I posted this picture (reversed!) ages ago; it's The Fair Isle Jumper by Stanley Cursiter, and today I saw the real thing - the jumper itself, that is:
According to the catalogue of the National Museum of Scotland here in Edinburgh where the garment is on display in the Fashion & Style gallery, it dates from 1910, but Cursiter painted his picture in 1923. Did he borrow it from the collection for the purpose? I'd like to know more about the painting's backstory (and I love the blue scarf).
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On the subject of Fair Isle knitting, I recommend the Fruity Knitting podcast presented by Andrew and Andrea. While Andrew is fairly new to the needles, his wife Andrea is a highly accomplished knitter, and her Alice Starmore colourwork in particular is awe-inspiring.
I love this painting and it features on the front cover of my paperback copy of "Dusty Answer" by Rosamond Lehmann (this edition published by Flamingo in 1996). Coincidentally I've just been looking at the beautiful Fair Isle blankets that my my mum knitted for my two children who were born in 1993 and 1996 so I will look forward to catching up with the Fruity Knitting podcast on a rainy afternoon. I too love the blue scarf - doesn't she wear it well?
Posted by: Sarah | 14 September 2016 at 09:23 PM
Gorgeous painting of a gorgeous sweater. I wonder what happened to the hat.
Posted by: BRWombat | 14 September 2016 at 10:08 PM
I love the hat. She looks like a character in an
O Douglas novel.
Posted by: Callmemadam | 15 September 2016 at 07:19 AM
Beautiful on so many levels!
Posted by: Dorothy | 17 September 2016 at 01:32 AM
Oh! Was it 2009?! I was just wondering the other day where I had that picture saved from - must have been here!! :)
I had no idea the original sweater was still around! Great style, so dashing...
Posted by: Swissrose | 19 September 2016 at 04:40 PM
Maybe I didn't read your post until later, but I definitely saved the reversed version!
Posted by: Swissrose | 19 September 2016 at 04:43 PM
Someone, clever with needles and yarn would make a modern version of this, write the pattern and sell it as a kit. Meanwhile it is certainly a painting to treasure and lucky you having seen the original too.
Posted by: Fran H-B | 20 September 2016 at 05:57 AM