From the latest edition of Financial Times' How to spend it - the fair isle boot! Yes, it's a boot with a fair isle insertion, complete with tassles. Do we like it or do we think it's erm, not likeable?
We have not made up our mind yet.
In the meanwhile we can knit ourselves a pair of slippers.
I did it again! I swatched.
Hey, I'm getting good at this!
This is the Ullared pattern from Britta Johansson's book Binge - en halländsk sticktradition. Binge is the local name for knitting in a Swedish county called Halland and it's pronounced with the 'e' at the end (so no form of food intake associations please!). In the book there's the sweetest looking old man in a bowtie wearing this sweater, complete with crocheted edges. This is my project for the autumn, after workshop and all. Self-indulgence and a go at "fair isle"-knitting. I'm getting the hang of it!
The swatch was knitted in Rowanspun 4 ply, which is now discontinued from Rowan. It's soft to the touch and doesn't knit up bulky, so I think the sweater will be very comfortable. However, since the yarn has been pre-felted and is also spun slightly unevenly, it's not really suitable for multi-colour knitting. The patterns shows off well enough in this monochrome colour scheme, but I doubt it would work for more complex fair isle patterns.
Haluaisin myös neuloa Korsnäsin paitaa ja olen nyt löytänyt pari mallia. Mutta tarvitsenko suomalainen villalanka vai voisinko käyttää Jamieson's Shetlandin lankoja?
"There is a sort of greatness to your lateness." (Four Weddings and a Funeral)
Inviting my mother is always interesting, because she seems unable to ever be on time. This time we had agreed that she would come at noon for lunch and to look at my new stove. (The new gas cooker sketch!?) At about five to twelve she calls and wonders if it's alright that she gets her hair-cut-it-will-only-take-fifteen-minutes-and-he's-got-a-free-spot-right-now. "Er...well", I said.
In the end it didn't really matter, because the food needed more time in the oven than I thought. And while waiting I had the time to finish a swatch - yes, you heard me - A SWATCH! for a cardigan I'm going to knit for the very same mother. (I only have one. Funny that, innit?) Aren't I a dear?
It's from the old series of Vogue Knitting Library from 1985, part 4 called Fair Isle & Textured Knits. And yep, you're absolutely right, that is Andy MacDowell modelling the very classic textured fair isle cardigan. My swatch is Rowan Yorkshire Tweed in colour Oceanic. I like it very much and may knit something for myself in the same yarn one day. This particular cardie will not go on the needles until after September at the earliest.
And speaking of deadlines, I shouldn't really be knitting at all. In two weeks time I have to deliver some 5-6 necklaces to this new shop in Gothenburg. At least that is the plan. So back to the beading board. But is there enough silver thread...?
"All men like a knitted pullover, cardigan or waistcoat, and you cannot beat hand-knitted socks. They do stand up to wear and tear much better than the shop-bought article. It is an old slogan but a true one that 'there is no substitute for wool'."
The words of a great man - James Norbury, pioneer knitter in 50's England.
I just got my latest vintage knitting book find from Ebay. I tell you, James Norbury wrote some wonderful books! And this picture is especially for Marika of Sticky. A fair-isle pullover. Something for the would-be philosophical husband? (I don't know, possibly it's a little too flowery?)
The book is Knit with Norbury from the 50's, not to be confused with the more basic knit! with James Norbury from the BBC Women's Hour. I can also recommend Odham's Encyclopedia of Knitting co-written with Margret Agutter. A third book worth looking for is The Knitter's Craft. They're all available on Ebay from time to time and very price-worthy if you're looking for vintage patterns.
