For style, simplicity and ingenuity, this Bestway design has it all. Surprisingly easy to knit, it offers an infinite variety of colour combinations, and even options on how to style for different looks for evening or day wear:

The jumper is made exactly the same for day wear as for evening… in the day you wear it with a plain, dark frock, and pull it high… in the evening you wear it with a long skirt, or décolleté evening frock, and pull it down to the waistline.

This ingenious pattern was given for 2 ply, 3 ply and 4 ply versions (all vintage weights, which were thicker than the modern yarns of the same name). The pattern below is given for modern DK, which is a little thicker than vintage 4 ply weight, but allows for additional stretch and fit due to the close ribbed stitches. This will feel like a quickly achieved project, with the benefits of infinite possibilities for adding more coloured sections whenever desired. You can start with two colours, and keep adding new ‘halves’ to match your wardrobe – inspiration for new combinations will keep appearing and the design is one that is irresistible!

The idea for this style started some time early on in the war, in the early 1940s, becoming a fashionable and economical addition to frugal wardrobes. Each section uses just over half the amount of yarn normally needed for a complete jumper, and offers infinite variety.

Vogue’s 18th Knitting Book dates from 1941, with their most forthright, somewhat prescriptive editorial page ‘Vogue’s Eye View of Knitting in Wartime’ and includes a pattern for what they call a ‘Half-and-Half Sweater’, very similar to this Bestway design. The caption accompanying the pattern states ‘Gain Chic – save money too’ and goes on to inspire with:

Three halves make three wholes. Make one white half, one scarlet, one navy – or any combination of colours that fits your wardrobe – and ring the changes as often as you please.

Materials
Using cotton to knit this garment is not recommended as it relies on stretch for an ideal fit, which cotton does not naturally offer.

• 2 x 200 g (7 oz) needed for 2 separate parts to make one complete garment
• 1 x pair 4 mm/8 needles