Finished: My First Lace! 1940s Lace Jumper

18:26 Renée 16 Comments

After making projects in plain stockinette, a simple rib with minor cabling and another simple knit-purl stitch combo, I finally felt like taking the next step. Also, I wanted to make something I can wear on warmer days. I have been drooling over both Susan Crawford's Lady's Evening Jumper and the Kasha cardigan but found them a bit too intimidating to start my lace adventures with. Then I remembered another pattern I really liked that was in my Ravelry que: The Elinor Jumper from the Australian Women's Weekly.

Elinor Lace Jumper

This jumper's stitch pattern was perfect for me as a first lace pattern. The stitch is a multiple of 12 sts over 16 rows but the wrong side rows are all purl. Very easy and easy to remember especially when you "get" how the stitch pattern is build up. The yarn I used is Stylecraft Life 4 ply in Ice Blue. It's 25% wool, 75% acrylic and super mega soft. I couldn't have picked a more appropriate yarn (within my budget). It also has a pretty nice drape. I took the Craftsy class Lace Knitting: Basics and Beyond for some extra hand holding. (I have become seriously addicted to Craftsy by the way!)



Challenges
This jumper provided me with some challenges but it was exactly the right balance between keeping me on my toes without being too frustrating or difficult. The biggest challenge I had was with the sleeve seam increases. Let me explain. A lace pattern - for those who don't know - consists of increases (mostly yarn overs to make the holes) and decreases. In order for the the knitted fabric to have straight edges and keep the same number of stitches on your needles, you need to work a decrease for every increase. With this jumper, the side seams are worked straight and for the armhole and neckline shaping the pattern gives stitch by stitch instructions. But when you get to the sleeves the pattern just says to increase every X rows. If you would do that and follow the stitch pattern normally, you get wavy edges which is obviously a problem! So after giving it some thought I ended up increasing or decreasing extra stitches on the sides as necessary to keep the same number of stitches in a row. It took some extra thought but I now have beautiful sleeve seams :)

Fit & blocking
The pattern is designed for a 32/33 inch bust but with the given tension has a finished size of 33". To get the jumper to fit my 31.5" bust nicely I had to knit it with 3,75 mm needles and take 1 pattern repeat off the front and back. I couldn't get row gauge but ended up solving that problem by blocking it out lengthwise. Wet blocking didn't work so I turned to the original 1940s method. I pinned it out lengthwise, a bit longer than the measurements I wanted, and pressed it gently on the wrong side under a towel with lots and lots of steam. This worked like a charm and made the lace look great. I knitted the first pattern repeat of the sleeves - after the ribbing - with 3.5 mm needles to make them fit better around my tiny wrists.

Physical changes
Originally the pattern doesn't have a neck opening and is just supposed to be pulled over the head. Although I might have been able to pull it over my head, I was afraid it would put too much stress on the lace so I left part of the right shoulder seam open and finished it with a row of single crochet with crocheted button loops and added 3 buttons. For some reason my sleeve heads turned out very big and making the 4 original pleats looked very odd. So I decided to gather them instead and then applied some steam to make them 'shrink' a little.

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In conclusion I can say that this pattern was surprisingly easy! I couldn't have chosen a more suitable pattern as a first lace project. So if you are thinking of giving lace a try, this pattern is a good place to start. This jumper has definitely got me hooked on lace, and I can safely say that there will be many many many more pretty lace garments from now on. At first I never understood knitters obsession with lace but now I totally understand. Although I don't think I will be knitting loads of lace shawls ( maybe just one :) ). I will probably be back in a week or so with my next finished knit: the Jan Sweater.

For my knitting friends: Have you ever knitted lace? Are you intimidated by it?

Lots of love,

Renée

16 comments:

  1. That's a really gorgeous sweater! You did a beautiful job.

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    1. And to answer your question, I've knitted lace numerous times, but never anything super complicated. I tend to knit in front of the television and if the lace pattern is too complex I have to pay too much attention to what I'm doing. I'd like to get over that hurdle eventually, though ;)

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    2. Lol, yes, totally guilty of that myself. This pattern was still easy enough to knit while watching a movie / tv show as well.

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  2. This turned out absolutely gorgeous! Now I'm off to add it to my Revelry queue. :) I might just have to knit it up in some green that's been sitting around... Oh boy!

    Brigid
    the Middle Sister and Singer

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    1. I'll keep an eye out on Ravelry, green would be lovely! (Although this jumper would probably look good in ANY color!)

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  3. I can't believe this is your first lace project! What a beautiful result. But the most astonishing thing is the yarn - it looks nothing like acrylic! I was a complete yarn snob, but I will now have to eat some humble pie! Glad you're feeling better. Looking forward to seeing the Jan sweater!

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    1. Yarn snob - lol! Yes I have to say that this yarn is really good quality for the price! Though I can't speak for it's durability yet. Obviously now that I have a job though, I can finally afford real quality yarn :)

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  4. Wow that is so, so beautiful!! The nearest I have got to lace knitting is 'Your Victory Jumper' which has a very wavy lacy design but its super easy to knit, so I am not sure it counts!

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  5. Wow that is so, so beautiful!! The nearest I have got to lace knitting is 'Your Victory Jumper' which has a very wavy lacy design but its super easy to knit, so I am not sure it counts!

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    1. I'm actually planning to knit the victory jumper for this years VE day! And I'm sure it counts as lace ;)

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  6. Oohh it is gorgeous!! I have had a few go's at lace and I find them surpricingly easy. Sure it demands a bit of attention, but it is not hard. Besides, the beautiful results are sooooo worth it! Great job, I love the buttoning at the neck and the shape at the shoulder :)

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  7. Lovely jumper. You have done such a great job. A really beautiful stitchattern.

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  8. Wow, it is beautiful. I love the pattern and the light colour makes it look so soft and delicate. And how comforting to know that it is not as complicated as it looks, so there is a small chance that I will be able to do this at some point of my life :-)

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    1. Haha, you'll defenitely be able to knit this, sooner than you probably think! :)

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