A few years ago I found the holy grail of Fair Isles, a grey tank/vest top with pink, red, blue and mustard patterning. I carefully washed it, and then impatient to wear it I thought I'd throw it in the drier "just for a second"...very silly and unsurvivable!
I'm not sure what the origins of this love affair are, I mean I wore them as a kid and hated the itchy, ill-fitting around the neck things. I think it was seeing kiwi kids snowboarding in home-knit jerseys a-top all their otherwise flash gear that make me nostalgic for that 70's ski-look, rainbow stripe padded anoraks, bobble hats, nordic jerseys and all.
Fair isle hat from Olga @ the Shabby Chic market
from the two squirrels vintage sale
From Etsy
Op-shopped and my favourite-snowflakes!
Op-shopped in Dunedin for my "mini-me"!
Sharing at Sophie's flea market finds
Sarah Lund stole your style! What a lovely collection, I love the snowflakes one too. Oh to be so clever with knitting needles (or indeed anything!)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend x
Thanks Lakota, i now know all about Sarah Lund and her fab and famous Faroese jersey now! I know, if anything is going to inspire me to learn to knit it's these.
DeleteOh they are very lovely. I'd love to nab me a pretty one op shopping.
ReplyDeleterare as hens teeth but as deferred gratification tends to, it feels real good when you do, finally, get to nab one.
DeleteThese are all very cool! Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteI love these! I almost bought one from Iceland, but it was so expensive, that I only took a picture of it. Had planned to knit one myself. I haven't searched the op shops for these, good idea.
ReplyDeleteThey cost the absolute earth new, so I 'suggested' my MIL make me one for my 40th birthday. she was evasive and said they were really hard work and knitted me some ballet slippers instead!
DeleteThey're gorgeous! Itchy scratchy neck withstanding. Isn't there some magic trick for unshrinking holy grails? Bicarb, conditioner, vinegar etc.?
ReplyDeleteoh god. probably. silly decision no. 2 (I flung it) sniff
DeleteSodium borate, not bicarb....
ReplyDeleteI've tried knitting fair isle, and have always been fascinated by watching the patterns emerge.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine, some of the patterns are so amazingly intricate, such skill required
DeleteOh heavenly collection!!!!!! We talked about this the day you brought the jumper from us. I am with you, I just love them!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is a fair isle pattern on anything!!!!!!!
Love v
great winter woolies. all so lovely.
ReplyDeleteOne of the joys of winter for sure x
DeleteMy Mom used to knit me sweaters like that!!
ReplyDeleteLucky! my mum used to get a friend of my grannys to knit for us, she never quite got the measurements right so we either wore them as dresses or pretended they were meant to have 3/4 sleeves
DeleteFirstly i must let you know i have ordered Judith Levine book and am looking forward to the library letting me know it is in. Secondly, i totally understand your love of the nordic sweater. Unfortunatly they are so hard to wear. Your red one is my favorite.I think its the intricacy of the pattern, the respect for the knitter, the nerdiness. They work well so well if they are cashmere, and the wearer is a stick. Lovely picture/thumbnail. Respect.
ReplyDelete"...I think its the intricacy of the pattern, the respect for the knitter, the nerdiness..." totally on the money there. A cahmere one, now that WOULD be a holy grail of sweaters! I never really thought of them as being hard to wear, but then I probably don't look in the mirror often enough!
DeleteBeautiful. Bring on the 70's family photos. Is that heading banner Horakapotchakin? Looking very school journal.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's from the NZ school publications 'Ready to read' series which i op-shopped a while back. Horakapot what? I googled it and am now going to try and get that Mahy-ism to roll of my tongue and into conversation asap!
DeleteHaha this is great! Love the new header too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks (sophie of sophieslim blog fame's handiwork)
Deletehhmm comment went missing. I meant to ask what type of celadon? the earthy glaze or poole cameo celadon?
ReplyDeletethe earthy stuff, in pale blues or green. The one I've collected are by contemporary potters executed with the traditional delicacy, but I do love the old Thai and Japanese celadons too, the Canterbury museum has a wonderful collection on permanent display (when not closed for earthquake repairs).
DeleteI'm off to look up Poole celedon...
You can totally work this look because you are so pretty and petite - luckily you never saw me in one or you would change your affections very quickly. They are a style to only be worn by some in my books!
ReplyDeleteI never saw a thing you couldn't rock Miriam, it all about attitude! It's my inner gardening-square that makes me suit them!
DeleteYou look amazing in these jumpers- I grew up wearing these and must admit to a bit of a weakness for them. (Love the new header by the way!)
ReplyDeleteThe lovely Sophie's handiwork. Yes, they're the Scottish kathmandu fleece aren't they lol!
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