Musings from Marilyn

Posts Tagged ‘sweater’

Even though Autumn has been quite firmly ensconced for several weeks now, there are always several things that I do with amazing regularity once the autumnal equinox has passed.  On the household side, it is cleaning out the furnace (an utterly thankless task) before turning on the heat for the first time.  I think I made it until October 7th this year before finally giving in and turning it on.  After the low utility bills of summer, frugal me is always loathe to have to spend money on such obscure things as heat.  But being a creature of comfort, I do love to have warmth!

Being an air-dryer, the outdoor clothesline is now pretty much closed for the season (or two, or three…).  My drying racks have pretty much set up permanent shop in my kitchen, with a constant rotation of wet laundry yearning to dry.  It takes a day or two for the laundry to dry indoors…gone are the days of laundry drying in mere hours out on the sunny, breezy clothesline.  But I adjust pretty quickly to seeing the constant array of underwear, towels, and clothes adorning the drying racks 24/7.

On the fashion front, I’ve dug out my vintage cashmere sweaters and have been wearing them every day, and most likely will until next spring.  I adore wearing cashmere, especially the thick vintage sweaters that keep me warm without the tremendous bulk of wool.  Cashmere is about the only natural  fiber that I can wear next to my skin without irritation.  I have gotten into wearing skinny jeans as well.  I like the look of cashmere sweaters and skinny jeans on me, and it is certain that this will be my uniform for the next 8 months or so!

I’ve always been a bookworm, and fall tends to lend itself to reading quite easily.  There is just something about wrapping up in a wool blanket, or my leopard Snuggie , and getting lost in a good book.  I’ve made a concerted effort lately to read more novels, and delve into the classics that I somehow missed reading over the years.  For instance, I just finished reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, and I was engrossed, stunned, and completely engaged in this magnificent book.  How I never managed to read this classic until now is beyond me!  But it was a total delight.  I’ve got a stack of books just waiting to be read, and there is nothing quite so intoxicating.

The leaves are falling, the rains have set in, the wind is blowing;  settle in and enjoy!

“Autumn’s the mellow time.”  ~William Allingham

~Marilyn Huttunen

Now that autumn is firmly ensconced,  I turn my attention once again to those lovely angora sweaters.  I love angora sweaters, but my special devotion lies with vintage angora!  You see, most of the new angora sweaters that you find today are flimsy, thin, and in a blend with about five other fibers, leaving the angora content around 10%.  They tend to pill very easily, and are not soft, furry, or have that extreme hairy fluffiness that vintage angora has.

I am always on the hunt for quality vintage angora.  The best decade for FABULOUS angora sweaters was the 1980s.  OMG, those sweaters are just the bomb!  Usually made in Korea (where I think the best angora comes from), and in incredibly bright colors, with bold shoulder pads and ornate beading and embroidery embellishments.  Just completely out there in that bold 80s way!

But the most fabulous thing about the 80s angora is that is almost always 80%, 90% or 100% pure angora rabbit hair.  It is just incredibly thick and plush, with long fluffy hair.  The softness is not to be believed!  I have sensitive skin, and cannot wear wool or mohair next to my skin.  But angora (and cashmere) is so soft and nonirritating against the skin.  Very warm too, without the heaviness of wool.

I gently wash my vintage angora sweaters in lukewarm water and Woolite.  I air dry, and then carefully comb out any pills with a fine tooth comb.  Never, never, NEVER dry clean angora!  The natural rabbit hair was meant to be washed, not bathed in chemical solvent.  It will turn out sparking clean, soft, glossy and fluffy.

The vintage 1980s white angora bolero and pink angora sweater shown are two that I have sold recently.  They are off to new homes with appreciative angora lovers.

So don’t be afraid of angora!  It is truly a glorious fiber, brought to you by mother nature.

~Marilyn Huttunen

I love this oh-so chic and elegant vintage 1963 knitting pattern for a fluffy mohair sweater coat!  It has a big collar and an open front, and would be just perfect for snuggling up in this fall and winter.  It’s a great style that stands the test of time.

More importantly, I love this photo!  The model is just way too Euro-hip in her green stretch pants and black ankle boots.  The black leather gloves are awesome, as is the black hat.  But I just adore her sunglasses.  Gawd, they are just about the coolest sunglasses I’ve ever seen, I covet them!

I also like the suave and debonair man as a backdrop too…nice eye candy.

Anyway, I digress…I hope you enjoy the knitting pattern!

You can download the pattern here: Mohair Sweater Coat Pattern

~Marilyn Huttunen

This sweet 1940s knitting pattern is for a sweater with, for all things, antelopes!  I think it is completely fresh, original and oh-so charming.  It is just so darn jaunty.

I’ve been thinking how really cool it is to knit sweaters using vintage patterns.  You get the double advantage of new materials with an old design.  Plus, you’ll most likely have a one-of-a-kind garment, which is cool these days when most people wear the cookie-cutter mall look.

That’s what is great about vintage clothing, and vintage sewing and knitting patterns.  You get to develop your own style completely.  You won’t have to worry about someone else wearing your same look on the red carpet (for the celebrities among us, that is).  You’ll stand out in your own unique way, which believe me, is wonderful.  I get weary of looking at a sea of jeans and sweats, all in drab colors of blues and grays!

So, be bold!  Knit up an antelope sweater.  If you are more daring you can knit it in shocking pink or neon orange.

~Marilyn Huttunen

Antelope Sweater Pattern

I realize that it may seem a bit odd that I’m posting knitting patterns when it’s almost summer, but it has been so cool and rainy here in Seattle that it seems like perfect knitting weather!  I am not one to knit in hot weather; I find it most sticky and annoying.  But for those that do, you can work on knitting those pretty cardigans for fall and winter wearing.

This pattern from 1954 is just adorable.  It is a button-up, long-sleeve cardigan with a snazzy collar.  It calls for it to be knitted in petite knitting worsted, but I think it would look smashing in fluffy angora or mohair.

As always, happy knitting!       Cardigan Sweater Knitting Pattern

~Marilyn Huttunen

Going through my vintage knitting pattern stash, I found this sweet 1960s pattern!  Knit in fluffy mohair, it is a button-up cardigan style.  The scallop edge detail is so fabulous.  This would look so pretty in white or pastels.

Again, this is vintage sizing, so a size 12 would fit a 32″ bust / size 14 – 34″ bust / size 16 – 36″ bust.

More vintage knitting and crochet patterns to come!  Happy knitting!

“Knitting is very conducive to thought.  It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again.” ~Dorothy Day

~Marilyn Huttunen

Download: Here