Pam Alison Knits

I have seen this hypothetical proposition discussed in fountain pen forums: if all your fountain pens disappeared, which five would you definitely replace? So, let’s just cross-polinate and ask, if all my handknits disappeared, which five would I re-make?

The first two are no-brainers: the cable-front cardigan and the diagonal rib sweater/cardigan. I know these two would be vying to be first on the needles because I’ve knitted multiple versions of both over the years and without them there would be a yawning chasm in my wardrobe. In my current life, I wear the scarf-front cardi multiple times each week. It works both as a cardigan in colder weather and as a jacket on warmer days. The scarf-style cabled collar is perfect to cut through chills, but the single-button fastening keeps things airy. It is forgiving as waistlines expand and contract and is short enough to look good over dresses and tunics whilst the extended scarf part at the front provides extra length which, again, helps disguise a bit of a belly. I would remake this in a flash and I wouldn’t change anything about it, same colour, same size, direct replica.

I don’t wear the diagonal rib jumper as often and, in this hypothetical scenario, I would replace it with the cardigan version to make it more versatile. That said, though, I am surprised by how often I do reach for this one. It’s perfect for those days which call for a deep, dark sweater: camouflage days when mustard yellow or shocking pink are too shrill and pale blue is too washed-out. It’s also very warm in 100% wool with that nice high neckline. If I had to reknit this, it was still be in a dark wool, but maybe a navy rather than purple… I don’t know. Purple works very well.

The bright pink cardi would most certainly go on my list to remake. I love this one and, considering the colour, it’s proving to be another versatile addition to my wardrobe. It’s warm, but that v-neck and the fact it’s a bit too big for me make it nice and comfortable to wear. I love the volume in the sleeves, especially as many garments are designed with quite tight sleeves. Those cables on the front are all the fanciness it needs. I think I’d make this in a more woolly wool, and maybe I’d go for a bright red rather than pink, but those are just tweaks – I could replace it like-for-like and be perfectly happy.

The final two to remake would be this pair of blue jumpers, and not only because a wardobe without blue jumpers doesn’t bear thinking about. I wear these all the time in the winter, though they have to be put away for summer. That pale blue lace-panel jumper, in particular, is just perfection. I wear it with trousers, but I like it best of all over a long, prairie-style navy dress. I’d want that one back again like a shot if it ever went astray. I’m particularly fond of the collar which sits really nicely and is comfortable to wear. The denim blue of the aran cardigan works with the same types of clothes, and is every bit as useful as its pale playmate. I would have to change the way I made the neck and the finish I put around it, because that’s the only area where it’s a little uncomfortable to wear. I’d probably also go for a softer yarn than the one I used, although the slightly rustic nature of the yarn does suit the rough, tough nature of aran knitwear so it works really well.

So how about you? Do you have any knitwear that would be top priority to replace if it ever went astray?