Coquette Vintage Cotton

knitshop.co.uk introduces brand-new Coquette vintage cotton yarn

knitshop.co.uk has some fantastic news for lovers of all things vintage. We’ve developed our own vintage cotton yarn range in collaberation with well-known knitwear designer and historian Susan Crawford.

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn is a 4ply cotton of the highest quality. It comes in 12 magnificent shades that accurately mimic those from the 1930s to 1950s. The colour range consists of Wine, Oyster, Canary, Flame, Highland, Pumpkin, Carnation, Old Lace, Aquamarine, Snow, Spearmint and Sapphire.

Garments knitted in Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn have wonderful drape. Patterns within each design are beautifully distinct due to the crisp and even qualities of the cotton. This means that Coquette really rewards you for tackling more complex patterns with plenty of detail. It’s perfect for lacy crochet projects too. 

"I love Susan's work, she is an inspiration and it's an honor to work with her. To bring Coquette to life means a lot to me, it's a huge value to knitshop yarns and it's a dream come true after many years of hard work. I hope we can work many more projects like Coquette." Julieta Brandao, owner and founder of knitshop.co.uk and knitshop yarns. If you want to read Susan's blog about Coquette, click here

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn costs £4.95 per 50g ball of approximately 125m. It knits to a 4ply tension of 26 stitches and 36 rows on 3mm or 3.5mm needles.

A number of specially written patterns are available for Coquette. These include Susan Crawford’s pear and trellis pattern Tropicana, which uses six skeins of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn. It looks especially good in Canary yellow with a contrasting bright blue ribbon. 

Tropicana - beautiful tanktop for the sunny days ahead!

Another wonderful vintage knit for Coquette is the textured short-sleeved Dinah’s Lacy Jumper. This uses a twisted stitch over a four-row repeat to create a loose-fitting open-weave top that is ideal for warm sunny days. 

Dinah's Lacy Jumper from A Stitch In Time Vol 2
suggested yarn: Coquette in Aquamarine

Coquette patterns will be available as individual PDFs, while the complete collection can be found in Susan’s A Stitch In Time vintage pattern books.

As well as the specially written Coquette patterns, you can use Coquette for any pattern that knits to a standard 4ply tension. If you’d like some advice about whether a pattern is suitable for knitting with Coquette and how many skeins you need, we will be very happy to help.

What’s more, we are offering our gorgeous new Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn at a special introductory price of £4.45 per skein. What more incentive do you need to make a start on this year’s summery knits?

Fashions from the first half of the 20^th century are incredibly popular right now thanks to the success of Downton Abbey and Mad Men. This summer’s hotly anticipated remake of The Great Gatsby is sure to fan the flames even more. 

 

Sea-Waves and Sunny Days Ahead!
Suggested yarn: Coquette in Pumpkin and Old Lace

Coquette can be used for the following patterns: 

A Stitch In Time Vol 1

The Call of the Sea - colours: Sapphire and Snow

Sea Waves and Sunny Days Ahead - colours: Pumpkin and Old Lace

And here are the latest accessories - colour: Old Lace

A Dashing little swim suit - colour: Aquamarine

Knitters Delight - colour: Oyster

Light and Lovely - colours: Spearmint and Sapphire

A Stitch In Time Vol 2

This Attractive Affair - colours: Oyster and Wine

Striped Sun Top - colours: Snow, Spearmint and Carnation

Jumper with Collar & Flowers - colours: Carnation, Snow and Canary

Summery - And a new Pattern - colour: Flame

Dinah's Lacy Jumper - colour: Aquamarine

Ribbon Threaded Jumper - colour: Pumpkin
 

Summery - And a new Pattern
Suggested yarn: Coquette in Flame

Tropicana by Susan Crawford  - colour: Canary

Lost in Music by Susan Crawford - colour: Highland

Lily Jacket by Meg Crowther - colours: Wine, Oyster and Carnation Katy Tee Cotton Top by Meg Crowther  - colour: Wine

Katy Tee Cotton Top
Coquette in Wine

Links to this blog:

Knitshop.co.uk Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Tropicana lacy vest pattern: http://webmail.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2778-tropicana.html

Dinah’s Lacy Jumper pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dinahs-lacy-jumper

A Stitch In Time Vol 1 by Susan Crawford: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/patterns-magazines-books/2141-a-stitch-in-time-2.html

Susan Crawford website: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html

Susan's blog about Coquette: http://www.justcallmeruby.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/coquette-4-ply-cotton-launch.html

3mm needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1604-bamboo-knitting-needles-3mm.html

3.5mm needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1694-bamboo-knitting-needles-35mm.html

Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn

knitshop.co.uk Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn is made of beautifully soft fibres and is ideal for garments such as vests and close-fitting tops that will be worn next to the skin. If you’re knitting for someone with delicate skin, Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn is a great choice. The fibres are naturally hypoallergenic too. 
 

This silky-soft 4ply yarn is great for springtime knits as it’s not as bulky as wool but still offers plenty of protection from the elements. Our short-sleeved fitted top, Sugar And Spice Ginger, was designed to be knitted in Mulberry Silk Twist yarn. The cap sleeves and the gently fitting drape of the yarn are a flattering combination. It even featured on the front cover of Let’s Knit magazine issue 7. Here is the previous blog about Sugar And Spice Ginger.

Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn, colours from left to wright: Bright Green, Deep Pink, Bright Red,
Kahki-Gold, Gold Yellow, Orange, Pastel Lilac, Antique Gold and Yellow

The Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn is our sumptuous choice for exquisite and glamorous eventing knits, it has a clear stitch definition and a beautiful sheen. It knits up very evenly, the ideal yarn for delicate summer knits, lace work or vintage knitwear, it drapes beautifully due to its silky nature. The yarn is ideal for vintage knits and has been used for both A Stitch In Time Vol 1 and 2 by knitwear designer Susan Crawford. 

Our selection of 15 shades includes Teal, Ice Blue, Navy Blue, Gold-Yellow, Pale Pink, Silver-White and Black. Silver-White and Black have been featured in the pattern Cryscelle, front cover picture of A Stitch In Time Vol 2. 

Cryscelle - front cover image of A Stitch In Time Vol 2
using Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn in Silver-White and Black

And another great example is the striking Cocktail Jumper from A Stitch In Time Vol 2, knitted in Pastel Pink and Black, it uses between six and nine hanks and knits up on 3.25mm needles. 

Cocktail Jumper, pattern in A Stitch In Time Vol 2
by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller.

"This pure silk yarn has a exquisite handle and is a pleasure to knit with. Once a garment has been knitted using this yarn, it falls and drapes beautifully. I have used this yarn many times over the years and have never been disappointed with the finished results." Susan Crawford

Frilly Sleeves from A Stitch In Time Vol 1,
using Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn in Antique Gold

For sunnier days, you might also like to knit Tropicana, a lovely pear-and-trellis lace-patterned vest top with a contrasting ribbon tie under the bust. The bottom has pretty scalloped edges. This pattern requires three or four skeins of Mulberry Silk Twist yarn. 

Tropicana using Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn in Yellow

Mulberry Silk Twist yarn comes in 100g skeins of 250m. Recommended needle sizes are between 2.5mm and 3.5mm. The yarn knits to a tension of between 25 and 30 stitches over 10cm depending on needle size 

Mulberry Silk Twist costs £14.95 per 100g skein. This 100 percent natural mulberry silk yarn is suitable for many 4ply patterns. Feel free to email us for advice on converting a pattern to any of our yarns.

Links to this blog:

Mulberry Silk Twist yarn http://www.knitshop.co.uk/31-mulberry-silk-twist

Sugar And Spice Ginger Top http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2725-sugar-spice-ginger.html

Susan Crawford's website http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html
Susan Crawford Cocktail Jumper pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cocktail-jumper

Susan Crawford A Stitch In Time Volume 2 http://www.knitshop.co.uk/patterns-magazines-books/2141-a-stitch-in-time-2.html

Tropicana vest pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tropicana-2

Let’s Knit http://www.letsknit.co.uk

3.5mm bamboo needles http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1694-bamboo-knitting-needles-35mm.html

A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Step right up for A Stitch In Time was a blog featured by knitshop.co.uk and now it has finally been published and is available to everyone, Susan Crawfords' masterpiece, combining a variety of vintage knitting patterns from 1930 - 1959. 

If you haven't already taken a peek at A Stitch in Time, Volume 1, then you are missing out on some really stunning knitwear patterns. However, A Stitch in Time, Volume 2, is here and worthwhile having a flick through because this coffee table book has some amazing images of the final garments.

This beautiful book contains many patterns for all levels of knitting ability, and the images are really inspiring. Obviously, the most important feature of the book, the patterns, are sublime. Wonderfully explained with a step-by-step pattern, beautifully illustrated.

The patterns range from 1930's to the 1960's, a variety of jumpers, cardigans, dresses and more. There is a little something for everyone in this book, and for anyone who is just starting to knit, the book will walk you step by step through choosing yarn, colours and f course the pattern. The result is a wonderfully knitted vintage-inspired garment followed to a 'T' from the pattern or with some artistic inspiration of your very own.

Of course, what knit pattern book is complete without a little helping hand from the knitshop.co.uk team? Knitshop.co.uk yarns were used within several of these projects as they are perfect to achieve a vintage inspired garment.

Knitshop.co.uk yarns have been featured on the front cover of the book, a real privileged. Susan's stunning Cryscelle was chosen to adorn the front cover and for this piece the Mulberry Silk was used. A perfect choice in yarn for such an amazing theatrical top. The striped silver white and black Mulberry silk reflect the light stunningly and the sumptuous silk makes this a great top for evening wear as well as office and day-wear.

Firstly, on page 35 is featured the pattern 'This Attractive Affair'. A beautiful 1930's inspired pattern which makes an ideal gift for someone deserving. Susan opted to use our 4ply mercerised cotton in Bordeaux and Oyster Colours. This rich palette is warm, perfect for this winter's trend but also spot on for the colours of the 1930's. This light weight yarn is soft to the touch but strong and easily washable.

On page 49 you will also find our 4ply mercerised cotton. A fabulous summer knit pattern, this 'Striped Sun Top' includes our coral pink, white and mint green cotton. We encourage you to use a variety of your own favourite colours, but Susan's choice really accentuates the shape of the top and will be stunning in hot sunshine.

This is followed by 'The Box Coat' on page 218. A 1940's inspired coat knitted in Tundra Wool. This chunky yarn, ideal for winter knits is a clear winner for this pattern. The thickness of the final fabric will keep you warm through this winter and more to come. The choice of the dark green yarn is ideal for winter 2011 and represents the palettes of the 1940's. knitshop.co.uk also offer a mustard yellow which I feel is also ideal for this pattern.

Patterns from the 1950's includes a fabulous jumper with glorious flower and collar detailing, 'Jumper with Collar and Flowers' on page 284. Very 1950's this pattern is great for children and adults. I love how this can be combined with pencil skirts or glamorous trousers as well as your every day jeans. Knitted in 4ply mercerised cotton makes this a light and warm jumper. The cotton works well in the finer detail of the flowers and is sure not to aggravate the skin around the neckline like a wool could. Susan opted for knitshop's shell pink, Arctic white and canary yellow for the floral detailing, but again the choice is yours.

Another great jumper is the 'Ribbon Threaded' jumper found on page 310 An inspired use of ribbon makes this jumper very cute and pretty. The apricot yarn brings out the girly pattern and we can definitely recommend this to any knitter who enjoys using various materials aside from just yarn. A fun pattern, Susan chose to use knitshop's Cotton Plied Wool for it's softness and warmth. We recommend needle size 3-4 which is also recommended in the pattern.

Finally, knitshop.co.uk yarns were used in the 'Cocktail Jumper' on page 387. Another 1950's inspired pattern for knitting, this jumper uses the Mulberry Silk for a sumptuous finish. Ideal for drinks parties and formal dinner parties, we love this pattern for it's unique design. The light pink Mulberry Silk was combined with the black to achieve another glorious pattern by Susan Crawford.

Which is your favourite vintage pattern? Email us your pictures of your A Stitch In Time garments!

And Happy Knitting!!

Links to this post:

A Stitch In Time Vol 2 - order your book today for delivery tomorrow!

A Stitch In Time Vol 1 - still available at knitshop.co.uk

Cotton 4ply mercerised - oyster, bordeaux, light pink, mint green, coral pink and white

Mulberry Silk Yarn - black, silvery white and light pink

Cotton plied Wool Yarn - apricot

Wool Yarn Tundra - dark green

Step right up for A Stitch In Time

Susan Crawford Vintage Blog