Today’s knitting pattern comes from the January 1943 edition of Stitchcraft magazine.
Click on the following link to download the pattern as a pdf: Plain and Practical Cardigan Pattern.
Click here to add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue or Favorites.
It’s so dreary a name for this lovely, chic pattern don’t you think?! If it were me this would be the “Pretty & Practical” cardigan pattern. Let’s just assume it was a typo on the publisher’s part, shall we? :)
It’s sad that there wasn’t a color image of this cardigan/jacket pattern, but I’m sure you can see just how lovely this would be to wear out and about. I love the angled hem and the gathered yoke is ahhhmazing! If I didn’t have any self-control, I’d be starting this cardigan in a heart beat.
While I do love the contract yoke, I’m not sure if I would use two different colors like the pattern has stated. I feel like it would reduce down the number of outfits you could pair this with; I would perhaps just use one color to make it more versatile.
Pattern Details:
This pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn and uses US size 3 needles (or 3.25mm) for the main body of the cardigan. The tension is stated as 7.5 sts per inch.
You may recall that this same yarn is used in the Lace Panel Jumper pattern I posted up a few weeks ago. But in that pattern they call for a US size 2 needle (or 3.0 mm) with a tension of 8 sts per inch.
What does this mean for you?
Well… it means that this cardigan’s weave will be a bit more open and loose. You have a larger knitting needle working a slightly fewer number of stitches within one inch. I imagine it’s a bit looser of a tension so that the cardigan can stretch a bit more to fit over your underclothes and garments.
I nearly forgot to mention, this pattern is drafted for a 34-36 inch bust.
Well, I hope you all have a great weekend. As always please feel free to mention in the comments if there is a particular type, style, era of knitting pattern you’d like me to post up next. I’m all ears…
It´s definitely a “pretty & pracical” little thing, not plain at all. I can totally see it in a combination of navy blue and mustard yellow. Thank you for sharing the pattern :)
That is really cute! And with two colors I wouldn’t say “plain” either. But I agree it would be really nice all in one color. That gathered is SUCH a neat (and somewhat unusual) design! Love it! If only I didn’t have half my Tyrolean cardigan to go and then my next project already lined up… lol
I am truly amazed by all of you knitters. I can knit, if being able to make a super wonky scarf counts, but I just do not have the patience for counting stitches and whatever else goes into something like this. Give me a nice sweater knit, and I’ll sew myself a lovely little cardigan! ;) Anyhow, if I were a knitter, I would love to make this up in one color, but different shades. I think black and charcoal or brown and light brown would be really nice; i think it would still give it the visual interest of the contrasting yolk, but would allow it to still be pretty versatile.
Good grief! Every time I visit your blog I change my mind about my next project. So many great patterns! Thanks so much for sharing them all with us :) I definitely agree the name should be changed to “Pretty and Practical.” This is definitely not a “plain” jumper. I would knit it in one colour but in two different shades, which would make it pop while also making it versatile for wearing with different outfits. I’m thinking a dark charcoal grey with a slightly lighter shade of grey in the yolk. Paired with my 1940s charcoal skirt with sweetheart waistline that’s been hanging in my closet for the past three years awaiting its hem LOL
Oooo Two colors in differing shades sounds lovely. You should make this one up so I can see it. :)
I loathe doing hems, so I totally understand about having pieces waiting in the ranks for their finishing. I *may* have two dresses in my closet as well that need hems…
I’m definitely going to make that cardigan. Alas, it won’t be for awhile. I’ve got to seam the sides of my jerkin and stitch together my Datemaker jacket, plus I have a third project on the go and am forcing myself to finish all that before I start anything new. It’s tough to have such a short attention span :)
BTW I bought a 1936 Stitchcraft book (July) on Ebay yesterday! I’ve been loving the patterns you post from those books so grabbed this when I found it. Can’t wait for it to arrive in the post!