J&J Seaton Millefleurs Waistcoat Magenta, Vintage Rowan Botany, Fine Fleck Tweed

Description

Jessi and Jamie Seaton Millefleurs Waistcoat in Magenta - Vintage Rowan Botany and Fine Fleck Tweed
Another vintage design from the husband and wife team, Jamie and Jessi Seaton.  The Seatons collaborated with Rowan for nearly a decade, contributing patterns to many of their early magazines, then sadly left the knitting business to run a very successful store in London - Toast.   Their style was distinctive, complex motif intarsia patterns typically knit in fine yarns and wonderfully deep colors. At one point in time they employed hundreds of hand knitters throughout the United Kingdom to make up their wonderful designs, destined to sell in high end New York department stores for thousands of dollars.  Their landmark book,
Sweaters from the Seaton Collection,
was published in 1989 and was an instant success.  "Millefleurs" was originally published in the book under the name "Millefiori."  Jessi described the design as ". . . 'Millefiori' means a 'thousand flowers.'  The backgrounds of many Italian and French medieval tapestries are adorned with millefiori designs in which many different types of flower are depicted vividly, delicately and in great abundance."    Millefleurs was kitted by Ehrman in the late 1980's.  It was extremely popular and you can see why. The charming flowers in all variety on the striking magenta background create a classic waistcoat/vest.  This design can be knit in any of four sizes to fit a 32, 34, 36, or 38 inch bust.  Knit in long discontinued Rowan botany and Fine Fleck Tweed, the magenta colorway is truly a classic from hand-knitting history.   As with most of the Seaton's work the waistcoat is knit in motif intarsia where the background color is carried across the row, but each design motif is knit from a separate mini-hank or bobbin of yarn. Suitable for experienced knitters comfortable with this type of intarsia.   Our kit contains a copy of the Ehrman pattern including over sized charts so you don't have to strain your eyes and all the vintage yarns you need to complete the project in the shades Jamie and Jessi used for the book.   Rowan botany was a wonderfully soft 100% virgin wool yarn which came in 25 gram hanks as well as cones.  Fine fleck tweed, also available in 25 gram hanks or cones, was 100% botany wool blended with 15% fine cotton and nylon "nepp."   The design calls for a tension of 33 stitches and 39 rows to 4 inches (10 cm) on US 2 (2.75mm) needles.
Please note that the background shade is hard to photograph.  The finished waistcoats look redder than the yarn actually is.  Much more of a deep raspberry.  Very lovely.  The photo of the yarn is a much better depiction of the actual color.
Technique:
Motif Intarsia
Difficulty:
Experienced
Rarity:
All the vintage rowan yarns in this kit have been long discontinued.  The kit represents a rare opportunity for you to create this design in the colors the Seatons specified.
In total the kit contains a copy of the pattern and sufficient yarn to complete the vest in any of the four sizes:  Rowan Botany in magenta 631, slate blue 65, dove grey 59, mauve pink 95, scarlet 44, old gold 9, cerise 41, red 45, and iris 501; Rowan Fine Fleck Tweed in emerald 124 and lilac 611.   You will also require 4 buttons which are not included.
As with all of our RareRowan kits, this pack has been carefully stored in a non-smoking home, and these vintage yarns and fabric will arrive to you in pristine condition. We stock our kits in two locations and ship only on weekends from Katy Texas. If you need a fast turnaround on shipping, please inquire before purchase so we can make a firm commitment on a ship date.
Your total satisfaction is important to us. If your are displeased in any way, please let us know so we can correct the situation.