In a few days I'll be adding a new free Vintage Pattern Section.
I've been working my way through the 30s and 40s, retro gauges turning out firm ribbed waists and smart square necks (as well as outrageously puffed sleeves).
Texture, laces and bobbles are providing a welcome foil for the traditional shetland stranded colour work I'm quickly becoming obsessed with. These classic lozenge and cross (OXO) patterns are based on 1850s museum samples and follow all the cardinal Fair Isle rules of colour and design.
The sample below is coming up at 10st/1" in Knit Picks' 'palette' (I bought the sampler pack).
Wow, bad photo.
Soundtrack: "Mannequin Bird to a Coati", Morgan Forrester

Belle Brummell

The Danish Doily is one of the prettiest forms of Knitted Lace, but what do you do when your house is fully frilled and you're turning into a froufrou house frau?
Here, I’ve taken a Danish Doily pattern, “Julie” , adjusted the gauge and used an extra special local alpaca for a Jabot inspired by Beau Brummell (that arbiter elegantiarum). Wear under blouses for a touch of lace or use as an extra layer of warmth. Only you will know how far the lace extends (indeed the edging makes the diameter adjustable). I think that's delicious.

1 skein Fingering Weight Alpaca, Wilton Road Custom Fibre Mill
1 set 3.5mm dpns
3.5mm circular needle 24”ish
3mm crochet hook
1 very special button for closure at back of neck.

Gauge: 5.5st =1”

Cast on 12 stitches, and divide onto 3 needles, joining in your favorite method (I cast on to one needle, then divide onto double points and cross the first and last stitches. If you want to avoid a centre space, I suggest the magic loop method)

Take extra care to avoid gaps between dpns. I wish I had!
Here are two thoughts. Every few rows, shift your stitches over by two or so on each needle, maintaining an equal distribution of stitches. Also, remember that the second stitch on each needle controls tension. Give an extra tug on this stitch and the first stitch should shift into place.
Knit one round.
Begin Julie Pattern
When dpns get crowded, switch to circular needle.




English Translation ©Morgan Forrester
Pattern available in original Danish at http://www.flittigehaender.dk/

Julie Pattern:
1: *K1, yo, K1*
2: Knit -note: all even rows are knit. I have included them here because I think it looks both attractive and makes it easier to read pattern rows.
3: *K1, yo, K1b, yo, K1*
4: Knit
5: *K1, (yo, K1b)3, yo, K1*
6: Knit
7: K2tog, K1, (yo, K1b)3, yo, K1, ssk
8: Knit
9: K2tog, K2, (yo, K1b)3, yo, K2, ssk
10: Knit
11: K2tog, K3, (yo, K1b)3, yo, K3, ssk
12: Knit
13: K2tog, K4, (yo, K1b)3, yo, K4, ssk
14: Knit
15: yo, K2tog, K5, (yo, Kib)3, yo, K5, ssk
16: Knit
17: yo, Kib, yo, K19
18: Knit
19: yo, K3, yo, K19
20: Knit
21: yo, K1b, yo, Sl 1, K2tog, psso, yo, K1b, yo, ssk, K15, K2tog
22: Knit
23: yo, K3, yo, K1b, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K13, K2tog
24: Knit
25: yo, K1b, (yo, sl1, K2tog, psso)3, yo, K1b, yo, ssk, K11, K2tog
26: Knit
27: (yo, K3, yo, K1b)2, yo K3, yo, ssk, K9, K2tog
28: Knit
29: yo, K1b, (yo, sl1, K2tog, psso)5, yo, K1b, yo, ssk, K7, K2tog
30: Knit
31: (yo, K3, yo, K1b)3, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K5, K2tog
32: Knit
33: yo, K1b, (yo, sl1, K2tog, psso)7, yo, K1b, yo, ssk, K3, K2tog
34: Knit
35: (yo, K3, yo, K1b)4, yo, K3, yo ssk, K1, K2tog
36: Knit
37: yo, K1b, (yo, sl 1, K2tog, psso)9, yo, K1b, yo, sl1, K2tog, psso
38: Knit
39: yo, K11, yo, K1b
40: Knit
41: yo, K1, yo, K4, sl1 K2tog, psso, K4, yo, K1, yo, K1
42: Knit
43: yo, K1, yo, ssk, yo, K3, sl1 K2tog psso, K3, yo, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, K1
44: Knit
45: yo, K1, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, yo, K2, sl1,K2tog, psso, K2, yo, K2tog yo, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, K1
46: Knit
EDIT:
47: yo, K1, yo, (ssk, yo)3, K1, sl1,K2tog, psso, K1, (yo, K2 tog)3, yo, K1, yo, K1
48: Knit
49: Move 1 stitch over and mark new beginning of round. (yo, ssk)4, yo, sl1 K2tog, psso, yo, (K2tog, yo)4, sl1 K2tog, psso
50: Knit


Edging:
This Crochet Edging binds off the work. As you progress through the first round, stitches are removed from the dpns or circular needle and secured by the crochet hook. This is a common technique in Danish and Icelandic knitting and adds a feminine yet graphic feel. It also helps with drape.
This type of crochet edging is also a simple way to add extra inches to your finished project. Please, won’t you at least work 2?
Round 1: Crochet next 3 stitches together, *ch7, crochet 2 stitches together from circular needle*
Round 2: Sl st into first 4 ch st of beginning ch 7 arch. *ch 7, sc into 4th st of next arch*
Repeat * to* to end of round. Ch 7, and sl st into 4th st of first arch of round.
Repeat round 2 to desired length if a larger piece is desired.
Ch 7 (or appropriate number) and slip stitch into same stitch. This creates the optional Button Hole.

Attach Button in your favourite jabot button attaching method.


Thoughts on Blocking
There are many methods for blocking circular lace but here is mine. Using rust proof t-pins and starting at centre, assign one pin to each petal and adjust til circle centre is stretched and round. slowly move and replace pins outwards adding more as necessary. Once several inches are stretched out and pinned the previous rows of pins may be removed. Start paying attention to the diameter, adjusting if necessary. Once you reach the crochet Edging pin out *every* ch 7 loop (aiming pin at 3rd ch). This takes a lot of pins but is law.





Wilton Ontario Alpaca: www.wiltonroad.com

*test*
Flyt de 2 sidst strikkede m over på venstre p og hækl:
can't post drafts?

Of course, I am in waiting. Waiting for my most favoritist Ernestown lad of all to move down. The only other ESS grad who wouldn't reply if I wrote them a saucy note. Just because you predate the Drama Room, Ewan, doesn't mean youre not expected to lead the exodus east. Please pack up your yarn and social conscience and feel better soon!

heeheee look at your hair in this old photo.

West Coast Knitters: look for Ewan's Knitting Collective in Vancouver. Leave a comment for more info.

I also know that all this talk about moving east must sound a little rich since I'm still in ontario. Believe me, I wish I weren't!

It is back to school today. This past semester was my last vernal trip back to highschool in the tardis that is Ernestown. No more wacka wacka sword fights or ball games or bets (yes, I knew about that). Odessa On must have the highest concentration of snarky, clever girls and raunchy, sweet boys. Their willingness to play any part (while wearing stuffed animals on their heads), and to listen, indulge and cheer is the most gentle grace I have seen in Ontario. I miss them already.

































ps I have already stolen The Cheshire Cat/SM who moves to Halifax next week. TweedleDee/Humpty/AD and his Lady Love (who just walked in the door!) are coming soon. Next are K.H. and my Lads, who I intend to make stars.
pps not back yet

Pardon my absence, but will the reader who uses this link
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=mines%20and%20purls&btnG=Google%20Search&meta=
please contact me via hotmail?
Cheers, and many upcoming posts, patterns and updates.

Current Inspiration:

Lula's Fourth Issue. Touching and Touched.

The Women, spec. Rosalind Russell's bustles

Pattern + Palette's 2nd Sourcebook

"Though we live in the same city, you live in another state, far away from me and all of my unfaded charms"....oh Rufus aren't boys beasts when they come back from Germany??

Jill Barker

Richard Saja at Historically Inaccurate Decorative Arts

Bibliotheque DMC Point de Croix c.1909

Boldini's portraits of Marthe Bibesco, Renee Vivien etc

Baptiste!

Les Mecs Food Jammers

I am fascinated by Fascinators.

And will all of these things be able to express themselves harmoniously in a fair isle jumper? You bet your toe-ups.

Soundtrack: "Apple A Day", Jeremy Shallenberger, ft. Jay Bender

link:here maybe?

The highs and lows of knitting in the classroom.
I went into the school last week to help with the show and um, block some lace since there is no floorspace at home. After forming a knit and crochet model universe for the show 2 years ago and faux armour for last years play the kids kindof trust that I'm going somewhere with things when I curse in the corner and tangle set pieces in the yarn that seems to sprout organically from inside my high heels so when I had to wind 220m of wet wool around the tv stand everyone was pretty cool with it and even helped.

I don't know how it got wet. I know it happened at the Golden Rooster downtown, but I don't know how. (Golden rooster, not Purple. Long Story.)

So the flipside of working on things at the school is that it sometimes results in some premature steeking. How could I have knit colour work (and more than 2 colours in a single row at that) for this long and not have realized that I was making a mobius strip? Serves me right, trying to squeeze knitting into every available moment. That's me, always takkin' my makkin'.


Ah well, crochet steek to the rescue. The sweater will have a split yoke anyway so I only have a few inches to stitch back up. The crochet steek is my favorite, and not just because of my crochet bias. It's the most demonstrative steek and the easiest to use if your cutting was...unplanned for. If you weren't purposely knitting bridge stitches to be steeked and so couldn't have used colour to indicate your stitching and cutting lines, than the crochet method, with it's tall single crochets is the easiest to see. Also, the action of picking up stitches either side of the cut line can not help but show you how the stitch is formed and prove to you that you are not loosing any ends but are locking each stitch in place. But maybe that's just me?


In other news, I've been getting some emails in regards to the famed "Come as Your Madness" Party which I blogged about this winter. I still have no footage of the party itself, but if you look atn the tv screen in the photo above, I'm watching "Anais Observed" which contains a brief excerpt from Kenneth Anger's "Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome", inspired by the party. Anais doesn't have a birdcage on her head though, so if that's what you're after, no dice. I'm still looking though.

Soundtrack: Check out the new youtube feed I added to the bottom of the blog. I gave it many different topics to choose from, so if you don't like what you see wait or click refresh for more. Remember that the video will play up at the top of the page. I love this thing but sometimes it gets it wrong so watch out.

Last week I took myself down to the Frontenac Library and was overwhelmed by it's craft section. I had not visited the Library since I was in school (and so was landed with a hefty fine on The Amazon and The Page)and was not prepared for the El Dorado I found.

I discovered some great historical accounts of Fair Isle patterning and a valiant attempt at charting the famous Prince of Wales sweater. (Not Chuck's-although he was presented with quite the jumper himself when he and Di visited Kingston in the 80s). Wasn't Edward fashionable pre-Wallis? My Granny has many interesting tales about Mrs Simpson and the lurid ways in which she seduced the throne. I don't believe any of them even though a few of them came from "glossy" magazines (not common paper ones,so it's true, says Granny)

HRH The Prince Edward, Duke of Rothesay by John St Helier Lander c.1923

I think I might give it a go, or at least swatch the pattern repeat. HRH Edward wore the sweater golfing at St. Andrew's. Granny once golfed there as well so she should get a kick out of it.
If I do try it out then I feel it's only right that someone make the following. This is the most amazing thing ever!!! It is a bat wing sweater...with bat wings on the bat wings!!! Don't you get it? This is way more ironic than the tuxedo tshirt and it is simply begging to be made...by Cathy. Please urge her to cast on in Warani asap.

HRH The Prince of Darkness, c.1986

Read a wonderful vintage article about Edward VIII's influence on Fashion atDandyism.net

Here's a very funny article on irony in men's fashion...eerily reminiscent of my brief stint in conventional high school.

Soundtrack: "Landslide",Stevie Nicks w/ the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The one off the new bestof. The one that ends "Thank you Andrew."

google

Despite being all alone for Beltane, Outraged Rabbit bids you a Happy May Day.