2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Ooh, what a lovely find @thriftwizard! I've had a look at their website and ebay but can't find anything suggesting a trim apart from a very tartan-y ribbon on one piece, so I can't guide you further than you already are towards finding 'the look'.

However, as these holes are so regular and suggest beads to you, I wonder if that's your clue? If the holes could be secured, even if it meant a slightly pinched-in look around each, then a bead or tiny applique on top might be appropriate - especially if done in an unobtrusive colour, leaving the rest to be understatedly elegant.

Lucky you - and no coupons!

thriftwizard

On second (ok, third) inspection, I'm thinking it was possibly stitched to a skirt; something I've known my residents in "retirement housing" to do so that jumpers don't rise up & display a less-than-trim tum, or maybe a stoma. Then someone's made a very poor or careless job of separating them; failing eyesight, perhaps? I think I'll try sewing thread first; oh dear, now I need to hunt up some good thread in the right colour, which calls for a trip to one of the good fabric shops in the county, none of which are within easy reach!

Baileys_Babe

It will be so worth it @thriftwizard to be able to wear such a luxurious garment.

Laura_Elsewhere

thriftwizard said:

On second (ok, third) inspection, I'm thinking it was possibly stitched to a skirt; something I've known my residents in "retirement housing" to do so that jumpers don't rise up & display a less-than-trim tum, or maybe a stoma. Then someone's made a very poor or careless job of separating them; failing eyesight, perhaps? I think I'll try sewing thread first; oh dear, now I need to hunt up some good thread in the right colour, which calls for a trip to one of the good fabric shops in the county, none of which are within easy reach!

I would just sew a line of running-stitch on the inside that goes through the centre of the stitches directly above each hole, which will prevent any laddering up into the jumper, and possibly a line below, depending on how close to the edge they are. It isn't a seam, so don't worry about anything more demanding than running stitch, just focus on catching each column of stitches above the holes - and tbh it doesn't need to match as it shouldn't show at all on the outside. 
If you want to eliminate them, then you'll need to sew a tiny rng of running stitch round each hole on the back and draw it gently snug to reduce the size of the hole - don't pull it tight or you'll make a pucker, bu just snug it up and the hole becomes barely-visible. But you'd need to do each one individually. You can just knot the ends of thread on the inside so save having to secure it by overstitching/backstitching - just sew round the hole, snug it up and then tie the two ends in a firm granny knot and trim the ends. 

How big are the holes? I have actually seen machine-knitted high-end jumpers with a series of tiny holes as part of the modern-lower-quality manufacturing process where it changes stitch, for example, either from rib to plain, or from rib to cast-off, even on top-quality stuff... if it's that, then you don't need to worry about them running, and don't need to do anything unless you want to. 

thriftwizard

Pretty sure that's not a standard part of the manufacturing process! 😉

Kicking myself that I just gave away an enormous amount of sewing thread to the Scrapstore, including a whole tray of Coates Drima in shades of pink...

Laura_Elsewhere

thriftwizard said:

Pretty sure that's not a standard part of the manufacturing process! 😉

Kicking myself that I just gave away an enormous amount of sewing thread to the Scrapstore, including a whole tray of Coates Drima in shades of pink...

Jings!!!!!!!! 

You're not wrong there.... gorgeous colour though! 

Hmm, how's your crocheting?

thriftwizard

Pretty sound, Laura; I've even taught it.

Laura_Elsewhere

thriftwizard said:

Pretty sound, Laura; I've even taught it.

I reckon, seeing that photo, I would go for either turning 1/4"- 1/2" under, or cutting it right off, and crocheting a new edge onto it. I did My Intended's cuffs last year with a darker blue on a dark blue jumper and it works ok. So if you can get a fine wool in a shade that works - doesn't need to be that pink, you could even use burgundy or navy, or a sunflower yellow, all kinds of contrasts would work if you can't get a good close match or toning pink - and then do the bottom edge, and the cuffs to match and it should look fine. 

How *weird* though!!!!

PipneyJane

@thriftwizard - that jumper edge is just plain annoying.  They obviously valued the skirt over the jumper, but how could they be so careless?  (You are more charitable than I am, suggesting poor eyesight.)

Do you routinely wear your jumpers tucked into your waistband or left out?  If the former, then you can use @Laura_Elsewhere's suggestion of slip-stitch crocheting the edge to stabilise it.  If the latter, then how about folding the edge over and hemming it into place with the sewing machine and knit/zig-zag stitch?  (Mine has a stitch intended for knit fabric that is a sort of zig-zag but made of 3 stitches in the slope up and 3 stitches in the slope down, so there is built in stretch.)  That would fix the stitches to prevent unravelling*.  You would still have the problem of matching the thread, but it would be less noticeable than a crocheted edge.

@TwibbleDee - and anyone else with the lurgy - hope you feel better soon.

- Pip



* On the plus side, it is almost impossible to unravel a knitted garment from the cast on edge.  (I've tried and had to weave the yarn out of the stitches.)  This is more about aesthetic finish.  I almost suggested using a "rolling foot" to stitch the hem in place but I think the snipped edges would catch.

Laura_Elsewhere

I looked up my pics of M.I.'s jumper re-edging and I think your jumper's holes may be the same kind of years and years of wear-and-tear as his. It was like this almost all the way round, perhaps only an inch or two without holes. 



I ran a line of running stitch in deliberately contrasting thread to stabilise everything, before trimming the edge. I left it loose-ish so I could crochet the new edge with the jumper pulled to full stretch. 

Then I crocheted a new edge on:




After a wash, it is simply not noticeable. On the pink, I would use a deliberate darker pink, or a contrast like burgundy or deep yellow, but I think it wouldn't need to be only if you wear it tucked in. M.I.'s looks fine, and I've used crochet as an edging on cardigan-hems as I've knitted them and nobody's ever marched up and demanded to know why I'm wearing a knitted garment with a crocheted edge