I have to say I did something really cool yesterday. Not that I saved the world, but I saved a Bavarian knitted cardigan from death in a garbage can.
Here is the story. My sil's bil (you saw him on one of the pictures a couple of days ago) inherited a traditional Bavarian cardigan from his grandfather. This type of cardigan is a piece of clothing that Bavarian farmers wear as a working cardigan or jacket to keep them warm. It is very rough and knitted from sheep wool that is bascially spun and not treated at all, not even washed. When you knit with this wool, you can feel the grease. It is normally a worsted weight and your hands start hurting after a while because the wool is so sturdy.
To cut a long story short - the cardigan was stored for a while and while in storage in an old house in an old closet, a mouse found it and ate its way through the cardigan. When they pulled the cardigan out of the closet it had three gigantic holes:
So, they asked me if I could look at the cardigan and see if there is anything that I could do to fix it. It is the only memento he has from his grandfather and it would be terrible if he would have to throw it out.
Well, I told them I would take a look and ask my mom if she had any of that sheep wool in her stash to match the wool the cardigan had been knitted with. And of course, my mom keeps every leftover ball of yarn from everything she has ever knitted (because you might need some yarn to fix a hole - how right she is) and we found a ball that matched the cardigan pretty well.
So, I went to work on hole #1 on the sleeve:
Hole #2 was a bit trickier because the mouse also destroyed part of the cable pattern:
And hole #3 was the biggest one but was a little easier because it was only garter stitch to repair.
After two hours of fiddling, knitting and ripping, kitchner stitch (don't even ask...) and weaving in the fringed edges etc., I am very happy to show you the cardigan without holes:
My dad, a professional tailor, was very impressed with my skills to mend a hole in a garment. I guess he still remembers me running to him when I had a little hole in my pants and couldn't fix it myself. ;-)
I enjoyed this little project a lot because I was able to save a knitted memento and that makes a knitter happy, right! And to be a show off... ;-)
Have a great week!
Comments (12)
OMG, you are like another Elizabeth Zimmerman. Could I persuade you to bring me back a tiny piece of that repair yarn? I know this sounds crazy, but I'd love to try to make one of those cardigans, and I'd like to match the yarn type as well as I can.
Posted by The Chickengoddess | June 10, 2008 7:17 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 07:17
WOW!!! That looks great! I love the sweater too. Nice work lady.
Posted by Brittany Newberry | June 10, 2008 7:35 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 07:35
That's amazing - Good work. I know they must be thrilled that you were able to save it.
Posted by Carrie L. | June 10, 2008 8:01 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 08:01
That. Is awesome.
Posted by Emily | June 10, 2008 10:42 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 10:42
This looked like it was major surgery. VERY cool. And the cables are perfect.....
Posted by Phyllis | June 10, 2008 11:17 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 11:17
I'm totally awed by that amazing knitting prowess. You did a wonderful job! Congratulations.
Posted by Jane | June 10, 2008 11:49 AM
Posted on June 10, 2008 11:49
That is VERY cool! Saved an heirloom and with exquisite work. That yarn practically matches too.
Posted by Carrie K | June 10, 2008 4:22 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 16:22
You are a rockin' knitter! Darling niece too.
Posted by Meg | June 10, 2008 5:09 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 17:09
In our world where almost everything is disposable, you have done something very important. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work, and a moment of inspiration about the joy of preserving a work of art.
Michele
Posted by Michele | June 10, 2008 7:24 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 19:24
You are just freakin' AMAZING! I didn't know you could do stuff like that! LOVE that sweater too. The pattern doesn't look like it would be too hard to reproduce either. (hmmmmmm.....)
OK, now get your butt back here! (we miss you SO much!)
Posted by famoussteve | June 10, 2008 9:35 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 21:35
How AWESOME!! I am totally impressed. And - I have to agree with Steve. Come back!!!
Posted by Martina | June 10, 2008 11:45 PM
Posted on June 10, 2008 23:45
Totally impressed. I'm sure you have one happy SIL's BIL. :-)
Posted by Morticcia | June 12, 2008 12:58 PM
Posted on June 12, 2008 12:58