These images started it all for me. I love this picture. It's from Traditional Fair Isle Kntting by Sheila McGregor, an oldie but goodie. For some reason I've always thought that Magnie was her cousin. I like to study the background of vintage knitting pictures, who is wearing that houndstooth blazer? The sister who knit Magnie the vest? Does Magnie play the piano?
When the call for Spring Twist went out, one request was a man's garment, one you'd like to knit, and one a man you know would actually wear. Hmmm. My husband shys away from fair isle, his style leans toward the Amish, which is good, and I understand. But I really wanted to knit a diced vest...So Luke Randall! Of course. Luke is unafraid to wear pink. Luke is a snappy dresser. So we made a deal, I make a vest and trade it for a painting.
Next comes the yarn choices...Kate Gilbert suggested Sunday Knits Yarns and we discussed a few colors, esspresso agreed to be one of the major colors. Carol, the color and fiber wizard behind Sunday Knits Yarns sent me the color card....I chose a few, mussed about a few more and Carol, the dear sent me lots.
But look what happened! I went wild with the reds...I think that Luke would wear this combination, I know I would wear it...but would readers dismiss it and declare it not manly enough...I started going for a bit of dark at the top...got some suggestions from Kate...and went back to swatching....
The colors I used for this larger motif roughly translate to the pattern as:
rnd 14: curry • chestnut
rnd 13: curry • chestnut
rnd 12: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 11: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 10: tomato • espresso
rnd 9: tomato • espresso
rnd 8: melon/berry • iris/pickle ( either or!)
rnd 13: curry • chestnut
rnd 12: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 11: pumpkin • raisin
rnd 10: tomato • espresso
rnd 9: tomato • espresso
rnd 8: melon/berry • iris/pickle ( either or!)
Oh, Luke has a new website that isn't quite up yet, I'll keep you posted. Can't wait for the trade.
6 comments:
Ohhh! this post is great! love to know the story ... colors are quite masculine in the vest ... I think it's a peace of art vest :)))
Thanks for the insightful design process.....I'm keen to delve deeper into Fair Isle myself and try to re-invent some of my mum's designs(one of her jumper's is mentioned in Sheila's book)...but boy is it hard to get the colours right...yikes!
Again I love the combination you ended up with!
yes, love the backstory. i have that book too, the photos are gems, as is your curry pumpkin tomato swatch. what fun!
I love vintage books especially with handsome men staring into the distance smoking cigarettes and wearing handknits....
They sure knew how to knit in the old days! I adore the bright combination you made!!!
Thanks for posting about your inspiration, that was good reading. The man is the photo is rugged and hunky, isn't he?
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