We’re delighted to announce our second collection of the season, the Bristol Ivy Collection. Known for her unique approaches to construction, brilliant use of geometry, and feminine detailing, Bristol Ivy used The Fibre Co. Cumbria and The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering to great effect, creating a wearable, unique, and beautifully styled collection of sweaters that are as lovely to knit as they are to wear. Photographed beautifully by Carrie Bostick Hoge on the Maine coast, the designs are as modern as they are classic.

From Bristol:
“I am an unabashed lover of vintage fashion and costume drama, especially those based in a time period, like the 1940s, where handknits took center stage. I was inspired by the thought of bringing those vintage, feminine shapes and lines together with clean, architectural details and modern proportions. This collection is the result! Six sweaters, all worked in the hardy, drapey, infinitely wearable Cumbria and Cumbria Fingering, all with relaxed and flattering fits that harken back to the femininity and strength of the 1940s, and all with sharp architectural lines of ribbing and mesh to bring the details to the modern day.”

THE DESIGNS

PRUE
Prue is worked in the round to the underarm, and then split to work back and forth. Short rows are used to shape the shoulders, which are then seamed. Sleeves are picked up and worked out from the body. When working the body section, Rounds 2 and 3 set the eyelet pattern referred to throughout the rest of the instructions.

YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering: helvellyn, 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6) skeins.
GAUGE: 24 sts + 32 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st, on larger needle, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 5 (3.75 mm) circular. 1 – set US 5 (3.75 mm) DPNs. 1 – 16” (40 cm) US 4 (3.5 mm) circular. 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 4 (3.5 mm) circular. 1 – set US 4 (3.5 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, safety pins for Japanese short rows.
SIZE: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66)” [96.5 (106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147.5, 157.5, 167.5) cm].
SKILLS: Short row shaping.

Purchase Prue via Ravelry here.

LITA
Lita is worked in one piece from the top down. First, epaulets are worked separate for each shoulder, and then stitches are picked up along one edge, cast on, and picked up along the edge of the other epaulet. These stitches are worked down flat, and joined to work in the round at the underarm. All body shaping occurs in the back. Unless otherwise noted, slip all markers as you come to them.

DESIGNER: Bristol Ivy
YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering: buttermere, 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins.
GAUGE: 23 sts + 30 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needle, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 5 (3.75 mm) circular. 1 – 16” (40 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular. 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular. 1 – set US 3 (3.25 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, tapestry needle.
SIZE: 37.5 (41.75, 46, 50, 54.25, 58.5, 62.5, 66.75)” [95.5 (106, 117, 127, 138, 148.5, 159, 169.5) cm] bust across full width of garment. When choosing a size, refer to the hem circumference.
SKILLS: Short row shaping, working lace from charts, picking up stitches.

Purchase Lita via Ravelry here.

VERA
Vera is worked as a top-down raglan cardigan. Please read through all Body instructions carefully, as multiple actions will occur at the same time. You will begin the neck shaping and the yoke shaping at the same time, and the neck shaping will continue after yoke shaping and separation for body and sleeves is complete.

YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering: castlerigg, 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.
GAUGE:  24 sts + 32 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 5 (3.75 mm) circular.  1 – set US 5 (3.75 mm) DPNs. 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular. 1 – 16” (40 cm) US 3 (3.25 mm) circular.  1 – set US 3 (3.25 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holder or waste yarn, 5 – 5/8” (1 cm) buttons.
SIZE: 32.75 (36.75, 40.75, 44.75, 48.75, 52.75, 56.75, 60.75)” [83 (93.5, 103.5, 113. 5, 124, 134, 144, 154.5) cm]. Sweater is designed to be worn with 2-6” (15.25 cm) finished ease.
SKILLS: Working flat and in the round, maintaining simple stitch patterns.

Purchase Vera via Ravelry here.

HESTER
Hester is constructed in pieces: a central panel of vertical rib is worked for the back yoke, then the left back yoke is worked out horizontally from that and set aside. The left front is worked horizontally, and the two pieces are joined to work the left sleeve to the cuff. The right yoke and sleeve is worked in the same fashion, but with the front worked first, then the back, then the sleeve. The front cast on edges are seamed together, and stitches are picked up in the body circumference and worked down. After completion, the shoulders are seamed and ribbing is picked up and worked out at the neckline.

YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria: grizedale forest, 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins.
GAUGE: 17 sts + 24 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in St st, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 8 (5 mm) circular.  1 – set US 8 (5 mm) DPNs. 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 6 (4 mm) circular.  1 – 16” (40 cm) US 6 (4 mm) circular. 1 – set US 6 (4 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, darning needle, stitch holder or waste yarn.
SIZE: 35.75 (40.5, 45.25, 49, 53.75, 58.25, 63, 66.75)” [91 (103, 115, 124.5, 136.5, 148, 160, 169.5) cm] finished bust. Sweater is designed to be worn with 2-6″ (5-15.25 cm) ease.
SKILLS: Working lace from charts, picking up stitches.

Purchase Hester via Ravelry here.

MYRTLE
Myrtle is worked in pieces and seamed. The front band ribbing is worked first, and then the fronts are picked up and knit sideways from them. The back and sleeves are knit flat from the bottom up.

YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria: appleby castle, 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins.
GAUGE: 18 sts + 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) in St st on larger ndls, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 7 (4.5 mm) circular OR pair of straight needles. 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 6 (4 mm) circular OR pair of straight needles.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, darning needle.
SIZE: 42.5 (46.5, 49.25, 52.5, 56.25, 61.5, 65.25, 69.5)” [108 (118, 125, 133.25, 142.75, 156.25, 165.75, 176.5) cm] bust. Sweater is designed to be worn with 8-12” (20-30.5 cm) positive ease.
SKILLS: Picking up stitches, mattress stitch.

Purchase Myrtle via Ravelry here.

HYLDA
Hylda is worked as a top-down raglan, with a mesh and rib hourglass panel in the back. The raglan shaping for the back is incorporated into the mesh for the first part of the hourglass, and into the ribbing for the second part. After the raglan shaping is complete, the ribbing continues to increase, and stitches on the front are decreased to compensate. The hem is finished with 1×1 ribbing, and the sleeves are worked in stockinette to the 1×1 ribbing cuff. A neckband is then picked up and worked up from the original cast on. Unless otherwise specified, slip all markers as you come to them.

DESIGNER: Bristol Ivy
YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria (90% wool, 10% mohair; 238 yds/100 gm skein): windermere, 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7) skeins.
GAUGE: 18.5 sts and 27 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in St st on larger needles, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 32” (80 cm) US 6 (4 mm) circular.  1 – set US 6 (4 mm) DPNs.  1 – 32” (80 cm) US 5 (3.75 mm) circular.  1 – 16” (40 cm) US 5 (3.75 mm) circular.  1 – set US 5 (3.75 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Stitch markers, tapestry needle, stitch holder or waste yarn.
SIZE: 30.25 (34.25, 38, 41.25, 45, 49, 53, 56)” [76.75 (87, 96.5, 104.75, 114.25, 134.5, 142.25) cm] finished bust. Sweater is designed to be worn with no ease.
SKILLS: Maintaining multiple stitch patterns at the same time, picking up stitches.

Purchase Hylda via Ravelry here.

All patterns are available for individual purchase via Ravelry download or at a Fibre Co./Kelbourne Woolens stockist near you. Stay tuned over the next few days for more posts about the designs in the collection, including images of Bristol’s original design proposals, a tutorial on working Japanese Short Rows, and other lovely insights! – KGO

View the Bristol Ivy Collection
View more sweater patterns
View The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering
View The Fibre Co. Cumbria

All images by and © Carrie Bostick Hoge