Here we are now ...

 I learnt to knit as a tiny child, nearly 50 years ago. 

I was the 80s goth who knitted her own skirts and jumpers (and black fingerless gloves). Yes, I actually did do it before it was cool.

But then I had babies and somehow fell out of love with it, as my babies grew up. Suddenly hand knits were not as cool to my four sulky teenagers as they had been to the shiny eyed toddlers who loved the ducky buttons. 

I know, we've all been there.

I grew disillusioned with patterns consisting of acres of soul. destroying stocking stitch, which seemed so pointless when we can buy a plain sweater for a fraction of the price of the wool. As the craft grew in popularity, every new pattern seemed to be a hat or gloves or (God forbid) a shawl (who actually wears those things anyway?)

I missed the challenge of lace and pattern. More importantly, I wanted a REASON to knit again.

And then my daughter discovered the fifties. She had the classic hourglass figure and a love for all things vintage. And I rediscovered my love of knitting. 

I found that the internet is full of 1930s, 1940s and 1950s patterns, challenging and interesting and what real knitwear should be about. A whole lovely generous community gifting time and access to those of us who would have no clue where to find these historical gems.

So here we are now, me trying to keep my remaining brain cells functioning at an acceptable level by concentrating on knitting  patterns. Using this craft that has been part of my life for so long to help me focus and function, set goals and pace myself, accept I am not perfect and that is OK, that it's perfectly acceptable to pull it down and start again because actually nobody is judging. 

To start, here is a little number from the 1930s, knit in Stylecraft acrylic double knit on 4mm needles in order to give the extra inches a lot of modern women need in the chest area.

Although we all appreciate good nutrition, it does make it hell finding vintage patterns in modern sizes. As I've said before, my bipolar makes it hard to concentrate so all the maths involved in sizing up is usually a bit beyond me. So thicker wool, bigger needles, et voila the pattern is instantly sized up (shhh - don't tell anybody or they'll all want to know!)

 The original pattern can be found  on the lovely and generous Lucy's, sadly dormant, blog here

This is my progress to date. I'll update you on my progress later on.