And what do we do when we got nuthin’? Dredge up the past, of course!
Last week at knitting night I was talking to Kim about the Best of Knitters Jackets for Work and Play that Cathy had brought with her. In it is a jacket made from Cynthia Helene Kid Mohair. It brought back a rush of memories about probably my favorite project of all time: The Arch Motifs sweater designed by Sandy Black. Sally and I fell in love with this pattern in the early 90s, originally knit in Rowan Kid Silk (not Kidsilk Haze, not Kidsilk Aura, but the original Kid Silk, with nothing added to the title).
From this book:
I made it my mission to make this sweater. One draw back. In its original yarn, it would cost $300 — and that was 15 years ago — whew! A lot to chew on. Sally took the plunge and knit hers in the original yarn. I made mine out of Cynthia Helene Kid Mohair, color Mink. I did use Kid Silk for the bobbles:
I loved every stitch, every bobble, every scroll, every minute of making this sweater. It was a labor of love from start to finish and then some. Even looking at it now, I feel the same rush of “I think I love you” welling up in the background!
But every love story has its dark side….this sweater is LONG.
Even on me. It overwhelms the wearer, even a 5’10” wearer! It is a one size fits few, so you can imagine this behemoth on Sally’s petite frame! (“Sally, I know you’re in there somewhere, call out so we can find you!”). It feels somewhat dated, too, like an 80’s fashion statement.
I have considered shortening it by removing a full repeat of bobbles (windows?) or removing the gorgeous scrolled hem. But somehow I have not been able to bring myself to do it.
It is one of those sweaters that you make for the sheer joy of the knitting, but not necessarily the wearing. I may try to wear it again this winter — it is as warm as it is long! But, if not, I’ll just wax nostalgic now and again.
From Sally: Help — I’ve put on this sweater and I can’t get out!
I loved making the Arches sweater. I loved every stitch. I remember when and where we found the pattern. I remember hoping that if I made it, I’d look like the model. Ah, delusions.
I have worn it a few times, but not in years. As Susan said, it’s long — and I’m not tall. But it’s also 50″ around, truly a one-size-fits-none. It’s down to my knees and I think two of me could wear it. But the pattern is so lovely. I’ll never regret making it even though I can’t imagine ever wearing it.
Here are some close up photos of the Arches and the Scroll Pattern at the neck:
It’s beautiful.
Beautiful knitting, despite the 80’s styling and sizing. Wear it around the house! Only you and the UPS guy will know.
Comment by Miss T — September 24, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
I’ll bet with some leggings and some suede boots it would be a great fashion statement.
Comment by Fran F — September 24, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
ah, i see the word kaffe on the title of that rowan book. why is it that anything remotely associated with that name (iknow here it’s just the yarn) is likely to be problematic? so many great ideas, so many of them unwearable. i’m in the middle of a doomed love affair with a kaffe inspired project myself, and love/hating every minute of it!
Comment by kv — September 24, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Those huge sweaters seem to work best for walking on heathered moors in the wintertime. Looks like you’d better visit the UK!
I’d really like to see it photographed on you guys, I think it’d be cool.
Comment by the Lady — September 24, 2008 @ 6:30 pm
WOw in the 80’s I wore them long and could get away with it but not now. Somehow I got shorter and a bit rounder since then..but your sweaters are just beautiful to look at even if not worn.
Comment by kathleen — September 24, 2008 @ 7:39 pm
Mine is, seriously, almost down to my knees. I have worn it with leggings, but I am not sure that’s a good look for me these days not just from a weight perspective but age.
I dunno.
Comment by surly — September 24, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Here’s a radical idea, but what if you turned it into a coat? You could cut it open down the front, and then continue the collar down both sides to finish the cut edges. They would overlap slightly and you could make it a wrap to further emphasize the overlap. then you could make some cool toggles that match the bobbles and use them to fasten it. As a coat it would be okay oversized and wrapping it would make it less oversized anyway.
just a thought!
Comment by Elise Lufkin — September 24, 2008 @ 10:44 pm
The scrolls are especially wonderful. I am thinking sweater and tights! Hey, you could wear it to guild meetings and we’d love it.
Comment by twinsetellen — September 24, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
I loved it as soon as I saw the pictures on ravelry. Now, seeing the details of the bobbles and scrollwork, it is truly stunning. I like the coat idea for a way to wear it.
Comment by Astrid — September 25, 2008 @ 8:29 am
I thought of turning it into a coat, but I have no extra yarn and it’s no longer made.
I even thought of reknitting it that way out of a different yarn. I could still do that I suppose. Sigh.
Comment by surly — September 25, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Ladies- Hang onto them and they will come back in style eventually. Sometimes, the joy is in the process, not
necessarily in the wearing.
Comment by Lorraine — September 25, 2008 @ 11:54 am
Susan, don’t you dare, dare, dare consider shortening that sweater. No, I mean that work of art! That could be an heirloom. That is history! That magnificent work of art could someday, be pictured in some history book of knitting, or it could be featured in a magazine a century from now as some knitting artifact. I understand that it is warm, but Sally, your version looks wearable. I’m 5ft. and I could see myself wearing that with leggings (like someone else commented}, a perfect handbag and you’d look stylish now. I picture a model wearing that on a runway, right now. Obviously, it was a labor of love, but it is all about the process and you don’t have to wear it, maybe some special person in your family may want it to wear or to treasure.
Comment by kellistarr — September 26, 2008 @ 12:26 am
on the next snowy day, wear it like you mean it over jeans with cool mittens and a hat…
Comment by karen — September 27, 2008 @ 1:10 am
Slap a belt on it and call it a sweater dress.
They are gorgeous.
What a great sweater to curl up in while sitting in front a fire with your knitting.
Comment by Tiny Tyrant — September 29, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Sniff! Miss you girls!!
Comment by Michelle — September 30, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
I would:
* carefully unpick the short edges of the collar
* steek up the front of the sweater
* use one (or more) of the bobble colors to create a hem on each side of the steek, Norwegian style (like a lining).
* perhaps do the same on the collar
* use toggles to fasten the coat in front
* use two round buttons to fasten the collar – in the same “configuration” as it is in the sweater, with the buttons being exactly where the bobbles are now on the terminal scroll on the collar.
Then again, I lie like a cheap watch, because I would never have the courage to actually tackle that – I would just talk about it 😉
Comment by Sivani — December 2, 2008 @ 9:25 pm