Curvy Month Four – Tally-Ho Novelty Jumper, c 1940s/1950s

Why are you posting a men’s jumper pattern for Curvy Month? (you may or may not be asking).

Wouldn’t this jumper look divine knitted up – with a shorter, nipped in waist? It would be really easy to do.

While I’m not a fan of fox-hunting, I am a fan of novelty jumpers/sweaters!

To change this to a 1940s woman’s jumper:

1. Work out your waist measurement, multiply by 8 sts per inch (as per the pattern). Divide by 2, for front and back. Thats how many stitches to cast on  – make it an even number that can be divided by 4 (for 2×2 rib). Lets say you have a 34 inch waist, so that would be 136 stitches for each front and back piece.

2. Measure from your waist to underarm – thats the distance you have to knit.  Lets say your ideal length is 14 inches. Minus the amount of rib you want to do (lets say 4 inches). Leaves you with the plain stockinette to work your increases – i.e. 10 inches.

The pattern says the distance across each piece at their widest point is 150s sts.
150 sts minus 136 sts is 14!
So, you’ll only need to increase at the beginning and end of a row 7 times (evenly) up the sides of each front and back piece.

3. Cast on your stitches – and go for it!

This pattern comes from Monarch Hand Knits for Men, circa 1949. Sized for a 38″ chest/bust.
It requires fingering weight yarn and 3.75mm & 3.25mm needles.

(to view the full sized image, right click on the picture, and select ‘Open in a new tab’)