I was just looking at a Knitting Forum and saw a query about Rowan Tapestry.

“I’ll add my two-penny’s worth into that thread”, I thought, “Where’s those piccies I used to blog about Ben’s “Serge” jumper I made in Tapestry?”

I couldn’t find the pictures.

I couldn’t find the blog post about the jumper.

I could find Ben and the jumper so I knew I hadn’t gone completely ga-ga and started fantasising knitting projects!

The truth dawned on me that this was a “Pre Blog Project” that had never been photographed or blogged 😯

How could I not have blogged this? It’s a rather successful jumper!

Ben was duly stuffed into the jumper, flung against the wall and photographed before he could protest.

So this is Serge …

…From Rowan magazine No. 40 . This one from Winter 2006…

The garment itself was very easy to knit – a basic, round neck men’s jumper with minimal shaping. The interest can from the self striping yarn and the “flaps and straps” details. Oh Dear, I’m making sound like bondage wear! 😛

The Straps and Flaps are knitted separately and sewn into the seams as you make up the garment.

This is the shoulder flap,

and here’s the waist and wrist straps,

There wasn’t much information in the pattern about how to attach these so I improvised and sewed them into the seams. I also put a few stitches behind the shoulder flap to stop it pulling out of place with wear. (And to stop Ben resting his had under it in a Napoleon like fashion! 😆 )

The Tapestry yarn is a mix of pure wool and 30% Soy bean protein. Sounds odd but does feel good to me. It’s quite loosely spun so does have a tendency to split if you’re careless and can snap it you tug at it – this didn’t happen to me but I know some tight knitters had issues.
The other important subject to cover about this yarn is itchyness. Ben is not a fuss-pot about itchy yarns and does not have especially sensitive skin. When he first put this jumper on, he lasted less than 10 minutes before tearing at his neck and having to take it off because it irritated him so much. I was horrified! That’s a big jumper and a lot of knitting to be unwearable. 😥
I stiffled my sobs and gently hand washed it and added some fabric softener. This has improved it greatly and it is now wearable, but only with a T-shirt under it. I really wouldn’t recommend this yarn for next to the skin.

Serge is now 2 years old and has been regularly worn and washed. It’s a little pilled but still looking good!