A reluctant fairy and a real fairy. The one on the left is my sister, and we show our love for her by piling tinsel on her inert form. (We were decorating the tree at the time.) The one on the right sits on top of the tree and looks demurely kitsch.

I’m crossing my fingers that the recipient of this present doesn’t read the blog, but here is the result of the pattern-writing and chart-making that I wrote about just over a month ago. There will be proper photos of this creation – and a pattern, too – once the aforementioned recipient has opened it. (I say “there will be a pattern” with some surety, because I have already written it. It needs some final polishing, and probably the chart should be written out into plain English, but it exists as a whole and not as flimsy notes written on the backs of envelopes, which is my usual MO.)

It only remains for me to say: whatever you’re doing tomorrow, and whoever you’re with (and whatever you’re eating!), I hope you enjoy it tremendously. I certainly plan to!

I won Vogue Knitting Book 35 on eBay a few weeks ago. It was a fairly quick purchase but I’d been thinking about it for a while. I love vintage knits but own very few actual patterns, which seemed silly, and this excellent post on needled reminded me that I really ought to go back to the original vintage designs if I want to understand them. So, a lucky bid later (okay, it wasn’t lucky – I planned my bid strategy like an army General) and this lovely book was mine. I believe it to be from 1949, based on their numbering system, the date on the American version, and some calculations, but I may be slightly off. I’ve posted some photos of my favourite patterns, plus my notes and thoughts, into the rest of this entry.

(It may be worth mentioning that this is the British version, and that the American one seems to differ in terms of pattern content. The cover is slightly different too.)

Cover – stocking stitch jacket Although this is knitted in the simplest of stitches, I love it. It’s nicely finished with turned hems, pockets and a flared double-thickness collar, and it would be a peach to accessorise.

Read the rest of this entry »

Pattern: February Beret (free) (my Ravelry project page)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers, colour #4011 “Sparrow”
Needles: 3.75mm and 4mm

It is now officially Hat Requirement Season. Yes, I made that term up, but it’s still entirely true (in England, at least). Getting out of bed with a spring in my step is a thing of the past, especially when the duvet is so warm and snuggly and five more minutes under the covers won’t hurt… except of course that it does, and I’m inevitably then in a rush, on the brink of being late for the bus. At times like these matching my accessories to my clothing is surprisingly not the first thing on my mind, so it’s good that I seem to be acquiring a hat for every outfit in my wardrobe. That’s my excuse for my endless list of hats-to-be-made, anyway.

This one, the February Beret, might just be one of my favourites. The yarn is sturdy pure wool in a subtle but attractive colour, the pattern is a nice mixture of lace and garter stitch and, while quick and simple, didn’t bore me. The original February pattern was Elizabeth Zimmerman’s February Baby sweater (there’s a beautiful example over at brooklytweed), which then evolved into the recently popular February Lady sweater. (I like the patterns, but A-line jumpers that button only at the top don’t suit me in the slightest.)

My modifications were not extensive. I ditched the i-cord edging for something more secure – I cast on 98 stitches and worked 10 rows of twisted rib on 3.75mm needles before I went back to the pattern and started from Round 1 on 4mm needles, but increased to 147 stitches instead of 189. I must take a moment to thank Phoe for the yarn – the rest is being put to good use too, as I’m making a matching scarf.

In other news, I think my Christmas knitting is under control. I say this cautiously, and this weekend has been a bit of a wash-out in that regard, but I am hopeful. It’s not so much that I have a lot as that it’s fiddly… and I have half a dozen started projects of my own that require less concentration. Somehow they seem more attractive at the end of a long day. Funny, that! However, my holiday starts on Wednesday and I will be making up for lost time.

Next time I write, I’ll share some pictures of my latest eBay acquisition: a Vogue Knitting Book from 1949…