The construction is quite interesting as the main piece and sleeves are knitted all in one, the sleeves are integral and not set in. Sadly I didn't take a photo of it at this stage but it really didn't look like much at all except for a bit of a sad rag and I wondered how it would ever be a beautiful garment. Once the sleeve cuffs were sewn up and the sleeves were formed and sewn it began to look much better. The final stage was to knit the band of ribbing which goes all the way around the bolero, giving it shape and structure. This is not many rows of knitting but is over 200 hundred stitches! I was very pleased when that bit was done as each row seemed to take an age!
So this is what it looks like from the front, I borrowed the mannequin in my friend's lovely haberdashery, Ribbon Circus to model it. The mannequin is currently wearing my 1940's trimly tailored jacket which is for sale.
I have to admit here that this bolero isn't mine! After I knitted mine my Mum also made one and somehow I didn't photograph the front of mine. But, I did photograph the front of Mums so here it is!
I knitted mine in Sublime extra fine merino double knit in dusty pink. It is a beautiful colour, the wool had a good stitch definition, is great to work with and importantly is very soft indeed.
This one is mine, this is the back view. It is a lovely pattern and it is shaped nicely around the small of the back. It is a size small.
The side view showing the neat ribbed cuff.
It looks so tiny when it is flat! This is a close up of the stitch detail and also shows my label. These two boleros were made for sale. The kind and lovely owner of Lucy and the Caterpillar, a vintage boutique, has put them in her shop. She has a dressmaking label, Lucille, for which she makes delightful vintage inspired dresses. The boleros pair up really prettily with them.
How exciting, this is the pink one in among the Lucille dresses. So gorgeous!
Wow! These boleros are gorgeous! You and your mum are so talented!
ReplyDeleteMarion x
Thank you! I think they look more difficult than they were except for one part of the pattern which was bonkers and I had to make up!
DeleteGreat work! It's so cool that they are being sold in a shop!
ReplyDeleteOh and do you knit things for yourself as well?
DeleteThanks Anthea, fingers crossed for the shop working out! I do knit for myself but haven't in ages due to a run of babies and garments for others. As soon as I have finished off a couple of WIPs I am knitting for myself again!
DeleteThat is beautiful, Katie! I love the colour :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lucy. I have made a couple of things in this colour as I like it so much. Not always a great fan of pink but this shade got me!
DeleteInteresting. I recently did a side-to-side 50s knit, and it was quite an odd process - but sure beats setting in sleeves.
ReplyDeleteI wish Sublime would bring back their Merino 4ply :-(
I agree about the yarn! Your knit sounds intriguing, do you have pictures?
DeleteThat is beautiful. I would never attempt this pattern! I love lacy knit shrugs and boleros as they are so versatile and look great over little tops when you go out (not that I ever do go out, but I used to, once...), keeping you warm while hiding my wobbly upper arms. x
ReplyDeleteThat made me laugh Gillian, hope you do get to go out occasionally if you choose to! Anything that covers my upper arms is a winner for me, better knit myself a couple soon!
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful that you are able to knit such beautiful vintage patterns. I bet it just means so much more to be able to look at these historical patterns and think about the time period when they were crafted. Very lovely! I give you a lot of credit in patience:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Joanna. I do enjoy knitting vintage patterns as it does feel like a connection to that time. I don't think I have much patience in general but for knitting it is different as I love it so much!
DeleteIt's really lovely that both you and your mom share a passion for knitting. My mom doesn't craft much these days, but she was heavily into cross stitch and embroidery when she was younger, two crafts I picked up at a young age myself (around the time I was six years old), and I've always adored that we shared an interest in both in common (she even gave me what remained of her embroidery floss collection, some of which dated back to the late 70s, when I was a teenager to use on my own projects).
ReplyDeleteBig hugs & tons of thanks for all of your terrific comments lately, my sweet friend!
♥ Jessica
How lovely to have your mum's floss collection, I think it means so much to be able to pass thing on in the family. I have my grandma's button tin, some knitting needles and a needle box that my granddad made for her. I think crafting is such a joy especially when you can share it with someone else.
DeleteHappy December. I hope you are ok, you have sounded like November has not been as nice as it should have been for you.
They really are rather wonderful! I have knitting envy (which happens often, especially when vintage patterns are involved!) and I especially like that dusky pink colour. Thanks for commenting over at my blog on the deer apron, very kind of you :) Beth
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Beth. I really like your deer apron so I had to tell you how fabulous I think it is. I think that shade of pink is a perfect vintage colour. I also like it as it is what I class as a nice pink, not too bubblegum or Barbie, which have their place but not in my knitting!
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