J&J Seaton Cream Fruits Pullover - Vintage Rowan Botany, Silkstones, Light Tweed

Description

Jessi and Jamie Seaton Fruits Sweater in Cream - Vintage Rowan Botany, Silkstones, Kaffe Fassett Light Tweed
Another vintage design from the husband and wife team, Jamie and Jessi Seaton.  The Seatons collaborated with Rowan for nearly a decade, contributing patterns to many of their early magazines, then sadly left the knitting business to run a very successful store in London - Toast.   Their style was distinctive, complex motif intarsia patterns typically knit in fine yarns and wonderfully deep colors. At one point in time they employed hundreds of hand knitters throughout the United Kingdom to make up their wonderful designs, destined to sell in high end New York department stores for thousands of dollars.  Their landmark book,
Sweaters from the Seaton Collection,
was published in 1989 and was an instant success.  "Fruits" comes from that book.  Jessi described the design as ". . . another of my favourites.  I love the engravings from Elizabethan herbals where, in those early days of scientific observation, the urge for botanical accuracy can be seen vying with the urge for decoration.  Embroiderers often used these herbals as source material for their stitchwork, producing wonderfully coloured and detailed work.  In my own design I like the way the pattern fits the neat style of the garment so well, and I especially like the colors which are tawny and subdues without losing their richness."    Fruits was kitted by Rowan in the early 1990's.  It was extremely popular and you can see why. The charming botanical motifs in subtle natural shades are an absolute classic.  This relaxed fitting polo neck slipover can be knit in any of three sized to fit 36, 38, or 40 inch chest/bust.  Knit in long discontinued Rowan botany, Fine Fleck Tweed, Kaffe Fassett Light Tweed, Silkstones and Grainy Silks, Fruits is truly a classic from hand-knitting history.   As with most of the Seaton's work the pullover is knit in motif intarsia where the background color is carried across the row, but each design motif is knit from a separate mini-hank or bobbin of yarn. Suitable for experienced knitters comfortable with this type of intarsia. The design features inset drop shoulder sleeves, a placketed polo neck collar, simple shaping, and ribbed edges.  Our kit is an original Rowan kit and contains all the vintage yarns you need to complete the project in the shades Jamie and Jessi used for the book.  The box was a little tattered around the edges, so we've repackaged the kit in a heavy duty bag. Rowan botany was a wonderfully soft 100% virgin wool yarn which came in 25 gram hanks as well as cones.  Fine fleck tweed, also available in 25 gram hanks or cones, was 100% botany wool blended with 15% fine cotton and nylon "nepp."  100% wool light tweed was a staple in Kaffe and Seaton designs for many years and came in 25 gram hanks and cones.  Grainy silks and Silkstones were a wonderful blend of 52% mulberry silk and fine botany wool and came in 50 gram hanks.  As all of these yarns are now sadly discontinued, this may be a one in a lifetime chance to knit the design in the shades the Seatons used.  The design calls for a tension of 34 stitches and 42 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) on US 2 (2.75mm) needles.
Technique:
Motif Intarsia
Difficulty:
Experienced
Rarity:
All the vintage rowan yarns in this kit have been long discontinued.  The kit represents a rare opportunity for you to create this design in the colors the Seatons specified.
Kit Contents:
In total the kit contains a pattern, shade card, buttons, Rowan label and the following shades of vintage Rowan yarns:
450 grams of Natural Botany
25 grams of Driftwood Botany
25 grams of Dark Brown Botany
25 grams of Khaki Botany
25 grams of Forest Green Botany
25 grams of Old Gold Botany
25 grams of Forest Light Tweed
25 grams of Bamboo Light Tweed
25 grams of Grey Green Fine Fleck Tweed
25 grams of Jasmine Botany
25 grams of Chilli Silkstones
25 grams of Mulled Wine Silkstones
25 grams of Seaweed Grainy Silk
25 grams of Beetle Silkstones
25 grams of Light Olive Botany
25 grams of Red Botany
25 grams of Olive Grey Silkstones
25 grams of Lakeland Light Tweed
25 grams of Woad Silkstones
As this was an original Rowan kit, the background yarn is all the same dye lot.  The contrast colors were wound by Rowan to provide enough yarn to complete the pattern, even though some of the skeins are a little under 25 grams.  The pattern, buttons, color card, and sew in label are included
As with all of our RareRowan kits, this pack has been carefully stored in a non-smoking home, and these vintage yarns and fabric will arrive to you in pristine condition. We stock our kits in two locations and ship only on weekends from Katy Texas. If you need a fast turnaround on shipping, please inquire before purchase so we can make a firm commitment on a ship date.
Your total satisfaction is important to us. If your are displeased in any way, please let us know so we can correct the situation.