Welcome to the Wool Fair

As hinted at last week, I've started a new knitting project. (Yes, there will be some sewing again on this blog at some point, just not yet.) Some time ago, I was lucky enough to get an original copy of Lee Target 1232, aka the 'Wool Fair Cardigan'.

All the fun of the fair

This pattern has an unusual construction in that it's almost all knitted in one piece, but not in the modern way of using pick-up-and-knit to add the sleeves. Instead, you start at the back waist ribbing and knit upwards, then cast on stitches for the sleeves, knit up over the shoulders, cast off the extra sleeve stitches, and then continue down the fronts. The cuffs and button band are added by pick-up-and-knit, and the only sewing up is the combined side and sleeve seam. I had intended to finish some other projects before starting this one, but then Killer Kitsch Lizzie announced that she was holding a knitalong for the pattern, so of course I decided to join in.

The pattern uses Motoravia double knitting wool, but both Lizzie and Linda of knitting4victory have mentioned that 1950s DK was thicker than modern DK, so it's best to use a modern Aran (worsted) yarn. I close Stylecraft Highland Heathers, which is the same wool that I used for both my blue Wondrella and my blue Confidette, but in the heavier weight. For once I managed to step away from the blues, and chose the shade Esk. (I have no idea why the shade has this name; there are several River Esks in Britain, but to the best of my knowledge none of them are purple.)

Nice shade, odd name

This is probably a fair bit thicker than Motoravia DK. The pattern uses UK old size 3 needles, with size 6 for ribbing, which are 6.5mm and 5mm respectively. However, the swatch knitted on size 3s came out considerably too big. Three more swatches later (!), I settled on 5mm needles (4mm for the ribbing), which is what the yarn label recommends.

So. Much. Swatching.

The stitch pattern is simple, but gives a nicely textured effect.

The pattern is the top half of the swatch

The pattern only goes up to a 38" bust, and I’m a 39", but in her excellent video for the knitalong Lizzie mentions that there's a fair bit of give in the pattern, so I'm going for a straight 38" without any modifications apart from shortening the length.

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that knitting needles are like zips - no matter how large your collection, you rarely have the exact length/type/size required. As I had a trip to Shrewsbury planned anyway, I popped in to the very wonderful Ewe and Ply to get what I needed. And somehow, I also acquired yarn for another Close to You shawl!

Not blue either!

This is one of their own brand yarns, a Corriedale/British Mohair mix in shade Sea Shanty. The colours are lovely both close up and when seen from across the shop, so I have high hopes for my second attempt. But now, I really must stop lining up new projects!