I know it dates back that far because the pattern book was given to me by the ex-wife of my ex-husband (Don't ask... it's complicated) who happened to work for Patricia Roberts at the time and that was in 1979!
This is as much as I ever completed. You wouldn't believe how long one of those rows with all the bobbles took. I actually think it is quite horrendous now... all that horrid itchy mohair. But to be fair mohair was quite trendy at the time.
So a challenge to you blogging friends... what do you have lurking on your needles that dates back to antiquity? Post a picture, link back here and let me know. As for me... am I finishing my "Fruit Machine" sweater? Not so likely...I've cast on another pair of ripple socks...
And I've been knitting tension squares! This is serious stuff... I never knit tension squares.
But I'm quite determined to knit myself a Marion Foale "Gina" jacket now that Gill has tracked down a pattern for me.
And lest you think all this sitting around knitting is not good for me... fear not. In yesterday's Times I found this little gem...
Which sounds like the perfect excuse for an afternoon of knitting with a bowl of Monda's rice pudding on the side!
And I've been knitting tension squares! This is serious stuff... I never knit tension squares.
But I'm quite determined to knit myself a Marion Foale "Gina" jacket now that Gill has tracked down a pattern for me.
And lest you think all this sitting around knitting is not good for me... fear not. In yesterday's Times I found this little gem...
Which sounds like the perfect excuse for an afternoon of knitting with a bowl of Monda's rice pudding on the side!
Crikey, I remember knits like that! Not that I ever knitted any, but I do remember them. It's actually quite nice as a piece of textile, rather than a garment! x
ReplyDeleteHi gina, what memories this post brought back. I knitted aout 6 Patricia roberts jumpers back in the early eighties. Foolishly I got rid of them about 6 years ago - how trendy they would be now. I still have lots of the books, so am going ot hunt them out for a nostalgia session this afternoon.
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ReplyDeleteHi Gina - I was going to mention the carb offset knitting... I see you found it too!
ReplyDeletePatricia Roberts! That takes me back, I knitted a very complicated cardi covered with 3D bits and bobs (where is it now?). I know I have still got the little cotton top with alphabet motifs - I think I'll wear it again this year ;-)
Celia
x
Mine's not as bright - olive green jumper begun for hub the same year! Would like to finish it sometime as he is still wearing the one I knitted him (same pattern, Phildar wool) in 1977. Still washes like a dream and he won't be parted from it!!!! I think I'll need to undo it and start again though, as I've no idea what size it/he was then!
ReplyDeleteSue
Yes, I remember Patricia Robert knits..
ReplyDeleteNo don't bother finishing it...
Love the yarn for the sock...could you give it a name please???
Oooh, my, we'd see you coming in your fruity top!
ReplyDeleteThe new jacket looks lovely. If I knitted all day instead of going for a walk do you think I'd lose more weight then? Knitting on an exercise bike, now that should be do-able!
I wouldn't bother finishing it either, but it might be interesting to felt it or run it under the embellisher!
ReplyDeleteHere's another Patricia Roberts fan checking in. I would always visit her shops (beginning with the little one off Kensington Church Street) when I visited London. I was sad when that one closed, and then the one near Covent Garden closed. Perhaps the Kinnerton St shop is still open?
ReplyDeleteAnyhow...I made a sweater from that very same pattern. I still have it and get lots of compliments every time I wear it. I just love the PR three-dimensional designs merging with those beautiful colors.
Keep on knitting! xo
Ok, that add made me burst out laughing -- knitting as a calorie burner -- who knew??? There is a definite charm to your pretty fruit sweater (not even counting how pretty the colors are against the black!) Surely you could make a pillow or something out of it to save it? I LOVE those grapes and cherries -- very clever!
ReplyDeleteI remember Patricia Roberts....! I can't confess to things lurking on the needles..yet...as I'm a new-ish knitter, but give me time! Love those ripple socks, such a glorious burst of colour too. Now, you could knit up 'Gina' as part of the knitting olympics (or whatever it's called) - you'd be wearing it before you could say 'I knit' ! And think of the calories you'd burn in the process...
ReplyDeleteI could never wear mohair next to my skin, it is far too itchy though very warm. I don't have any unfinished garments hidden away, just 2 or 3 completed ones that make me look like an elephant. I may unpick them and rework them into something, hopefully, more flattering. Love the ripply socks and rice pudding!
ReplyDeleteThat's some jumper. In 1979 I was 11 years old, just thought I'd share that with you. I love the socks.
ReplyDeleteThere must be something you could make with that piece of knitting all that time and effort ! Oh I love that jacket pattern ...love Jan xx
ReplyDeletei remember those knits too - the oldest knitting i have on my needles is about 5 years old!!! so have decided to bite the bullet and rip it off the needles and think about making something useful with it!! I just love your ripple socks!
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Oh wow how have you managed to keep it all this time - I remember knitting some peculiar items in days gone by - Still the red jacket is lovely and you will look smashing in it. I am going to take up knitting if it makes me loose weight!!!! Bloody Angela has to remind us she is such a whippersnapper eh!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, don't think I would be tempted to re-start knitting that jumper either - it looks far too complicated! The ripple socks by contrast look complicated but beautiful too! And I love that snippet from the Times!
ReplyDeleteLucy x
well, I picked up my husband in may of 1986 - does that count...????
ReplyDeleteNow that looks complicated! When I was at college, I was forever knitting mohair jumpers. They never fitted me! I've not knitted a garment for myself since but am tempted to give it a go again as I'm in love with Rowan Cocoon!
ReplyDeleteD/C may be on to something, think of all the sockage that could be done while cycling on an exercie bike!
ReplyDeleteWow very eighties which is now back in fashion!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any knitting but I have an old jumper with knitted flowers and fruit from Laura Ashley about 1990, with 3d grapes!
Love your socks.x
Wow Gina - I like the half finished garment dating back to the eighties - I think you should cast off and sew it up into a bag and felt it!!! It would be bang up to date then.
ReplyDeleteI remember knitting a mohair jumper in Geometric designs, the colours were red, grey and black. It was for a girl friend an I was so relieved I finished it because it made me itch every time i picked it up! The oldest thing I have unfinished is a knitted doll - she's still awaiting clothes Jane x
ReplyDeleteI seem to have binned my unfinished knits somewhere over the years Gina, though for the life of me can't remember doing so! Love the sock wool and oh, that jacket! x
ReplyDeleteHa ha! That knitting is older than me...but not quite as old as Mr P!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should start a project now and leave it to one side for 30 years. A sort of craft time capsule? x
I think my unfinished knits were unfinished for a reason!! And they do not bear resurrecting!! TizDuster.
ReplyDeleteI had the Patricia Roberts books and intended to knit something from them one day, but I never even got around to starting, let alone finishing. I got rid of the books when I realised it wasn't going to happen!
ReplyDeleteMy word, Patricia Roberts took me back. So did knitting bobbles.... I used to love doing them! I see someone else mentioned Phildar.... my children were kitted out with homeknits from their beautiful books. Their yarns washed and washed and washed.....
ReplyDeleteI have an unfinished Kaffe Fassett tapestry with needle poised in light blue for the border. Could you felt that knitting and make it into a pouchy bag?
ReplyDeleteOMG Gina - I've been having a trawl round your blog tonight and you are the first person I've come across who knows Patricia Roberts. I've got at least half a dozen of her books and still got two of her ab fab garments that I knitted back in the early 80s. She was the most wonderful complex knitwear designer and I so enjoyed her patterns. I keep planning to visit her little shop round the back of Knightsbridge when I next have a meeting up in town. I used to love the Covent Garden shop.
ReplyDeletewould you be willing to sell or share that pattern I found your post because I was looking for that exact pattern, I made quite a few in the 80's for patricia roberts lovers making the grapes from purple anny blatt angora thanks
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