Stripes of all Stripes
A knitting pattern that is almost finished and has been in the works for a very, very long time…
I’ve been holding onto this pattern idea for such a long time, well over 10 years in fact. In that time, I’ve built it up to be quite a bit more than just a knitting pattern. It holds my experiences over that time, the encouragement and support of many friends as well as all of the knitting knowledge I have gained over that time. Yet very recently, in assembling the many pieces of this sprawling project, I was able to see a connection that ran straight through from beginning to end. I don’t believe that I had any idea of exactly what I had started all that time ago when I knit the sweater that started all of this, but it clearly meant something to me. I can say with certainty that that sweater was a guide to where I am today.
The original sweater has always been my personal favourite. It attracts the most attention from knitters and non-knitters alike and I am often stopped in the street to answer questions about it. In this way and many more, it has forged connections and called me to better understand just why it, and knitting in general, is so special to me. It was knit with some of the first skeins of Viola Mohair Lace that I ever dyed, in some of the oldest Viola colours. I’ve completely forgotten how to dye those colours, which means it’s also a piece of Viola history.
Back in the present, I have written up the pattern for this simple striped sweater. It’s as easy as it gets; almost no shaping, loose fitting and endlessly adaptable, a blank canvas for your own colour dreaming to unfold. Last summer everyone here at Viola lent a hand to test knit this new/old pattern and the results are absolutely beautiful! I decided to knit a dress, so the pattern includes instructions for a long and short version of this pullover.
My intention for this project is that you will pick up where I’ve left off. Take these instructions and use them to create your own sweater, learning experiences, connection-forging colour studies, and more! Its plain and simple shape is a blank canvas for you to modify and customize and there is literally no limit to the colour possibilities you can explore. Each member of the Viola team knit an entirely personalized garment last summer and when we stood back to admire our work together the real meaning of this project hit me…
Our individual perspectives and preferences are each beautiful, but through coming together and cooperating with others (be it groups of stitches, sweaters or human beings) we are able to create something very special indeed.
As knitters, I believe that we already have an innate sense of this truth because we choose to spend our time looping strands of fibres together into groups of stitches. Slowly, stitch by stitch, building a new whole from many tiny elements. Work in all realms of textiles leads to the same realization; we are stronger and more creative together than we are apart. In the spirit of coming together through textiles, our group of models enter the story. In addition to my family and the Viola team, our models are a group of close friends who have been meeting to quilt together for many years. Brenda’s daughter Emma was able to join us and inspired us to knit a mini stripes pullover. Then my little sister Sarah and her new baby Zizah joined the modelling crew as well, so we knit a little baby stripes sweater. (baby and kids version is still to come, but very cute!) Rather than listing all of our connections because there are many, I’ll get to the point and say that these images represent relationship, connection, shared experience and community all of which is echoed in the long and rambling story of this sweater.
for your project planning convenience, you can find sizing information and yarn requirement info below…
Here’s a little video of Brit and I modelling each sample. We hope this will help you to get a better sense of how they fit our unique bodies and how beautifully they drape and move with you as you wear them. We al agreed that we could happily wear any of the samples and feel great in them too!
Emily’s measurements: Chest 36.5 / 93, Height 67 / 170
Brit’s measurements: Chest 40 / 102, Height 65.75 / 167
Here’s a little preview of the mohair mini bundles we’ve put together for the pattern release. The intention is that you can buy as many as you need/want for your size, mix and match colours and supplement with big and mini mohair skeins too!