RetroWear

Machine Knitting
February 2015
2 strands 2/24 acrylic
Light Fingering ?
7 stitches and 10 rows = 1 inch
in stockinette
2000 - 3200 yards (1829 - 2926 m)
finished hip of 34-56"
English
This pattern is available from theanswerlady.com for $6.00.

The pattern includes the pictured cami-knickers as well as instructions for making separate tap pants and camisole.

There is a story behind this garment. Early, early in my knitting adventures, I came across a hand knitting pattern for something like these from the 1930’s. Cami-knickers were presented as the ideal undergarment to wear beneath formal wear in chilly weather. I thought the concept was hysterical and must be enormously itchy and laughed every time I thought of it. During the recent terrible winter, I posted a vintage photo of such a pattern for laughs and was amazed to discover that a few knitters remembered such garments with affection and quite a few more expressed an interest in trying them. So I agreed to design some for machine knitters and here they are. These may be worn, as originally intended, as undergarments. But in today’s world, they can be rompers for outer wear if you feel confident enough. Any soft yarn that matches the gauge may be used. Most fingering weight yarns can match gauge. A ribber or double bed machine is ideal but for the energetic and determined, suggestions for making a version of the pattern with only one bed are included. Instructions for some size tweaking are also provided. An optional crotch opening is included. Pattern is 7 pages.