Clearing the Closet

When you have been knitting for 50+ years, and when you have a mother who is still knitting, you tend to collect a closet full of knitted goods. This month, I decided to reclaim the closet space so I offered a batch of sweaters to my sister, niece-in-law, and a few friends.These are sweaters that no longer fit or that are way too warm for me to ever wear again.

I decided to post a few of my favorites here. I cannot remember the pattern names, but I bet I can go through the “archive” (that is, the box in the basement that holds the old patterns) and find them.

This vest, for example, was one of my favorites. I love the colors and the way they show off in the design, proving once again that variegated yarn and texture/pattern can work well together if you select the right yarn and the right design. I may have to dive into the archive and make this one again.

My mother knit this one. The body is knit sideways. Although I would not necessarily select these colors myself, I love the way they work together in this design.

I am keeping this one that my mother made. I noticed that I have a lot of rose-colored sweaters and vests among the things I have saved. Not pink, but rose and dark rose. And I thought my favorite color was blue.

This one is not handmade but I love it. It is an Icelandic sweater from Iceland. It is very, very warm. I have no idea when and where I got it.

One thing I have learned from this exercise is that hand-knit sweaters are not “fast fashion.” With a classic design and good quality yarn, they can last forever, or at least 20 or 30 years. What a legacy!

Guernsey Scarf

The first time I saw the Guernsey Wrap, I knew I had to knit it. Then — coincidence? — I came across some Cestari yarn in Portland, Oregon. I have purchased Cestari before in its home state of Virginia but I do not see it often in the Pacific Northwest (although it is supposedly available; I just have to look more closely).

• Pattern modifications: One less pattern repeat, making more of a scarf than a wrap.
• Yarn: Cestari Traditional Collection 2-ply, worsted-weight wool in Cranberry; used approximately 305 grams/575 yards. The yarn softens up nicely after washing but is not the easiest to knit with, at least for me.
• Needles: US6 (4mm)
• Finished size: 10½ inches by 70½ inches

As with all Brooklyn Tweed patterns I have knit, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The pattern is charted (yay!).