Knitting is a craft full of variety. Some of us love the meditative rhythm of plain stocking stitch, while others thrive on intricate cables or the challenge of colourwork. We all have our own preferences, and that’s part of what makes knitting so personal. For me, I love working with chunky and super chunky yarn – there’s something really satisfying about seeing a project take shape quickly. But finer yarns like DK? My hands ache just thinking about it! And as for knitting an intricate picture jumper? That’s beyond my concentration and skill level, if I am honest.
This is where the beauty of commissioning work from fellow knitters comes in. As knitters, we truly appreciate the time and skill that goes into every piece, so when we see another fibre artist excelling in an area we admire but wouldn’t tackle ourselves, we’re more than happy to pay for their expertise.
My Nostalgic Commission
Right now, I have a very special jumper being knitted for me, featuring George and Zippy from Rainbow, the classic 1980s kids’ TV show. The talented knitter bringing it to life is Jane from Libertys Knits, who specialises in picture as well as other beautiful jumpers. This very talented knitter loves watching intarsia picture knitting designs unfold and has built up a steady stream of regular clients who come to her for their dream knits. One of her recent commissions was a Sooty & Sweep jumper, another nod to childhood nostalgia!
There’s something about wearing our favourite childhood characters on a jumper that brings a sense of joy and playfulness to adulthood. Some of us never grow out of our childhood loves, and why should we? Nostalgia knitting is a wonderful way to celebrate those happy memories.
Here you can see some photos of the Rainbow jumper taking shape. Such hard and wonderful work, I honestly don’t think I wouldn’t ever finish off such a project myself! Well at least not without very achy hands.
Finding the Perfect Character Intarsia Knitting Pattern
The knitting pattern for my Rainbow jumper came from a fantastic Etsy shop that has a lovely selection of patterns for retro character intarsia Knitting jumpers. They have some amazing designs, including:
And many more character intarsia jumper knitting patterns.
This Etsy store is a treasure trove for anyone who loves a bit of retro fun and vintage in their knitwear.
I’ll report back here once my Rainbow jumper is finished so you can see it in all its glory! In the meantime, I’d love to hear, have you ever commissioned a fellow knitter to make something special for you? Or have you taken on a commission yourself? Let’s celebrate the wonderful world of knitting together!
The Knitting Times 