Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Completed

Good Afternoon,

Sooo hot and humid here in the Hudson Valley aaggaaiinn.  We are having the "Dog Days" now.  What in the world will be in store for August?  OK, enough whining.  On to better topics.  

We are going to revisit EZ's Surprise Jacket.  It has been washed and blocked and I took it to The Perfect Blend this morning, it was still a little damp.  Anyway, it came out so beautiful, I hope that it gets some attention and that there are a few knitters that will want to sign up for the class. 

When I put it on the table it looked like this:

 Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C-SJ Pattern by Schoolhouse Press
                                                                                                   

If you notice, both the sweater and the diagram are placed on the table in a similar fashion.  If you look at the diagram you can pick out where "A" and "B" are.  By rotating the lower "B", which is the front neckline, up to the Back or Neck "B", the piece looks more sweater - like.  Now there are just the sleeves to match.  Those are the "A's"  By putting them together, you now have:



Another interesting point, is that when the sweater was designed, there are button holes in both of the front bands.  It works out well for two obvious reasons:

1.  When this sweater was designed, there were no sonograms to know the newborn gender.  So,

     there was a double set of button holes to place buttons on the correct side on a neutral color  

     sweater. 

2.  Today, and this is my favorite part, with holes on both sides, you simply sew the buttons over the 

     holes you don't need.  You now have perfectly lined up buttons to button holes.

I'm sorry I don't have the Mattress Stitch ready for you.  I wanted to keep the shoulders open so everyone would be able to see what a genius EZ was.  I can't imagine how her brain worked so that she was able to design, what looks like above, as an unidentifiable piece of knitting.  There are probably as many guesses as to what it is as there are knitters who have never seen this before.

I will keep you updated on how the class goes and also will post the Mattress Stitch Video. 

Happy Knitting!  And, stay cool. 

P.S.  I took a set of hand knit washclothes to a local gift shop this morning.  The Manager seemed quite pleased with them.  They may be added as part of a new spa collection.  Keeping my fingers crossed.