More Starmore

A few weeks ago, when I wrote about starting my second Alice Starmore sweater, Erin left a comment telling me about an interesting book on the subject.  I placed it on hold at the library the same day, and was able to pick it up last week.  Thanks, Erin!

Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini

In Sweater Quest, writer and knitter Adrienne Martini recounts her experience in knitting Alice Starmore's design Mary Tudor.  I was especially interested in this because I knit this very design almost two years ago - it's the sweater Linda and I did for our first knit-along.

Mary Tudor cardigan

Martini not only relates her experience with knitting this design, but also discusses the controversy surrounding Alice Starmore and her fierce protection of her intellectual property, which came to a head in the early 2000s.  I was only peripherally aware of the situation at the time, despite working in a yarn shop; but I do remember hearing whispered rumors, so it was nice to finally have them explained!

close-up

My current Starmore undertaking is coming along slowly.  I'm a little more than half way through the bottom border.  Since starting on the first of June, I've been averaging working on it about 3 times a week, knitting about 3 rows at each sitting.

Queen Anne's Lace pullover

The leaf design of the border is becoming apparent now:

Queen Anne's Lace rib and border pattern

I've been holding the grey/white mix in my left (dominant) hand and the contrast yarns in my right hand.  When working stranded knitting with one color in each hand, it's common for one hand to be dominant*, which causes that color to come to the forefront.  I'm going to have to decide if I want to continue this way, so that my work reads as a grey sweater with red/blue/purple designs, or change hands to get a red/blue/purple sweater with grey designs.  I'd originally thought I wanted the grey to be dominant, but now I'm not so sure!

my Starmore kit

* I learned this last year from Tasha and her Vintage Knitting College - thanks, Tasha!