Johnny

“It was a bright day, with layers of clouds building and shifting across the spaces of the sky, some of them stretched out as thin as a mist, others as thick and dense as flesh with their own bruised colours.”

Threads – The Delicate Life of John Craske. Julia Blackburn

Size M/L now in stock

From the Olive and George collection, drawing inspiration from the Norfolk fishermen’s Gansey jumpers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Johnny is the new springtime version of my best selling Chibbles Breton striped knit.

Johnny has the same body shape as the Chibbles, a flattering shape for so many women, which can be worn tucked in or left loose. The newness comes with a pretty, open crew neck, parallel sleeves and a narrower stripe.  Available in 3 sizes: XS/S, S/M and M/L  offering more fit option than before.

This piece is inspired by the elusive “Onion Seller” photographed by Olive Edis in the early years of the 20th Century when “Onion Johnnies” were a familiar figure in coastal towns (see my Journal Entry “Johnny – The New Breton Stripe” for more information https://charlknitwear.wpenginepowered.com/journal/the-breton-stripe-and-french-onion-sellers). They crossed the channel from Brittany on small boats and travelled round the country on bicycles selling their distinctly coloured “pink” onions. Dressed in a striped Breton shirt and beret, and riding a bicycle strung with onions, they became the stereotypical image of a Frenchman. In many cases they were the only French man most British people would meet.

This style has a pretty, open crew neck with a chunky trim which recalls the classic fishermen’s rib jumpers. Like the Chibbles, the emphasized fashioning ribs around the raglan shoulders are beautifully aligned with the stripe. Knitted in 100% certified British wool.

The sleeves have been carefully shaped to created a flattering parallel cuff, making them easy to turn back, or keep unfolded as preferred. The body has a stepped hem with side splits which give this garment a relaxed and more modern feel and makes it easier to tuck loosely into your waist band.