3mm US 2.5 and 3.75mm US 5 needles; cable needle; 7 buttons
Original used 9 ozs Sirdar Majestic Wool 3-ply or Sirdar Kasha Wool 3-ply
 

Tension: 7.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3.75mm US 5

Bestway B2559 - Feather Stitch Twin Set and Scarf

 

Bestway B2559 - Feather Stitch Twin Set and Scarf

I love this twin set and that it can be just a single colour or you can add some stripes to mix it up a bit. I also love that there is a matching scarf

Date: estimated early 1950s

Measurements
Jumper - bust 34 to 36"; length from shoulder 18.5”; sleeve seam 6.5"
Cardigan - bust 34 to 36"; length from shoulder 19.75”; sleeve seam 18.5"
Scarf - 10" by 38"

Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3.75mm US 5 and 2.75mm US 2 needles for the twin set; 4.5mm US 7 needles for the scarf; 5 buttons for the cardigan and 6 press studs for the jumper
Original used for the striped set 5ozs of natural and 1 oz each of green, blue, yellow and rose (approximately 2 ozs natural and 0.5 oz of each contrast for the jumper and 3 ozs with 0.5 oz of contrast for the cardigan or 8 ozs of plain for the set
Scarf uses 1 oz of main and 0.25oz of 3 contrast colours or 2 ozs if working it plain

Tension: Over the pattern 7.5 stitches and 8 rows to 1 inch after pressing

5 pages