Sir Henry, I salute you as you go on your journey, Sir!

My dear Sir Henry Brambles, I shall miss you.

Sir Henry last made an appearance in this blog post, and he was without a stand at that point. Now he is finished, sold, and to be despatched to a new home. Dear, dear Sir Henry. I've enjoyed his short stay in my studio, he fits there so well!

I musn't get too attached to the pieces I make, but it does inevitably happen, as each sculpture takes shape, in form and personality.

Fortunately, as the actual owner of the jumper in the picture above, I can get very attached to this item of clothing.

It cost me £8, and I know it's worth so much more than that, it should probably be in some museum. It's a genuine hand knitted jumper from the 1940's (I think that's the right decade, I'm sure I could pinpoint it if I found the pattern it was knitted from). And it's knitted with 3-ply wool, that's thinner yarn than 4-ply, and 4-ply is considered thin yarn to knit a jumper with.

I love this jumper so much. I love that is handknitted by someone from a far off time, and has been a prized possession, because it's in perfect condition, it's obviously been looked after with great care and love.

I love that I am the owner of it! I'm slightly in awe that I own it, is such a thing actually mine? I imagine that because I'm a knitter, it may have more value for me, I can see the work involved, and I fully accept that to some it might just be a jumper.

I don't know about you, but when I see films or dramas on the television, and there is 30's/40's/50/s knitwear making an appearance on the actors, I get very alert and excited, and start drooling slightly.

Now I feel like I own one of the jumpers that might appear on the screen!

The jumper on the right is one I knitted, a while ago. You can see my blog post about it here, where I tell you about the pattern and yarn, and you can see me wearing it.

And here I am modeling my purchase, above. These designs were originally worn without a top underneath, but I don't like to go bare armed.

What do you think of the Lupins? Aren't they fabulous. Unfortunately I can't lay claim to having grown them myself.

I think of Lupins as being old fashioned, and therefore very cool and fashionable. I think of them as being from the same era as the jumper I bought.

Well, Hugo's serving supper, so that means I've got to skedadle.

Remember I'm now going on to my new 'timetable' of blogging on a Tuesday and a Friday. So cheerio and see you next Tuesday. Have a wonderful weekend! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Liz W in Missouri, USA]

I think the sweater is fabulous. I can hardly believe that it has survived so well and so long. It couldn't have found a better home. I love the photo of the two sweaters with the knitting needles in front. It looks like a dance.
I think Sir Henry is probably very sad to be leaving, despite the excitement of traveling to a new home. I think he will be hard-pressed for a while to discover the type of cabbage that will flurish, but once he does, won't he be pleased?
I remember Lupins from Wyoming (western US in the Rocky Mountains), where they grow wild. Not the full, lush ones that we see in gardens like in your photos, but the smaller purple ones. Fields and fields of them. I tried to transplant a few into my flower beds - but, some things are just meant to be wild. The cultivated ones did wonderfully though and added such dimention and color. I love how many different colors there are - like tulips!
Hope you have a great weekend.

[Kate]

Fab jumper- what a brilliant find!
Could you perhaps mis-direct Sir Henry to my address by 'mistake' if I grovel at your feet for long enough? You could send him wrapped in the jumper for safety.....

[Bobo Bun]

Hi Vanessa

Been meaning to catch up properly and say hello. Sorry so brief, but you know about life being busy and mad. Love these pictures all so beautiful with their colours and the content. Your work, the jumper and the lupins well they all hit the spot perfectly for me - stunning. Love the colours in the jumper too - perfect for you I think. By the way I had a knitting blog recommended to me by my friend who owns a yarn shop. You might know it, it's called needled.wordpress.com, Stunning knitwear designs and very interesting lady - think you'll enjoy.

Have a wonderful weekend dear Vanessa.

Lisa X

[Jennifer Edwards]

Oh my, Henry is so so marvelous! I only wish I had been the purchaser! I'm loving your blog, your sculptures, art, and knit & crochet goodness! thanks ever so much!

[Teresa Kasner]

Dear Vanessa... oh, such a pretty sweater, both of them! They are works of art. Congrats on the sculpture sale! It's wonderful. Our wild Lupine is in bloom here in Oregon.. but your fancy colorful ones are magnifique! Thanks for sharing!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Katie]

Hi Vanessa, do you 'like' Etsy on Facebook? If not, they featured one of your pieces the other day...if you go here: http://www.facebook.com/Etsy and scroll down to 1st June you should see it :-)
And Sir Henry is lovely!

[Beth]

Are those lupins in your garden? They are fabulous. I used to have lovely purple ones when I lived in New England. Sadly, our southern summers are a bit too hot and humid for them. I miss them!

[Jan]

Oh, so so cute. I adore the color. Now, in America, "jumpers" are quite a different animal, but I so love the english terminology....I'll stick with jumpers. Everytime I watch a movie, especially black and white oldies, I marvel at the beauty of knitwear, just like you do. Lucky us, with the variety of yarns that weren't available back in the day! Lovely craftmanship on your sweet Henry. Lucky owner!!

[Alice and Raymond!!!]

the jersey, the lupins and you wearing the jersey amonng the lupins are all gorgeous!
Bye bye to Sir Henry, but yay for your spectacular talent because surely another one or two are on their way!!! XXXXXXX

[Sally]

Love, love, love your work Vanessa and all your knits. Sir Henry is adorable, what a lucky new owner!!
Sally xx

[Penelope]

Vanessa, what a treat to see such beautiful knitwear, lupins and Sir henry off on his travels. The sweater looks gorgeous, and I too love to day dream and romanticise about who knitted it and where it's been and what meaning lay beind it. Just beautiful, all of it xox I must say that i certainly have a different eye for knitted / crocheted props/cloting when watching movies or telly these days. Have yourselves a wonderful weekend. Alice and I are just about to attempt some papier mache this late saturday morning xox

[Carol]

Fabulous sweaters, I love the old movies too, Mrs. Miniver springs to mind. Last week one afternoon was spent happily knitting away watching "The Three Faces of Eve".
Sir Henry is wonderful, I'm sure he will be much loved in his new home.
I have a lovely two-tone lupin (purple and yellow) in the garden and recently won a red one.
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Carol xx

[Isabelle]

Hello Vanessa! What a beautiful jumper, I understand completely how you feel about it! And it suits you so well, a perfect match!
I love lupins too, it reminds me of being a child :o)
Hope you're enjoying the weekend!
Isabelle xx

[Helen]

Beautiful post, Vanessa! Sir Henry is a wonderful creation and it's no surprise he's off to a new home. I love the stripy jumper, it really suits you too, and what a great idea to combine it with the lupin pictures. I think of lupins as an old fashioned flower too, one I love but where I live so do the snails and when I've planted lupins in the past they just got munched up in no time - am having another try this summer! Thanks for a lovely, colourful post. Enjoy the weekend.
Helen x

[Irene]

Hello! I just recently found my way to your blog, and just wanted to say that enjoy it very much! So I am looking forward to the next post on Tuesday.

[Jennyff]

Wonderful jumper, wouldn't the original knitter be delighted to know it is still treasured and has achieved fame. I'm sure Sir H is going to an equally good home and will be loved forever too.

[The Muse of The Day]

All three things, the pre-loved jumper, the Lupins, and Sir Henry Brambles, share one thing in common- they all have staying power - something to be treasured. I am sure that Sir Henry will provide years of imagination service to a very lucky someone out there. And after that person Sir Henry will be gifted to one more lucky person, and so on forever. Life is good. Carolina

[Kelly]

This post is beautiful! I love the sweater but Sir Henry steals the show. I love your work. Keep inspiring us! ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

The Heart in Hand Project

[Hen]

Hello Vanessa,
So much to love in this post, thank you! Sir Henry is just fab, I particularly love his tie, only you have an eye for this sort of detail. Congratulations that he has gone to a good home. The lupins, well I would say they are my favourite flower but I'm not sure I can limit myself to just one in all honesty! And the jumper, how gorgeous and what a find, definitely a '40s style pattern although the colours are unusual for the '40s - and all the better for that though, in that gorgeous turquoise! It certainly suits you.
Hope you've had a good weekend.
Hen xxx

[Pati from London]

Hi Vanessa, I love those two jumpers, they look so delicate and in such wonderful condition!. I've been following your blog for a long time but don't usually comment on it. I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading it and also love your creations. Your "Sisterhood crochet blanket" pattern was the inspiration for a baby blanket I have just made for the baby I'm expecting. If you want to have a look at it, please go to flickr and you'll see it under "pati from London". I don't have a blog but I mention yours as the inspiration for the pattern (I hope this is ok with you). Thanks! Pati x

[Netty]

what a fabulous jumper, it's really lovely. I also love your lupins wish I could grow them but alas after three summers of trying I've given up this year and have moved onto my new love - Hollyhocks, I will be so pleased if they flower so we'll see, but I totally get where you are coming from - old fashioned retro flowers seem so absolutely cool x

[amona]

so pretty :)

[WarboysWitch]

Lovely jumper, I think its the same as I'm currently knitting its called the victory jumper. I found it on the VA website, which its great for 1940s knits

[Em Bee]

I also knitted the V and A Museum's 'Victory' jumper in red, white and blue 3ply for a 1940s exhibition at Thirsk.
It was only a two line pattern, but gave a lovely lacey effect.

[Planet Penny]

Well I'm all excited now, because not only is there Sir Henry, but there's the fabulous knitting and then, lupins! I hardly know where to look first! It must be so hard to part with your creations, I am really struggling with parting with my little woolly sheep. Everyone loves them for their individual personalities, which is precisely why I can hardly bear to part with them. A proper business woman doesn't cry when wrapping up a sale surely! I'm sure Sir Henry has gone to a good home. love Penny and Higgins xxx

[Frances]

Hello Vanessa...it's already Tuesday in your time zone, so I know I am a bit behind in reading your posts.

Best wishes to Sir Henry as he heads off to his new garden!

That vintage sweater of yours is a magnificent find! And I do like how it has stylistic harmony with the sweater you knitted yourself. Three-ply yarn must be quite fine indeed...sort of lace weight perhaps. I share your habit of keeping an eye out for lovely old knitwear when watching either tv or films. There are some true jems, and of course, I immediately want to make up one for myself.

I'm currently working on sock 2 of a pair I am making as a birthday gift. I think that I am going to make the deadline!

That Cudster jack russell is a force of nature. I so wish I had time and the space to have a dog...just wonder if I could every live up the expectations of a jack russell. I just love their esprit!

xo

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

A gorgeous piece of history and isn't it lovely that you can wear it :-)