Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4
The Christmas jumper is finished – all ends threaded in and seams sewn up, both of which took most of my spare time last week when I was in London. I first made a jumper to this pattern in October last year – that is I finished the jumper in summer but only completed the garment in October after having had a great many hiccoughs over the collar. Difficult collar or not, it has been very successful and gathered admiration whenever it has had an outing. The small person is not very fond of scarves so this snug collar is just the thing.
Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4
Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4
Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4
Though the blue/mauve jumper was for a 2-3 year old, it didn’t look as if it would fit the small person next winter. I started this stripey one for a 4-5 year old for his Christmas present, with the hope it cold be tucked away for a few months. Daughter No 2 would now like me to make another in this size but in just one colour – navy. I shall be glad for some straightforward knitting in one colour. Although it seemed a good idea to use up all the odd half balls of wool I’ve accumulated, I never reckoned on how long it would take to deal with the loose ends. I thought I might leave them free but then fretted about how ticklish that would be. I have recently researched ways of knitting the ends in as you go, so next time stripes come my way I shall be prepared. I omitted the buttons on the collar (whose button holes I sewed up last time) as once again, they didn’t seem necessary
Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4: inside out showing loose ends woven in
Striped jumper Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino 4: close up of sewn in ends
I managed to grab the little bundle of energy for photographs just after he’d emerged from his afternoon nap and most shots are just a blur of go faster stripes.
15 Comments
Love the idea of the small person making the most of his go-faster stripes!
No encouragement needed – put it on and off he goes.
How VERY neat! I do agree that the knitting – in as you go is well worth it.
I’m glad you think it’s neat, Linda – it didn’t seem to be while I was doing it. Sewing the ends in as you go would have saved me about 20 hours!
It looks terrific! All that sewing-in was definitely worth the effort.
Thank you Austen, it’s kind of you to say so.
Two of my favourite knitty things – stripes and a shawl collar.
Oh good. I certainly fancy the shawl collar but I’m ambivalent about the stripes.
Another beautiful, inspirational post, Mary. I’m sure that lovely sweater that will be treasured as another heirloom and you’ll lose count of the nice comments you’ll receive.
Your photo showing your neatly sewn-in threads reminded me of Julia Blackburn’s photos of the backs of some of John Craske’s embroidered pictures. This fascinating extra insight is rather like peeping under very fine bone china cups and saucers, when no one is looking, to see the maker.
Ah, Penny, I must go to my copy of the book and have a look.
In theory I rebel against the idea that the wrong side should be as neat as the right side. In practice, I can’t help but do it.
Love your equation of seam snooping with china mark peeping, of which I am also a (not so subtle) practitioner.
Guilty of china mark peeping too. Everywhere. All the time. And shameless. Beautiful jumper, and the portrait of your grandson in the wicker chair is just adorable. I’m not very good at messy backs either, that old adage about ‘a job worth doing’ etc x
Once imprinted with such ideas, try as you might it’s hard to shake them off. Being able to wear any garment you make inside out came from a sewing teacher I never really liked, but then daughter No 1 surprised me the other day when, wearing her favourite stripey jumper, she turned over the edge of the V neck to show the underside of the honeysuckle and pointed out to her husband that it was just as lovely on the inside. (Not.)
I too have a problem with this collar. I have given myself a morning to get to grips with it and almost admitting defeat. Firstly I don’t have a circular needle in the right size so am using four dp needles. I am knitting 2/3 size. I have the right number of stitches on my needles, I have done the first rib row, i.e. k1 p1 39 times, then I am told to turn, ok, but then I have to rib 45.
I can’t even explain this, how does the front of the jumper work? If I rib 45 I am knitting on my first needle thus leaving a gap at the front?
I am sure I have gone wrong. I thought I could knit!
I do sympathise. I will look into this pattern again at the weekend and try to give you and Comfort, who also has the same problem, as much help as I can.
How are things going, Lynn?
It’s certainly worth getting circular needles as they give you much more freedom – I can’t imagine using 4 for this collar, but you are probably much more skilled than I am.
I have just posted on a little Debbie Bliss polo shirt whose collar had a bit of turning on it and all I can say is that you just do as the pattern says and turn. I’ve just had another look at the shawl collared pattern and I can see how it doesn’t make sense but all I can say it plough on and do as it says and miraculously it will all work out fine.
I’m hoping this is all unnecessary as you have got sorted out by now. Sorry to be so long replying.