Thursday 16 March 2017

A Vintage Knit

It has been lovely to have had some warmer weather this week, but I've not been ready to ditch my sweaters just yet. Then I remembered this sleeveless top, perfect for warmer days, lurking in the back of my wardrobe that I knitted... thirty five years ago!


There have been many knits in the intervening years and not many have been worn as much as this one or lasted anything as long, but every time I think maybe I should get rid of it, I can't quite let it go.


I know it is thirty five years old because I knitted it when I was expecting my first son. I remember finishing teaching at the end of the summer term and going away on holiday to Switzerland, where being heavily pregnant I spent a lot of time sitting in the hotel garden in the shadow of the Jungfrau, knitting, knowing it would never fit me at the time because I had such a big bump! It's made from a fine, very soft Phildar yarn that has lovely blue flecks of silk and it took forever on 2.25 mm needles. I knitted lots of baby things in Phildar yarn at the time too, but I'm not sure it's available anymore. Do you have any old garments, homemade or otherwise, you can't bear to part with?


There's not been much knitting going on of late, although I did finish another pair of these Camp Out Mitts recently.


When I do eventually get to sit down in the evening I've been picking up my rag rug rather than knitting, enjoying watching the squares grow, but no doubt I'll change back to some knitting soon when the fancy takes me.


Which is just as well because I've got a cardigan to finish that has been on and off for far too long, and then another one ready to start. There are just not enough hours in the day!

16 comments:

  1. I loved Phildar yarn and yes it is still available in the UK through Deramores and Love Knitting. When we visit Nice I always visit the Phildar shop which also sells lovely clothing too. I knitted a lot for my '80's babies in both Phildar and Pingouin yarns.
    I'm knitting for my little granddaughter now.
    V x

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  2. 2.25!!! No wonder you won't let it go! Mind you it still looks good.

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  3. It's great when an old favourite keeps it's looks for so long. Love the pattern. Your rag rug is looking good too - they are such fun to work on. Good luck with the rest of your knitting - I love making cardigans and have far too many.

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  4. I have a Kaffe Fassett fair isle tank top that I knitted at least 30 years ago.I can't bear to part with it!!!I think it came in a kit.Must dig it out and photograph and put it on my blog and see if anyone else made one.

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  5. I am not a knitter, but undeterred I have started to knit a blue hat for the EU March next week. In fact, I've started five times, there's still a mistake in the ribbing, but I WILL finish! Rag rugging was an obsession about 20 years ago - I've made a cushion cover (I snipped the tops off the loops to make it like velvet) and a rug for to go under the piano pedals. I've still got the rug frame, the hooks, and plastic crates of stretchy T-shirt strips in the loft, but no more rugs! In terms of old knits, I still regret charity-shopping a jumper my Mum knitted - it was black and orange, a Norwegian pattern, but beautifully made and irreplaceable. What was I thinking?

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  6. Big jumpers are the things I hang onto longest! I've got a natural dyed denim blue Aran jumper that I commissioned about 25 years ago, and a black and white tweedy Fairisle from M&S that probably predates that! I wouldn't wear either of them for 'best' but they are very cosy x

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  7. Your top looks as good as new which must be testament to good yarn and your care. It is lovely to see how your rag rug is coming along.

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  8. Wow! And it still looks amazing.

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  9. Sadly I wouldn't be able to fit into anything I made 35 years ago :) It looks really good, I do love things that last and last, can't be doing with buying new. I love your rag rug, I'm itching to start a new one.

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  10. Now Phildar is a name to take me back in time. Were they not a French knitting company? I always remember they had large pattern books but think they have long disappeared from the wool shop. If I'd knitted that 35 years ago I think it would be amazing if it either still fitted me or if I had not shrunk it in the wash!!

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  11. Oh, Phildar! Similar memories of knitting baby stuff and buying yarn in France. Your top still looks fab. I haven't hung on to any of my knitted garments. Kind of wish I had.

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  12. So love the rag rug Gina- is there anything you can't put your hand to?! As ever enjoying catching up on your blogs. Let's try and meet up this year. Inspired by you we are having fun creating our 60 by 60. That's all very well creating the list.. but we need to get on and do our challenges! Love Rocking Dog x

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    1. I'm still trying to think up enough new things to fill my list but maybe meeting up with you should be one of them. I'd love to meet you again... and hear all about your catering experiences!

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  13. I used to love Phildar yarns and patterns and still have a huge sweater that I knitted from them when I discovered them. I also have a cotton sweater bought from Next when it opened. Your top still looks like new.

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  14. Your sleeveless top still looks great for 35 years of continuous wear and washing! I have a vest that I bought in my 20s which I can't part with. It's the colour that I love :)

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  15. Boy, isn't that the truth -- just not enough hours in the day -- SO sad. ;-( I love that you've kept your sweater for so many years -- AND that it still fits LOL!

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