Foundling 235 Children's Vest

The Foundling Museum in London contains a collection of many small textile ‘tokens’, items intended to connect the foundlings with their mothers. The inspiration for this children’s vest/sweater comes from a lone cotton baby’s sleeve, left with Foundling 235 who was admitted 23 May 1746. Sleeves could be a detachable item in the 18^th century, so this pattern imagines a garment it may have come from, a whole piece of clothing that the mother may have wanted for the child. It is a positive ‘what if’, one which knitters everywhere will recognize as an urge to clothe a loved one and to knit something lovely as well as practical.

This sweater is initially knitted in the round from the cast-on edge up, every round knit, each round starts at the left side. The welt uses a mock cable rib, while the neck and sleeve bands use a (k1, p1 rib). The sweater is intended to have a 2.5-10cm (1-4in) positive ease through the body, which should leave enough room for another layer underneath.

The alternative colour combinations pictured here use Willow (shade #769)/Sand (shade #183) for the green/heathered beige version, and Heron (shade #315)/Steel (shade #320)/Pebble (shade #127)/Ginger (shade #462) for the grey version.

You will receive a downloadable PDF version of this pattern to print yourself at home.

Follow on Instagram @museumknits and tag us into your finished jumper #foundling235.