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

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

Free Pattern - Dunbar & Nairn 2 - Smocked Twin Set with Gloves and Turban

 

Dunbar & Nairn 2 - Smocked Twin Set with Gloves and Turban

This is the only pattern I have ever seen from Dunbar and Nairn. As far as I can see they were wool exporters based in Glasgow and were active in the decade from the late 1930s. There is a reference to them producing children's patterns too but I can't find any more information.

This pattern came to me in quite a bad way and it suffered water damage (possibly early in it's life). The pages had stuck together but someone in the past separated them and where the type was illegible, wrote the instructions. I added some of the words that were missing but please use caution when making the set and if you become stuck, please get in touch and I can go back to the original.

Jumper - bust 34"; length 18.5"; sleeve seam 5.5"

Materials: 3-ply or fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.75mm US 2 needles; skeins of embroidery cotton

Original used 6 ozs D&N Super-Fingering 3-ply

Cardigan

Bust 34"; length 21"; sleeve seam 18.5"

Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3.75mm US 5 and 2.75mm US 2 needles; 7 buttons and 1 skein of embroidery cotton

Original used 12 ozs D&N Super-Fingering 4-ply

Gloves

2 oz D&N Super-Fingering 4-ply and 2.75mm US 2 needles

Turban

3 ozs D&N Super-Fingering 4-ply and 3.25mm US 3 needles

Tension for 3.75mm US 5 needles and 4-ply yarn 6.5 stitches to 1 inch over stocking stitch

For 3.25mm US 3 needles and 3-ply yarn 7.5 stitches to 1 inch over stocking stitch

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.

New In

I had a bit of a 30s splurge this week (it's probably my favourite era style wise). First was a great diagonal striped jumper with a stylish jabot (or decorative ruffle) from Munrospun from the mid 1930s. Munrospun was one of those companies that always produced high end patterns and was seen as being slightly more chic than many of the standard pattern companies. The pattern is for a 36" bust and uses a 4-ply so I think it could easily be resized by using larger needles and thicker wool. Then there is this wonderful lace blouse with a bust measurement of between 33" to 36" depending on how tight you like your clothes. The original was made from an artificial silk or rayon so if you want to match the drape, make sure that you choose something that slips.

This set of 5 jumpers, all different sizes that come from the Good Housekeeping Second Knitting Supplement. I found this tucked into a modern book and was so surprised to find it. The patterns are wonderful and probably date from the early 30s judging by the hair styles. My favourite is the diagonal striped jumper: I love the way they carry on through to the back and the way that one of the stripes coils down the arm. Each jumper has only one size but they are different, so a crafty use of different needles and yarn weights could get you a larger or smaller version. However, no tension is given so you really will just have to see how they feel.

On to the 1940s and there is this stunning cable and bobble twin set in a great petite size. To make this larger, just increase the number of repeats, but remember that you might also need to alter the arm scyth too so you could use a pattern in your size to work out that one.

For those of you that like a bit of lace, there is this gorgeous lace jumper pattern, also in a more petite size. This is a Bairnswear pattern, La Laine is the wool needed. Bairnwear did this frequently but probably the most recognised if 'Femina' which was another one of their wool lines.






My final 1940s pattern is this wonderful puff sleeve blouse or evening jacket with an all over shirred design. This one was designed by Munrospun and is, I think, extremely beautiful. I can just imagine it in a midnight blue yarn with a bit of glimmer to it and crystal buttons. The shirring is easy to achieve: it's just a matter of increasing and decreasing at the appropriate points to get the ripple effect.

To finish there is this fun 1950s 'sweater girl' jumper pattern with a nice open mesh lace. This is achieved by using a large (10mm) needle every few rows. This pattern has 2 sizes 34" and 36" but I think that it might be tricky to make it larger by just using larger needles or yarn so you might have to work out the maths if you want to resize it. 

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