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Tasha Could Make That

Tasha Could Make That

Vintage knitting, sewing, and a lifetime of craftiness

Fair isle beret & lace gloves for Fall

October 2, 2011 by Tasha 38 Comments

Fall! ‘Tis the season for knitters everywhere to enjoy their woolies!

I was determined to get a bit of accessory knitting in early for Fall, and diligently started back in August when I first got bitten by the Fall bug. My initial plans were for a matching fair isle beret and fingerless gloves from the book Vintage Knits by Sarah Dallas, as well as a pair of gloves from this free vintage pattern and a beret in the same yarn to make a matched set. I knit the lace gloves first, and wanted to knit the fair isle beret next to break up the type of knitting I was working on, but I had a suspicion that two sets of matching beret/gloves would be asking a bit much of my attention span when I had other knits on my mind, too. So I included the yarn used for the gloves in one of the motifs in the beret, thus giving me the opportunity to wear those together as a set!

First, the beret.

The beret is knit in a mix of yarns, from Shetland to cashmere merino hand-dyed. It was fun to knit, however there was an error in the pattern in the book that I had to correct before I started. The motif in the chart was incorrect compared to the sample knit in the book and the tiny picture of the original vintage (the patterns in the book are all based on vintage patterns). I was able to tell looking at the chart as the motif wasn’t mirrored, and just looking at it you could tell something was amiss. Fair isle is always well-balanced, and this obviously wasn’t. So I re-charted it and knit from my chart. The only other change I made was to knit the ribbing using about 15 less stitches than called for, since I wanted it to stay nice and tight. I just made up for the difference in the number of stitches I increased in the first row after the rib.

The gloves were easy to knit, except the fingers. I always avoid knitting fingers because they are a giant pain in the rear, but I knew I wanted these to be gloves so I did it anyway. In the end I’m glad I did, even though I think the fit could be a bit better between the hand and fingers. However there’s no way I would rip back 10 fingers to try and change that, so they’ll be enjoyed as they are. 🙂

The lace pattern was easy to knit and only had 4 rows to the pattern, but I charted it on paper because knitting lace by reading rows is a bit of a chore.

The cuff was quite interesting in the pattern. It uses a picot hem on the front of the wrist, and ribbing on the back to keep them nice and tight. I couldn’t quite envision how it would all work before I started knitting, so it was fun to see it take shape. Sometimes knitting can be like that, you don’t really know what will happen until you do it!

I also lengthened the cuffs quite a bit compared to the original pattern, as I particularly wanted to wear them with my green jacket which has sleeves that hit just above my wrist.

Truly it’s not quite cold enough to need gloves just yet so I only donned them for the photos, taken outside an interesting old apartment building in my neighborhood. But they do look swell together, I think!

Anyway, I’m quite pleased with both projects. While my head is spinning with other fun accessories, it’s time to get to some sweater knitting. A big batch of yarn arrived in the mail today and I’m so excited to get to it (hint: it’s for my Colorwork: 101 sweater)!

Are you knitting anything fun for Fall??

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Filed Under: Knitting, Vintage Wardrobe Tagged With: fair isle knitting, finished projects, vintage knitting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andi says

    October 2, 2011 at 12:23 am

    I love the way these turned out. That’s one of my favorite shades of yellow and the colors you picked for the hat look perfect.

    Reply
  2. PuppyLovePrincess says

    October 2, 2011 at 12:29 am

    so pretty! i love both the gloves and the beret 🙂

    Reply
  3. BaronessVonVintage says

    October 2, 2011 at 12:37 am

    Aw, fantastic!! LOVE the colours!

    Reply
  4. Stephanie Lynn says

    October 2, 2011 at 1:24 am

    Love! I think it’s a great idea to color coordinate the gloves and beret. Now whenever you get around to the other halves, you’ll have 4 pieces to mix and match. I’m currently working on a cabled neck warmer to match a pair of wrist warmers I just finished.

    Reply
  5. Dakota says

    October 2, 2011 at 1:32 am

    Fabulous!! I really love the vibrant color scheme!

    Reply
  6. Moira says

    October 2, 2011 at 3:03 am

    Nice work! I am working on a tie neck jumper: Stitchcraft no.171, 1947 from Vintage Purls in red Lannet. I need to get on some mittens too as I lost two pairs last winter! I’m also pondering designing a harlequin colour stranded sweater…But currently I am healing from a pinched nerve in my neck so I am benched from knitting! Aeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

    Reply
  7. Moe says

    October 2, 2011 at 5:48 am

    Oh my god, I’m so envious of everything that is going on in this post. The color combinations are especially lovely.

    Reply
  8. Veronica Darling says

    October 2, 2011 at 6:16 am

    I WISH I could knit this well! I have no idea how the beret works! Lovely to be warm in such lovely colours! xoxo

    Reply
  9. Susan says

    October 2, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Fantastic! Every time I see your knitting results I wish I could do that,too 🙂

    Reply
  10. The Vintage Knitter says

    October 2, 2011 at 8:13 am

    The gloves and beret are superb. I haven’t attempted fair isle yet, but after seeing your amazing work I think I’ll have to have a go!

    Reply
  11. Riikka says

    October 2, 2011 at 9:19 am

    What a gorgeous set! I’m really loving the colours. Wish I wasn’t absolutely clueless when it comes to knitting – it would make fall wear a lot more fun.

    Reply
  12. Jennie says

    October 2, 2011 at 10:11 am

    Beautiful bit of Fair Isle you have there, and those gloves! Smashing 🙂

    Reply
  13. Kestrel says

    October 2, 2011 at 11:36 am

    Your beret is just beautiful. I must add a fair isle beret to my ‘to knit’ list. The lace gloves are very pretty too – gloves and hat make a great set.
    I’m soldiering on with my fair isle jumper – one day soon I’ll get past the rib! 🙂

    Reply
  14. ME says

    October 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    I am impressed!

    Reply
  15. Andrea says

    October 2, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    Those gloves are stunning! I’ve never made gloves before but I might have to give this pattern a shot!

    Reply
  16. Lauren says

    October 2, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Knitting fingers is totally the worst! I’ve made one pair of gloves and I’d like another, but oh, those fingers! Yours look awesome and the beret is fabulous.

    Reply
  17. Laurence says

    October 2, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    Must be hard to knitt such amazing gloves!!! Congratulations, it’s lovely!!!!

    Reply
  18. Jenny Leggings says

    October 2, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    The knitting, the out fit and you are all lovely!! 😀

    Reply
  19. Cambria says

    October 2, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    I’ve had that beret and glove pattern on my list of ‘things to knit’ for years now. It’s one of the reasons why I bought that book, but I’ve been distracted. Yours are simply lovely 🙂

    Reply
  20. Casey says

    October 3, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    That does it–I need to order some yarn soon and stop waffling over potential knitting projects! hehe (Problem is, I can’t make up my mind–pretty much my whole Ravelry queue is appealing to me at the moment. 😉

    Both pieces turned out lovely! I’m especially loving the sunny hue of the gloves. Quick question: do you have any tips for knitting fingers on gloves? I’ve knit a few (partial-finger for fingerless mitts) before, and always struggled.

    Reply
  21. Tasha says

    October 3, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    Thank you, everyone!! ♥

    @Moira Your project sounds great, and a harlequin sweater, what fun! I hope you heal soon, injuries that impair knitting are a drag!

    @Casey My queue is like that, too! LOL I think one of the trickiest things about fingers is picking up the stitches at the base of the previous finger, especially as it’s easy to get little gaps there. I picked up an extra 2 than the pattern called for, one at the front of the hand and one at the back, then decreased them away in the first row. That pretty much does away with gaps! I also find the fingers themselves fiddly and they get in the way, so once I start the next finger I either tuck the previous one to the inside if I find it’s flapping around and getting in the way, or pin it to the hand with a safety pin or closing stitch marker. But no matter how you cut it, fingers really ARE a bit of a struggle, I think!

    Reply
  22. Kathy says

    October 3, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    They both look great! I’ve done two gloves in the past and that’s all I’ll ever do; I definitely agree that knitting fingers is a serious pain.

    I’m finishing up a vintage lace sweater right now. All I have left are the sleeves. So close, so close.

    Reply
  23. zilredloh says

    October 3, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    The hat and gloves look amazing and you look so pretty modeling them!!!
    Your tension is so even with all of that colorwork on the beret; I seriously can’t wait till you pass off some of your mad skills in your colorwork-tutorials.

    I may need to knit up these gloves for myself… once I finish my gloves from last year. (I did a few fingers by winging-it since the instructions weren’t all that helpful, but it’s been sitting ever.)

    I seriously think you knit faster than I sew! 🙂 Can’t wait to see your next FO.

    Reply
  24. Debi says

    October 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    AHHGGG! I LOVE these so much! We must have the same taste because I totally want all your knitwear 🙂 hehehehhe

    Reply
  25. Moxie Tonic says

    October 3, 2011 at 11:27 pm

    Oh such a wonderful, jaunty beret for fall! LOVE the colors, and even though they do nothing for keeping one’s head warm, berets are by far my favorite hats.

    Reply
  26. Mademoiselle Coco says

    October 4, 2011 at 8:17 am

    Love it !! 😛

    Reply
  27. Betty Crafter says

    October 4, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Love this set! Those gloves seem like something that would quickly become a staple…
    I’ve got 2 cowichans in the works currently. I’m in the midst of a cowichan knitting obsession – they’re so fun and quick!

    Reply
  28. Lauren says

    October 4, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    These are amazing! You have such skills. And that first photo totally looks out of an old Vogue magazine 🙂

    Reply
  29. Franca says

    October 5, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I think I already said how much I love the beret, and the gloves in yellow are so fun!

    Reply
  30. vintage_kitten says

    October 5, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    You do such an amazing job.Those gloves are so cool.It reminds me of mustard yellow wich I love.The pattern on the beret is amazing.how ever do you do it?x

    Reply
  31. Faff says

    October 5, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Wow these are really gorgeous! I’m so impressed by your hat especially, I’m total rubbish at knitting with different colours, need to sit down with my mum and learn it properly! 🙂

    Reply
  32. Lady Jardin - Vintage Views of the South Coast says

    October 6, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    Oh My God! How jealous am I of those gloves and that berret! want want want!

    They are gorgeous, hope you’re proud? Wish I could knit this well.

    looking forward to future projects 🙂

    Much Love

    Emma
    xxx

    Reply
  33. Dolly Cool Clare says

    October 8, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    I am very impressed with your knitting skills. You have the patience of a saint!! They look so complex, well done you 🙂

    Reply
  34. julia aka garconniere says

    October 12, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    i adore those gloves!!! they look beautiful.

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    March 29, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    So vintage…we feel like to be in 1940

    Reply
  36. anupa says

    November 7, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    So beautifull – I love your style very much.

    Many greatings from germany.

    Anupa

    Reply

Trackbacks

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    November 11, 2013 at 12:45 pm

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    November 30, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    […] it on big sale, woo) beret: knit by me (pre blog; pattern is Rose Red by Ysolda) 1950s lace gloves: knit by me shawl: knit by my mom 1950s brooch: misc. 1950s confetti lucite earrings: misc. purse: Coach boots: […]

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