Finished: Star Collar Sweater from Bernat Handicrafter No.34 (c. 1953)
Once I saw the cover of Bernat Handicrafter 34 (The College Issue) I knew I needed to get my hands on the original pattern booklet.
Three months later and I’d found the original – yes just to get this pattern – but it turns out the booklet is filled with cute styles anyway. A copy of the Star Collar Pattern is here, and the Jagged Design Sweater is also from the same booklet.
I cast on for this beauty on Christmas Eve, and it took about 6 weeks of knitting to totally finish.
I went with a lovely soft jade wool (Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply) from my stash as the colour matches nearly everything I own!
I enlarged this to a size 40″ bust using the simple method below:
- the pattern is already sized for 34-36-38″ chests
- I just followed the natural sizing progression for the next size up (i.e. if it says cast on 90-95-100 sts – I cast on 105)
- I know I like a armhole depth of about 7 3/4 inches which was a size 38 anyway so I went with that
- I picked up one extra stich per ‘point’ around the neckline to compensate for a slightly larger neck
Overall, I’m thrilled with how it came out and would definitely knit it again. I think I’d work less rounds on the points to make them more blunt – but other than that it’s a great wardrober filler!