[Knitting] Pattern acqisition. :)

[kniteracy]

Just wanted to say that I've found (and ordered) a copy of the fabulous 1992 Vogue/Donna KaranEnchanted Forest Cardigan pattern online at SewDirect for £1.95! Free shipping as well; I hope they'll just slap it in an envelope today and it'll make it through my letterbox! (For a better photo go here, direct to VK.)

So.... I've been wanting to make this for a long, long time. You'll see why if you click on any picture or do a google search on it. It's a legend. I remember when the pattern first came out; I was on the internet's first KnitList back in those days (the knitlist is really really huge and impossible now), and it was all people talked about for *months*. Copies of the pattern were pored over, passed around, bitched about, and probably exchanged for enough good-quality aran yarn to knit the thing. It still creates a buzz whenever people see, it, and Vogue has reprinted the pattern twice: once in the VK 25th anniversary edition, and once in a book called Vogue Knitting Designer Knits, still in stock at AmazonDotWhatevers all over the world. I doubt seriously I'll want to make enough of the patterns in this book to pay £9.60 for it, so why not get the original pattern for £2 from SewDirect? I understand the 25th anniversary version of the pattern has been reshaped a bit, or maybe just re-edited, as the VK KAL poster notes in the second link to a photo of this cardigan.

At the time the pattern first came out, I was not confident enough as a knitter to tackle it. It would have been started (wrong) and never finished, probably. Now, the only thing I worry about is sizing. I do not remember what the original sizing was for this pattern, but I doubt seriously if it's sized for fat people. But we'll see. Maybe I'll make this my present to myself for the weight loss work (no real diet talk, just a goal discussion, I promise!). I'm sure I have enough of something in my stash to knit this with: I could start it now, tomorrow, whenever, and by the time it is finished (yeah, right-- at this stage of the game, I knit pretty fast ;>), I'd be able to wear it. If not, I could always give it to someone who would truly appreciate it. Like my sister. Or weirdsister. Then again, if I gave even one of these to anybody I'd feel obligated to make a couple more. And somehow that just seems like serious amounts of work.

I'm thinking of doing it in a neutral colour, but I don't want the original 'cream aran' type colour because I think I don't look good in that colour, plus it is a bitch to keep clean. The grey the model in VK is wearing is a good choice. You'll find photos in various colours all over the net if you go digging. What colour would you like to see it in?

Also-- KnitALong, anybody? Somebody out there will have wanted to knit this cardigan for a long time, too, eh? (Even if you are only seeing it for the first time today!)

ETA, because I am a complete idiot and you guys know I am an idiot... I'd been going through my small stash of knitting mags for another purpose. I remembered having a black market photocopy of this pattern and thought maybe I'd put the envelope in there. And what do you know? I have a copy of the Fall 1992 Vogue Knitters in which this pattern first appeared. I thought that cover photo on the VK site looked familiar. Right. Have cancelled order for £1.95 pattern. Will be happy to pursue KAL action if you're into it. The pattern is one size for body, only sleeve size changes. Chest measurement is 58 1/2 inches, though, so it really should fit most. Changing this garment would be a bitch, but could be done.

FETA: The other fabulous jumper I want to knit this year is Beth Brown-Reinsel's Celtic Dreams, a top-down aran jumper with saddle shoulders and a really long skirt. I've had the pattern and wool for this since before I left the US.

Question: Why, now that summer is really here in the UK, do I suddenly want to knit jumpers and cardigans???

Comments

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

Damn. I've never knit a sweater, but I want one of those. I might just have to do this. At the very least, I'm going to get the pattern.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

The pattern is readily available in the US; check around to see which stores might sell the pattern itself, instead of the big Vogue Designer Knits book; you'll save yourself a heap. Which is a good thing, because the wool for this sweater will set you back quite a bit! :)

[bercilakslady.livejournal.com]

I'll have to do that. No wool buying for a while for me, but it's on the list. (I have a cable and lace blanket to finish, and three lace shawls on the list also.)

[telynor.livejournal.com]

I'm doing some wool checking for this cardi right now, and if I had to recommend any US yarn, I'd say you should check into Classic Elite Montera. It's the wool I did the 10-year aran in (userpic). It's the right weight, and it knits up beautifully.