Goodbye Old Favourite and Hello New Version!

I have finally accepted that a favourite old handknit top of mine needs to go in the bin. I love it to bits but it has been regularly worn, machine washed and tumble dried and has now shrunk to the point where it is a crop top showing way too much belly!

Here is my poor old friend in an “infront of the mirror” shot….

…(spot the feline supervisor 🙂 )

I love the stitch pattern on this – it’s a very easy 6 row pattern repeat but looks much harder. If you’ve got the Vogue Stitchionary – Volume 1, it’s pattern 188, “Chevron Panels”.

The pattern is an old Jaeger leaflet – the copyright on the back is 1997 but it doesn’t seem to have dated at all. It’s a beautifully thought out pattern – all the shaping puts seams in the gaps between the the chevrons so you don’t get that messy half a pattern effect. This is the pattern guilty of switching me on to Jaeger and Rowan designs and away from nasty acrylic, shapeless sacks!! 😀

It’s Jaeger JH 0029 The Hildegard Sweater…

I made my Hildegard in Jaeger Pure Cotton DK in a rich burnt orange colour – a beautiful mercerised cotton that has stood up well to some serious maltreatment – it’s faded quite a bit! When I made it (in about 2002!) I really didn’t make it long enough – I think I was too eager to get it done and didn’t knit it quite to the measurements. It’s also a clingy top that gets shorter when the pattern is stretched over my curves – We live and learn huh? 😳
I don’t often knit the same pattern twice. I like new challenges and the excitement of seeing a new pattern emerge. This is the exception. When I first made it, my Mum liked it so much I made her one for Christmas. Now, I’m making my third Hildegard.

I thought this one deserved some luxurious yarn and some more respectful treatment. Out came my jealously stashed Jaeger Pure Silk in a dusky pink…..

I’ve just finished the back and I think it’s looking sumptuous…

I’ve just realised that, in the photos, my new Hildegard looks almost the same colour as my old one! 😯 I wonder if that’s a subconscious way of trying to keep my old friend??

I’ll give you a Completed Knit Report for my first Hildegard – then I’ll get on with knitting my new one!!

Completed Knit Report  
Name: Hildegard (First one…)
Pattern: Jaeger JH 0029 – designer unknown!
Yarn: Jaeger Pure Cotton DK
Pattern Problems: None except it does pull up as the pattern stretches to the correct width so measue while stretched or you’ll end up with a crop top like me!
Pattern Modifications: None on this one
Washing and Wearing: Quite thick cotton so warm to wear. Has been washed and tumble dried 100s times and only problem is slight shrinkage.
Knit It Again???: YES!!..and again…and again.. 😀
Difficulty: Medium (because of keeping pattern correct while shaping)
Rating: 5/5
Other Postings Relating To This One: None

3 Responses

  1. Kirstie
    Kirstie February 26, 2008 at 11:36 pm | | Reply

    If it’s just too small and not actually worn out then, please not actually in the bin. I have a 10 year old who would love your Hildegard and I’m sure that there are many others who could happily rehome it, via your local charity shop.

  2. Sue Brickey
    Sue Brickey May 4, 2008 at 11:30 am | | Reply

    Susan, is there anywhere to get the Jaeger Hildegard pattern? It is lovely. Thank you

  3. jean andrews
    jean andrews March 22, 2011 at 12:12 pm | | Reply

    please tellhow to incorparate the increases into the pattern on jh0029

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