Vintage White Buffalo Sweater Pattern

The sweater that is a Canadian Favorite!

With the new generation of knitters there is renewed popularity of Cowichan Sweaters.  These sweaters are the original art of Cowichan women who had a history of working with fibre.  They knit these sweaters, firstly for their family members and then as a means of income.  They have been popularly known by other names such as Indian Sweaters and Salish Sweaters.  Only the women of the Cowichan Band can lay claim to true Cowichan sweaters but knitters who love their rustic appeal can make a similar version using our collection of Vintage Patterns and Prairie Wool or they can order a Cowichan Sweater Kit.

These sweaters were so popular that knitters wanted to create versions of them for their own family.  These were usually knit with bulky roving yarns that were not spun but the twist from the knitting made them a strong and light.   A popular brand of yarn used for this was White Buffalo Wool.  The White Buffalo Company created pattern designs that although not exactly like the Cowichan designs were in the same spirit.

Cowichan Sweaters – A little history.

The women of the Cowichan tribe as well as the Coast Salish people created woven blankets from fibre collected from wild goats or sheep; the yarn they spun was often mixed with hair from white haired dogs that they kept for this purpose.  These blankets were very prized and were a measurement of wealth.  They were the most treasured and valuable gifts that were handed out at Potlatch.  The Potlatch was a coming together event of the people where they feasted and exchanged gifts.

With the arrival of immigrants from Europe the indigenous women learned how to knit and adapted their experience with the heritage of fairisle and Nordic knitting to create their own unique designs.  The new immigrants brought their sheep and spinning wheels and they passed their skills on to the Cowichan women.   The women soon learned to create their own yarn using the fibre from sheep.  They made practical sweaters incorporating designs that were familiar to them.  The fibre was washed but not scoured so much of the lanolin remained in the yarn; this made warm garments that help protect against the environment.

Originally the designs were geometric sometimes quite similar to Nordic designs but eventually animal images worked their way into the sweaters.  Eventually due to demands of the buyers other images that were perceived to be “Indian” began to show up in the sweaters.

The Cowichan women knit pullovers in the round.  At a later date openings were added; the sweaters were cut and a zipper or buttons were inserted.

If you wish to knit your own Canadian classic then you can order a kit or order a copy of a vintage pattern.   These can be knit with any natural yarn that knits to about 9 stitches per inch such as our Prairie Wool or in Cascade Magnum.

Violena Colori design 1842

SMC Select Violena Colori is a cotton and Modal blend;  it is available in fashion forward, subtly variegated color combinations. The print colours are inspired by the many colours in nature. It is a cool fibre and drapes beautifully and can be used for both classic and fashionable, feminine designs.  (Note:  Modal is a brand name for a fibre that is similar to rayon or viscose;  it made from tree cellulose,
usually the beech tree).

The yarn knits up to a standard Double Knit weight of  2 stitches to 4″ or 10 cm so there is a wide range of pattern choices for this yarn.

 
Click Here for this free pattern:

Violena Colori 1856

Violena Colori 1856

There are many pattern choices in the book Moments 011

Here are just a few:

Thanks for your time and letting us share with you!

Hope you are enjoying the warmer weather and the longer days!

Kidsilk Creation by Rowan - make a scarf in minutes! Go to Knitrowan site for a PDF pattern and tutorial.

Gifts that are fun to give but even more fun to make!

A winter requirement in our climate is scarves, hats and gloves; these have been traditional gifts for Christmas for many years.

Now there is a new “twist” on the scarf which is creating great excitement among knitters of all ages. Knitters are coming out of retirement in droves. Remember the rage a few years ago with the “eyelash” yarns? Well, now there is something more exciting to knit or crochet; a whole new range of ribbon yarns.

A few European mills are creating elaborate pre-knit balls of ribbon that you can knit into glorious or funky scarves in no time flat.

If you are uncertain how to make a scarf with these yarns not to worry! A good site to visit is www.katia.eu, the manufacturer of many of these yarns. Go to their site, click on a yarn such as Ondas Lux and there you will find a downloadable PDF pattern and a video tutorial on how to knit with this yarn. All of their new scarf yarns have similar patterns and videos. All the brands are knit using similar techniques so if you understand one you will be able to understand them all.

Go to KNIT ROWAN for pattern and video for the beautiful scarf which you can make in minutes from a lovely blend of Kid Mohair (the finest quality mohair) and silk.  It is light and luxurious.

Here is a video which shows you know to work with RIZO

Not a knitter! No worries! Some of these yarns don’t even require needles or hook to whip up a funky scarf. They are created by finger or hand crocheting. Finger crochet is simple, even children can do it; you simply make a slip knot, pull a loop through this and then keep pulling through loops until you reach the end.

Last minute gifts that are sure to please…..here we come.

Cowichan Sweater

Just finished my second Cowichan inspired sweater!  This one is knit using Prairie Wool which is a roving produced from western Canadian fibre and is made to match the original White Buffalo roving.  White Buffalo is a Canadian classic that was produced in Manitoba but is no longer available.
Fibre is available at our shop or online – look under Yarns by brand – Miscellaneous.

These aren’t hard to knit but are certainly more work than knitting with finer yarn and needles.  It does knit up quickly though to compensate for knitting with such bulky yarn.  The results, I think, are worth the effort and you have something that is wearable for a long time to come.

I will post the pattern and my notes which help with the simplicity of the pattern.  I scanned the pattern and the part that is knit in grey on the sample doesn’t show up from the white part.  Each dark pattern part is banded by 1 row of white except the middle “arrow motif” which is not.

Knit away and make you or your family a Canadian Classic!

Western Canadian Sweater Pattern and Notes No 8-R

Here is the pattern for the Christmas Stockings.

Cascade 220 Christmas Stockings

Drop into the shop or shop at our online store for the colours of your choice.

Make Santa Proud!

Sally

As a avid knitter and reader I will be sure to listen in.

Sally
Knit On!