This pattern is currently only available as part of A Stitch in Time Volume 3, the colourwork edition.

Marble is a fascinating knitting pattern featuring striking all-over marble patterning against bold stripes creating an unusual yet wearable design. The simple shape and short sleeves are a great simple, classic shape and fit which can be worn in both vintage and contemporary wardrobes.

Marble was first published in the 1950s by Weldons and shows how pattern companies were moving forward and keeping up with changing fashions. It is a wonderfully simple shape with inset elbow length sleeves a neat crew neck and uses negative ease to create a figure hugging shape paired with a cutting edge colour palette. It has a youthful feel and satisfied the growing demand for a slightly more casual garment that can also be dressed up if needed.

The surface design is particularly unusual, knitted throughout in stranded colourwork, it uses the same motif throughout but the motif does not mirror in the way Fair Isle patterns usually would, creating more of an abstract surface pattern which is particularly fascinating.

The stripes are knitted in striking bands of archetypal 1950s shades - turquoise, coral and lemon with a dark brown, almost black, shade used for the marble patterning. Smaller bands of undyed yarn are interspersed between the bold stripes to frame each shade. Somewhat surprisingly this bold design is only shown in black and white and leaves the knitter to try and visualize it for themselves.

The use of colour is also quite unusual and because of this I deliberately used the same colours as specified in the pattern to show off the 1950s-esque shades which were being used.

Marble is knitted in Bluem Sock, to create a smooth, lighter weight fabric for this easy to wear top. Five shades are used, natural undyed Buttermilk provides the neutral contrast to the bold colours of the stripes, Loam is used for the marble patterning, and three new shades have been added to the range to provide the vibrant 1950s colourway – these are Legbar – a warm turquoise, Red Granite - a pinkish-coral and Daffodil – a primary shade of yellow.

We love this bold colourway but think it would look equally fabulous in a more subdued palette and would also look great in tonal shades too. Its classic shape also makes it a great base pattern for all sorts of exploration! I hope you enjoy knitting this one as much as I have done.

Marble comes in 9 sizes to fit from 71–157 cm (28–62in) chest with full colour charts plus a clear schematic diagram and sizing charts.

YARN
Susan Crawford Bluem Sock, fingering weight, 75% Bluefaced Leicester, 25% Nylon (395m / 432 yds per 100g skein)
1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Buttermilk - Yarn A
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins, shade Loam - Yarn B
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skeins, shade Legbar - Yarn C
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skeins, shade Red Granite - Yarn D
1 (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1) skeins, shade Daffodil - Yarn E

Yarn kits are available from susancrawfordvintage.com