My Great Aunt Sarah was a fabulous knitter and she, like me, was seldom seen without her knitting or crochet in her hands.
Her speciality was Aran knitting and she used to make matching cardigans for herself and my Great Uncle Bill. She never used a pattern but created them in her head!
After leaving school she became a weaver at the Makerfield mill and she continued to do this until after the Second World War.
During the war she lived with my Great Granny Thorpe as her husband had been taken in El Alamein where he was kept as a prisoner for five years, only returning home on D Day 1944, which was also the day my mum was born.
Whilst he was away she volunteered for the WVS. She passed when I was a student nurse in the late 1980s and I still treasure the knitting needles, buttons and home nursing books which I inherited. A devout lady, she was always immaculately turned out with her wing tipped glasses and perfect manicures and was a staunch member of her local Mothers Union. She became very good friends with both the local Catholic priest, Patrick and the Church of England vicar, Walter, who both used to visit her every Friday for a wee dram! She never had children of her own but loved her nieces and grand nieces a great deal and I still have very fond memories of going to visit there as a child where we would be given a glass of fizzy pop, spam salad to eat and daring to go in the outside privvy which was full of spiders!
This sweater is modified from the Print an’ the Wave Shetland lace pattern which is one of my favourites to knit. I chose this one because it almost looks like cabled knitting in parts. Aunt Sarah often worked a symetrical cabled panel down the centre front and back of her garments and I’ve tried to echo that here. The sweater is worked entirely in the round, top down and I’ve chosen the lovely, woolly Jamiesons of Shetland Heather yarn in the lovely natural shade of Sholmit to complement the design.

Jamiesons of Shetland Heather 100% Shetland Wool
92m/50g
103 Sholmit
11(11,12,12,13,13,14,16,17,18,20) balls

This sweater is designed to be worn with 0-4 inches (0-
10cm) ease. I am wearing size 42” with approximately
1.5 inches of ease.
Please choose the size closest to your chest
measurement PLUS your desired ease from the
schematic. Body and sleeve length are customisable
however please note you may require more/less yarn
should alterations be made or gauge not be met.

Gauge
18 sts & 22 rounds over Print an the Wave lace after
washing and blocking.
Please check your gauge carefully and adjust your needle size up or down accordingly.