Margaret Beaufort

This yarn pack contains a minimum of all the Alice Starmore yarn amounts listed in the book for your chosen size.

For further information, please check our PURCHASE INFORMATION page.

Before I began working on the Margaret Beaufort design I had a strong notion to keep it very simple, as she seemed to exude an almost nun-like appearance in portraits. But the more I read about her the more I began to think beyond her portraits, so the design grew out of my thoughts about her life and character. She was strong and determined; she had to be, or die. All the women in this book were the products of dangerous and turbulent times, but Margaret Beaufort’s case was extreme: by the age of thirteen she was married, widowed and the mother of a future king. She carefully navigated stormy waters and took the long view in life. She was complex and subtle in all her dealings, and kept her relationships with warring factions in perfect balance.These were the elements that informed the design. I chose my Hebridean 3 Ply in Selkie as the canvas, which at first glance may look like a plain dark shade, but is composed of a subtle blend of many colours. I echoed the drop-waisted medieval style, emphasised it with understated knotted borders, and then juxtaposed the gentle curving line with sharp geometric knit and purl patterns. I interpreted Margaret’s political artfulness in several design features: first by making this a garment that can be worn both ways, as a sweater buttoned up the back, or as a cardigan. Secondly, it can be worn with the collar turned down, or turned up to reveal the little knotted border joining it to the body. Balance was the theme in her life so I echoed it in terms of the pattern: I worked the central peplum diamond in purl on knit, and then reversed it on the main body in knit on purl. The triangular pleating pattern faces both ways, at each side of the centre peplum diamond. The sleeve diamonds are smaller versions of the main diamond, set at the centre of a lightly curved cuff hemline.

This is another quick and easy design to make, but with plenty of interest along the way. Once you have set out the chart patterns they are easy to remember. If you are looking for interest in shaping then you will enjoy this; making the peplum, joining the knotted border and working the curved body and sleeve shape are well within the reach of anyone who can knit and purl competently.

Alice

The knitted measurements given are of the finished design when it has been knitted with the tension stated in the pattern instructions.

The range of sizes available depends on the individual design. For garments such as pullovers, cardigans, vests and jackets, use the underam measurement to determine the size you require. The underarm measurement is the finished width around the entire garment, measured under the arms. For a garment with a front fastening, such as a cardigan, the finished underarm is given when the front bands are overlapped and the garment is fastened.

To determine which size is required, use the actual chest/bust measurement, which should be measured straight across the back, under the arms and over the fullest part of the chest/bust.

Then add one of the following measurements according to the type of fit you require:

For a close, body-hugging fit add 1 to 3cm to the actual chest/bust measurement.
For a standard fit add 5 to 8cm.
For a loose fit add 9 to 12cm.
For an oversize fit add upwards of 12cm.

The knitted length given for garments is measured from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the hem.

Please note that all of our yarns are supplied washed and therefore do not require to be washed or fulled after knitting, unless you have an accident. Generally speaking, your garments should not require cleaning/washing any more than a coat would.

All of our designs are made with 100% pure new wool yarns and should be washed either by hand with pure soap in hand hot-water, or in a front loading washing machine which has a specific wool programme using a small amount of non-biological detergent. We do not recommend the use of any fabric softeners or any additives that will remain in the fabric after rinsing.

If hand washing, dissolve a small amount of pure soap flakes – or if using a pure soap bar, grate the required amount – into hand-hot water. Ensure that the soap has thoroughly dissolved before immersing the piece. Use a gentle squeezing motion to wash; do not cause any friction by rubbing or scrubbing as this will cause the fibres to felt. Gently squeeze out the excess soapy water and rinse well in warm water. It is important to remove as much excess water as quickly as possible as the longer moisture is left in wool yarn, the more likely it is to shrink or felt.

The best method for removing water is to spin in a washing machine, but if you prefer to remove the water by hand then gently squeeze the piece to remove the main water load and then lay the piece flat on towels and roll up, squeezing out as much water as possible into the towels. You will have to use several towels and repeat the process to remove as much moisture as you can.

Alternatively, spin to remove the excess water. If using a top loading machine it is important to place the piece in a suitable pillowcase (white cotton is best) so that it does not wrap around the spindle and become distorted. For both top-loading machines and front-loading machines, it is vitally important to remove from the spinner as soon as it has stopped: otherwise the piece can become permanently creased.

In all cases, dry flat on towels away from direct heat/sunlight, and smooth gently into shape. You can place small towels – or even better, cut and finish old towelling into the garment shapes, such as sleeves etc – and place inside the garment so that the two layers are separate. This will greatly help speed up drying process.

For straight, dropped-shoulder pullover styles, a woolly board is an excellent method of drying as the garment is placed on the board and dried to size allowing air to circulate inside. The board can also be used for cardigans in this style so long as you tack the front bands closed using a strong cotton thread, which you then carefully remove once the garment has dried. Glove boards can also be used for gloves which will allow them to dry in perfect shape.