I have finally finished the colourwork jumper.
The design includes beets from Kate Davies‘ Beet Heid tam. It’s a variation on her Neep Heid pattern. I love her designs, though to be honest I can’t picture myself personally wearing many of them (which is just not the same question). And, I tend to knit simple. I am a long time reader of her blog: she is a lovely writer too. But this application of her design is all my own strange idea, with the jumper knit–or at least I tried to knit–to measurements from one of the recipient’s hoodies. I see on Ravelry that one person has been moved to knit a neep cardigan, and there are a massive number of tams too, neep-, beet-, acorn- and radish-heids among them.
I’ve knit this jumper for my fairy goddess son, who is a true admirer of gardening, vegetables in general and beetroots very much included. Those who are curious about the dyeing can find a bit of a summary here.
He is a lover of colours too, and when asked his favourite colour in my hearing at any time, has responded ‘the rainbow!’ with a huge grin. I knit this jumper from the fleece of a sheep called Viola and all these colours are from plants with the exception of the deep beet colour and the pink, from cochineal. I admit this rainbow is not exactly classic in colour and the woad colours are very pale in the zone of blue and indigo!
I loved having so many colours to play with but took advice from one of my knitting companions in Wellington and kept the neck and shoulders simple.
I dealt with the maths of the pattern repeat with some simple patterning under the sleeves.
And now that it’s finished, I can give in to the urge to cast on all the small projects!
Local & Bespoke 