The striking contrast of the coloured yoke against cabled bodice and sleeves would work equally well in any number of combinations, and is recreated here matching the original strong green and dark flecked charcoal of the main colour. A pure black, navy, or dark green would also work well, with the yoke in red, blue or cream, or reverse the effect with a cream main colour and vibrant red or green for the yoke.

Little decorative scallops finish the jacket edges, created by knitting a picot stitch for the hems and bands. On the original the yoke and neckband are in the same contrast green, and in the adapted design the main charcoal colour has been continued around these edges. These would also be effective worked in the same contrast colour as the yoke all around the jacket – indeed any combination would work well. (Full instructions on working the picot hems are given in the ‘Coloured Edgings’ section of Chapter 3.)

The rather quirky construction of the jacket has been simplified, but the essence of the original design has been kept. Back and front lower panels are worked alike as straight pieces, with the cabling creating the natural fit to the body, enhanced by the drawstring at the waist. The completed lower panels are joined to the yoke sections, which are begun separately to create the shaping and then knitted together.

Edelweiss and gentians form the main part of the embroidered decoration on the yoke, worked in thick wool stitches and French knots for textured relief. The original flowers are all worked in edged chain stitch, but they can be worked in any preferred stitches. They have been recreated here with the original stitch for the edelweiss, but with variations on filled lazy daisy and stem stitch for the gentians and stylized flowers representing the little rhododendrons of the typical alpine trilogy.

Materials

• 4 × 100 g balls main charcoal colour (M) Or 7 × 50 g balls in black
• 3 × 50 g balls of DK in contrast colour (C) for yoke (and edgings if preferred)
• Small quantities of 4 ply wool for embroidery in cream, blue, red, light green, yellow, mustard
• 1 × pair 3.75 mm/9 needles
• 1 × pair 4 mm/8 (4.5 mm/7) 4 mm crochet hook
• 7.5 mm/1 × crochet hook 5 × buttons