Cardigans, cardigans, cardigans!

[Rosie]

Cute cardies LD, I'm looking for one like the first one, kind of creamy, with cute buttons, maybe some nice applique

Etienne, I like J.Jill, very often though, her clothes are quite expensive but, it's great quality.

 

[Lady Day]

JC Penny is having a sale on all sorts of cardies.
I bought two!


LD

 

[catsmeow]

HI I'm new here!

I'm also looking for authentic 1930's-1940's sweaters and cardigans. So hard to find. The only place I can find some far is ebay.

 

[Rebecca D]

Have you ladies tried making your own cardigans? I have some navy blue sweater knit in my fabric stash just waiting to be turned into a cardigan. I plan to use a vintage jacket pattern as a base for it, and I think it will be somewhat easy. Puffy sleaves, vintage red buttons, and a cute little collar - very 40s.

 

[Lady Day]

I have a cardie cut out in my fabric pile as well, but Im not too good with knit fabrics. So its just sittin there, waiting to be finished.

Maybe one day . . . .

LD

post script: I also just ordered some cardies from Pennies, so, like Magneto, Ill post my reviews.

 

[Lady Day]

Cardie review #2

Hello to all the cardie loves out there.

I bought two cardies from Pennys. Here is the brake down.
I like em.

Pennys is having a pre fall sale on fall stuff (dont ask) and I bought two from their Liz Baker line. They are Acrylic/ Cotton blends with thin banding around the collar, sleves and bottom. They are a fairly generic looking cardie, which I like because its a design that wont take away from the vintage feel we all strive for.

The sizes are a bout 1/2 size too big. Get a size under and youll have it too small, see the delema. Its not that big a deal, you can button the top button and kill the need for a sweater guard. If you add some lovely applique to your cardie, no sweater guard can be a good thing.

So all in all Pennys has good generic cardies to beef up the vintage wardrobe. Good buy.
This is Lady Day, signing off.


LD

 

[Rosie]

Have you ladies tried making your own cardigans? I have some navy blue sweater knit in my fabric stash just waiting to be turned into a cardigan. I plan to use a vintage jacket pattern as a base for it, and I think it will be somewhat easy. Puffy sleaves, vintage red buttons, and a cute little collar - very 40s.

I too have some navy blue knit material just sitting around. How does one go about making their own cardigan? What about the cuffs, around the neck and waist line? I'm already working on so many projects, but I'm willing to try something else if someone gives me some idea on how to do this.


Hey look, I'm practically family! I post way too much.

 

[Rebecca D]

LD, what is it about working with knit that is hard? I'm a little worried about cutting it out, but other than that, I haven't thought about anything else that might be a challenge. I assumed that because the fabric is thick, my seams won't have to be perfect. Am I wrong?

Rosie, you'll need lots of ribbing. The sweater knit I have includes extra, so I can use that for the waist, arms and collar. If you don't have enough ribbing, you might be able to use something else for the collar, or go to a thrift store and find a matching or contrasting colored sweater and use its ribbing on yours.

Right now, I'm on a short break from sewing. My tiny apartment is covered in books and newspapers from research on articles I've been writing, and I'm preparing a big speech for a public forum on the east coast; plus, I'm still doing a lot of prison work - on top of working full time. My kitchen is covered in fabric and I have patterns piled up at the foot of my bed. What a mess! I'm going to clean up this mess and then begin concentrating on only 1 or 2 things at a time!

 

[Miss Dottie]

Hey LD,

I saw those two vintage cardigans at the Costume Shop! They are gorgeous--I have quite a collection of vintage beaded cardigans--I think I'm up to about seven at this point. My dream is to find a red one. Or navy one.

If anyone is ever down in Santa Cruz, California there is a great vintage clothing store that is packed with vintage beaded cardigans between $20-50 each and in great shape. MoonBeam I believe is the name.

 

[Lady Day]

LD, what is it about working with knit that is hard? I'm a little worried about cutting it out, but other than that, I haven't thought about anything else that might be a challenge. I assumed that because the fabric is thick, my seams won't have to be perfect. Am I wrong?

Rosie, you'll need lots of ribbing. The sweater knit I have includes extra, so I can use that for the waist, arms and collar. If you don't have enough ribbing, you might be able to use something else for the collar, or go to a thrift store and find a matching or contrasting colored sweater and use its ribbing on yours.

Right now, I'm on a short break from sewing. My tiny apartment is covered in books and newspapers from research on articles I've been writing, and I'm preparing a big speech for a public forum on the east coast; plus, I'm still doing a lot of prison work - on top of working full time. My kitchen is covered in fabric and I have patterns piled up at the foot of my bed. What a mess! I'm going to clean up this mess and then begin concentrating on only 1 or 2 things at a time!

Well RD, for me it is the seams that Im worried about. I HATE raw seams, and my surger isnt working, so I tend to either fold over my seams or use bias tape, both of which will leave me with thick seams. :rage: so that is one reason why I am 'iffy' on any streach and knit fabrics.

LD

 

[Rebecca D]

Hmmm....my sewing machine has a few zigzag stitches that claim to work as overlock stitches. Do you think that would work, or would I be stuck with thick seams?

 

[Lady Day]

Well the thing with a zig zag stitch is like with surging, it will leave a lot of pull, so you will have to edge it with a straight stitch to keep the garment in shape. It could work, but the zig zag would have to go to the edge of the fabric or you would cut the edge to alleviate extra seam buldge.

Too much for my brain to worry about before the morning java

LD

 

[anna_newman]

Here's another option, if you know how to knit.
Sadly, I don't know how myself, but I do have the instructions for this 1936
cardigan and have saved the pattern for years hoping someday to learn.
Vintage knit/crochet patterns seem less popular than sewing patterns, but
some of them are so wonderful. I'll see if I can dig up an early hat pattern I
recently got at a garage sale.

Message me if you want a copy of the instructions
or if you know soomeone who will make up vintage knitted things for those of us less skilled.

 

[Lauren]

WOW that's cute. The most I have patience for knitting is a scarf. Those darn 30's sweaters are so adorable.

 

[Barbara]

Hi Anna

I am in LOVE with that cardigan. Would you send me the instructions, please please? My mother-in-law knits, and maybe, just maybe...

I have a few patterns, but that is nicer than anything I've seen. I'm pretty desparate for sweater. Anyone know any knitters in LA area?

 

[Paisley]

Talbots 60-70% Off

The last cardigan I bought from Talbots, I must have worn for about eight years. Here is a pic of the one I just ordered:

One that would look nice with a vintage skirt or pants:

Pretty, but not on sale:

 

[magneto]

Here's another option, if you know how to knit.
Sadly, I don't know how myself, but I do have the instructions for this 1936
cardigan and have saved the pattern for years hoping someday to learn.

Hi Anna,
I would love to have the instructions if it's not any trouble (and I have some web space I could upload them to, for people here to download, if you like).

 

[Lady Day]

Lovely!


I want this one so bad

http://www.elisabeth.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2181207&cp=1986612.2004799&parentPage=family

Its on sale, but their SALE price is too much for me

LD

 

[Viviene]

Does anyone buy just the plain cardigans? I have a stash of orlon and nylon cardigans.

 

[Rosie]

Rosie, you'll need lots of ribbing. The sweater knit I have includes extra, so I can use that for the waist, arms and collar. If you don't have enough ribbing, you might be able to use something else for the collar, or go to a thrift store and find a matching or contrasting colored sweater and use its ribbing on yours.

Okay, I see. I do have other remnants of knit fabric I used to make a couple of head wraps, I'll use that. Thanks Rebecca!