Knitted

Marilyn’s “Let’s Make Love” Aran Jumper

Posted on by The Girl
Reproduction of Let’s Make Love jumper

It’s still sweater weather and what’s wrong with that! When thinking about about my autumn-winter wardrobe, starting to pull on wooly socks and chunky knits is something I look forward to every year as the nights draw in and there is that fresh morning chill in the air. As we now enjoy signs of Spring, we have a way to go before there’s any chance of hot weather!

There’s a new addition this year. I finally found a pattern very similar to the blue Aran knit sweater worn by Marilyn Monroe as Amanda in the 1960’s film Let’s Make Love. Although not one of my favourite films, I do watch it for the songs and the clothes!

A definite highlight is Marilyn singing My Heart Belongs to Daddy in the blue Aran Jumper and black tights. I think it’s a good nod to casual Sixties dressing although obviously she is dressed for a rehearsal, not going out! The jumper looks lilac-pink during the number as the lights are pink.

Marilyn under the stage lights in the diamond version

Look carefully and you will notice two variations of the jumper are used in the scene. One with blackberry stitch and diamonds, the other with honeycomb stitch, V cables and a wider boat neck. Do you have a preference?

Marilyn wearing the V cable version and widened boat neck

For some interesting history about the origin and story behind the two versions of Marilyn’s jumper in Let’s Make Love, read Edel Macbride’s post and check out her beautiful knits while you’re there.

It would look great belted, with a pencil skirt or with slim black trousers or a pair of jeans. An Aran Jumper is a classic and can be styled into many eras. I particularly think of Goldie Hawn looking gorgeous in The House-sitter wearing an array of boyfriend jumpers with classic fit jeans or leggings.

I love the idea of a coloured Aran knit as I have generally seen them in neutral colours, and although this blue one is from the Sixties, it somehow feels modern and new. Maybe that’s just me.

Vintage Aran pattern available on Etsy from VintageKnitsPDF

Having knitted the vintage pattern from VintageKnitsPDF on Etsy, I now know the alterations I will make for the next one I knit. For example, extending the ribbed edge, shortening the ribbed boat neck and widening the central panel of pattern. However, the pattern is ever so close and it is a beautiful vintage knit.

Authentic vintage pattern – Aranbeg Maggie Aran jumper
With alterations to reproduce Marilyn’s Let’s Make Love diamond Aran jumper

Would anyone be interested if I knitted more, with the vintage pattern or with the alterations? I am also interested to know if the colour of the sweater with the pink lights on it is another colour you’d be interested in?

Commission’s taken. 

Shop at our Folksy store

Check @thegirllovesvintage_shop on Instagram for items for sale.

Starsky Cardigan

Posted on by The Girl

One for the boys (or not)

After a lot of interest in the Marilyn cardigan from the Santa Monica photo shoot by men and women, @butterflychildart, my partner in crime decided to work out the pattern for the famous cardigan worn by Paul Michael Glaser. He played Starsky in the 1970’s TV series Starsky and Hutch.

Starsky cardigan
Starsky and Hutch

Doing a research we discovered that there were two versions of the cardigan that starsky wears. There is only a slight difference in the bottom panel of pattern around the body. More than one was probably used in filming so they didn’t wear out is quickly! In some photos you can see snagged yarn where it got must have got caught rolling over car bonnets or fighting bad guys.

Monochrome version of Starsky’s cardigan
Starsky’s well worn cardigan

This cardigan is another example of a Cowichan style knit, Marilyn Monroe’s. The colours are typical of the 70s as well as the Cowichan style, mainly cream and different shades of brown. Perfect in the 70’s worn with denim!

As with the search for a pattern for Marilyn cardigan we found there were similar patterns out there, but none really matched the photos of the original. We purchased a pattern that was very close and then we had a guide to work from. This makes it so much easier to then make alterations as the sizes are already worked out. For instance, pockets were added. Also, the original belt looked like a single thickness of garter stitch, but we opted for double-sided knitting to strengthen the belt. It’s also nice a stretchy.

Even when it’s knitted, we could see more alterations were needed, mainly in the sizing so we needed to change the number of stitches to compensate for using the honeycomb brioche stitch instead of plain knit stocking stitch.

Starsky pattern
Starsky collar

I’d be interested to know if others looking at the photos of both Marilyn and Starsky in their cardigans, think the stitch looks chunkier and more textured than stocking stitch?

The finished Starsky version

Shop here

As with the Marilyn cardigan, please get in touch   if none are in the shop or you’re interested in having your own version – this one or the other, and in stocking stitch or honeycomb brioche.

I’ll leave you with another famous face sporting a Mexican knitted cardigan. Another pattern to draw up, maybe?

Steve McQueen looking cool in a cardi