My favourite cardigan. I made it about 30 years ago and it can still hold it's head up for those smart casual occasions (good old pure wool). I wash it really carefully and don't wear it for gardening etc. which has probably helped it to retain it's looks, but a moth has found it and left a tiny hole. Now I am really moth-phobic and fill my cupboards with all those smelly things that are supposed to keep them away. Cedar balls, lavendar, camphor, you name it my shelves are full of it but obviously this moth liked the atmosphere. I stopped using naptholene years ago when I learned that it is as bad for me as it is for the moths but it really did work.
Anyway, the disaster gave me the opportunity to try out a mending technique I learned from a needlecraft magazine a few years back. Rather than darn the hole, I used the Swiss darning method that copies the knitted stitch. Since it was only a tiny hole it wasn't difficult and I'm really pleased with the result. You can see the mend but it doesn't scream at you as a darn might.
It looks as though it might be time to dig out the pattern book and knit a replacement. I suppose thirty years is pretty good going for a cardigan.
If I can find the instructions for the mend I'll show them to you in case you would like to try it out.
Bye for now until next time.
Awesome sweater, sorry bout the whole, I would be lost about how to fix it. 30 years, impressive.
ReplyDeleteI've been staring at the pictures looking for the mended area, but I can't find it. You must have done a really good job fixing it!
ReplyDeleteWell done:)) 30years and still going great, must say something for Australian grown wool :))
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could let us in on the secrect mending:))
have a great day :))
Hello again Sandy. The method takes a little practice. This is the first time I have been satisfied with the result.
ReplyDeleteMinding My Own, That can probably be blamed on my photography skills. In truth the mend does show but not glaringly.
Hello Pat- Yes, the wool is Patons back when they had a mill in Tasmania. And I will show the method later when I find the book I got it from. (If you saw my book stash you'd see why that might take a little time)
Bet that moth just couldn't resist a bit of quality wool Elsie*!*
ReplyDeleteHello Annie. We do provide a good table at this establishment. I just hope the word won't get out. Lol.
ReplyDeleteWell, when I was in my twenties, I could never have imagined having or wearing anything that was thirties year old, BUT now that I'm almost fifty, I also have an almost thirty year old handknit sweater in my closet. It's not as pretty as yours though. I've kept it mainly because it was the first nice sweater I ever knit for myself.
ReplyDeleteI can't see your mending either. It still looks perfect to me, and right in style!
Caroline, I bet your old sweater feels just as cosy as ever. You couldn't throw it out when it has served you so well for so long, could you? :)
ReplyDelete