‘Start right away to knit this gay little wavy striped jersey and have it ready to wear with your new spring suit. It will partner almost any colour and see you through the summer for tennis, hiking, golf, or other gladsome occasions.’

Each monthly issue of My Home magazine featured a fashionable knitting pattern, illustrated in tempting colours. This was a rare treat, as the corresponding knitting leaflets or booklets were invariably printed in only black and white. The April 1948 issue of the magazine included this cheerful jumper with short-or long-sleeve options. The coloured stripes are knitted with textured stitches in two shades of each colour on a neutral background to stand out in contrast. Using a light and dark shade for each colour gives this charming pattern an extra dimension with a subtle visual depth, complemented by the simplicity of its shape and execution.

The pattern suggests two shades of the same colour for each of green, yellow, pink and blue, as recreated in the model, but any colours can be used as preferred. The stitch pattern is uncomplicated, and fits perfectly into the spirit of the era of making do, with simple stitches and a delightful result ‘with a lively striped pattern’.

The pattern is offered with both short or long sleeves, as in the original.

Materials
Modern 4 ply yarn.

For short sleeves:

• 180 g (6 oz) MC in cream (model used WYS Signature 4 ply in Milk Bottle 0010)
• 25 g (0.9 oz) of each in light and dark of 4 different contrast colours (200 g/7 oz in total); more colours can be used as desired: C1 dark pink, C2 light pink, C3 dark blue, C4 light blue, C5 dark yellow, C6 light yellow, C7 dark green, C8 light green

For long sleeves:

• 250 g (9 oz) of MC in cream

• 35 g (1.2 oz) of each of 8 colours as listed for short sleeve version (280 g/10 oz in total)

• 1 pair 2.75 mm/12 needles

• 1 pair 3 mm/11 needles

• 1 pair 3.25 mm/10 needles (3.75 mm/9 needles for larger size)

• One 3 mm crochet hook

• 3 small buttons (optional with a shoulder opening)

• Shoulder pads (optional)