Hacking a Hacking Jacket

Around this time of year my lust for all things wool often reaches critical mass, and 2021 is shaping up to be no different.

Sometimes I try to exercise restraint, but this is not one of those times. Instead, I recently found myself feverishly googling for a real live Harris Tweed Hacking Jacket.

As. If.

A ready-to-wear version costs north of $500 USD, and a good deal more if made to order in Scotland, which many are. Not that they aren’t worth the cost, if one has the scratch: Harris tweed is still woven by hand by true artisans, and then expertly tailored in the finest tradition. This care and skill results in garments that can and do last for generations.

Undaunted, I turned to my favorite online vintage resources, knowing that a garment of that quality can be just as good, if not better, when acquired second/third/fourth hand. Sadly, this seems to be common knowledge, as the vintage examples I could find were even more rare and valuable than some new ones.

For the uninitiated, a hacking jacket is a kind of tweed sports coat, traditionally worn for horsing around. On actual horses, typically, but if Ralph Lauren and J. Peterman are to be believed, having the jacket is enough to imply having the horse, and the leisure, and the country estate that go along with it.

An excellent guide to hacking jackets can be found HERE

Never one to be dissueded by a little thing like poverty, I took myself off to the closest charity shop. Without even trying, I found no less than three (3!) Harris Tweed jackets in the men’s department, for a little under $12 each. In an uncharacteristic display of restraint, I chose (only) one. It shows no damage or wear, has its original labels, and best of all, fits me perfectly. I can only assume that it was previously worn by another woman, or a young gentleman. My guess is the latter; it was probably outgrown before it could be worn much.

Characteristic half-lining and perfect tailoring

It even retains all its original buttons, though time and possibly dry-cleaning solvents have taken their toll on them.

So although it’s no hacking jacket, I believe I can complete a few renovations which will give it the the authenticity I crave, if not the equine accuracy. Notably:

• Add a third handsewn buttonhole and button at the center front

• Add another welt pocket on the right side above the existing one

• Shorten to a more proportionate length for my frame

• With the leftover wool, create a throat tab on the upper lapel, and a back belt

• Replace the tired buttons with new hand-tied leather ones

• And here is the biggest gamble of all: Wash it by hand.

Now, guessing by the font on the Nordstrom label, I’d place the vintage of this piece sometime in the 1970s-1980s. Which means I could be dealing with 40+ years of dust, grime and dry-cleaning residue. Washing it will do no harm to the wool, and may, in fact, improve it greatly by fluffing up the fibres. The possible downside of a wash is that the hair canvas, padstitching, and shoulder pads could shrink, even in cold water, leaving me with a rumpled and puckered mess. But for less than $12, I think the ends justify the means. If the worst happens, I can replace the shoulder pads and try reshaping the canvas with heat and steam. And/or kick myself, then go back for one of the other two jackets I passed up.

I’m off to begin surgery, just as soon as I feed my imaginary horse.

Standing Together, Six Feet Apart

Gentle Readers, in times of crisis such as these, the love and generosity of spirit shown by Knitters never fails to astound me.

The outpouring of support for our beloved LYS, teachers and fellow knitters which I am observing is nothing short of miraculous. And in no way surprising. It has been my great good fortune to commune with so many of you over the course of my career, and I have been met with love and support at every turn.

Foremost in our community, of course, are the small businesses who keep us in yarn, knitting help, and most importantly, the experience of being together. It’s clear to me that you, Dear Ones, are making it a priority to support your favorite yarn stores. And in turn, these intrepid retailers are reaching out to the teaching community in new and creative ways to help us stay connected to our students, and to help us independent artists stay afloat. There is an unprecedented circle of strength in place, for which I am taking time today to give my thanks.

One of the very special yarn stores with whom I am sharing support is the delightful Longmont Yarn Shoppe, of Colorado.

I’m delighted to extend my invitation for you to join me for two virtual classes, selected by the artists of Longmont: 2 Strings = Not Scary, and Fearless 2-Color Mittens.

For those wondering, 2 Strings = Not Scary is my introduction to stranded colorwork knitting. In this three-hour class, I’ll teach you the only two things you need to make beautiful stranded colorwork knitting that that starts and stays at the gauge you want it to. I’ll also debunk some myths and misinformation about what stranded colorwork is, and isn’t. We’ll spend some time working an exercise that illustrates the key points, after which you’ll be ready to tackle the included “Forest for the Trees” pattern. Find all the information and sign up HERE. And if all that isn’t enough fun, there’s a kit! Click HERE for that. Once you’ve been through my introduction to stranded colorwork, you’ll be ready for:

“Fearless Two-Color Mittens”, Which is an exploration of Norwegian Selbuvotter. Selbuvotter are the traditional mittens of Norway, whose unique construction is as near to perfect, anatomically, as a mitten can get. I’ll tell you about the history and traditions of mitten-knitting in Norway, as well as guide you step by step through the construction of your very own Selbuvotter, using the included “Nordica” mitten pattern. Click HERE for the details and to register.

And, if all goes according to my Cunning Plan, I’ll have you so hooked on stranded colorwork knitting, you’ll be chomping at the bit to join me for an even deeper dive…Watch this space (hint: there might be a Longmont Yarns exclusive coming!)

Gentle Readers, I am so blessed and lucky to count you as my friends. Thank you for joining me to laugh, learn and hold each others’ string, just as we always will.

Stranded With Mary

“Victoriana” by Mary Scott Huff, a Bazaar Girls exclusive design

Did you know, Gentle Readers, that I offer an intensive workshop called “Stranded With Mary”? Probably not. That’s for a very good reason. You didn’t know about it because up until this year, it’s only been a suitable offering for a very few select venues. The time, space, electricity and everything else required to hold in-person knitting classes is difficult enough to manage for a simple three-hour class. This one is TWENTY hours.

That’s right: Twenty Hours. Now, before you run screaming from the blog (as if that were the scariest thing I’ve ever told you here), let me explain how my pivot from teaching in person to teaching online is allowing me to offer my most in-depth class offering to more of you than ever before…

Stranded With Mary is the only experience of its kind that I know of, and I created it especially for thrill-seeking knitters like me. This is the class I would have signed up for in a heartbeat, had it existed when I needed it. It’s a tour-de-force of stranded colorwork immersion. I guide a limited number of students through the entire process of creating their very own masterpiece, from soup to nuts. I intentionally limit the class size in order to provide more personal attention to each student. There are five different sessions, separated by about a month each. We meet for class, I share what I know, and we learn from each other. Then we set some goals, part ways, and return to our knitting in order to work toward the next session. In the interim, I’m available to students for questions in a dedicated Ravelry group, for as close as I can get to round-the-clock support. Not only am I the dedicated personal coach for the entire time, my students have access to each other in the Ravelry group, which is where even more magic happens. Just as in class, when one student has a question, it’s likely that others do, too, and that’s how I get to take a deep dive with them all. Now, more than ever, we knitters are starved for community. Fortunately, we’ve known for a while how to find each other online, and that skill is serving us well in uncertain times.

Last March, when I taught personally for the Bazaar Girls Yarn Shop in Port Townsend, WA, I recognized the knitting community there as just the sort who might like to get Stranded With Mary. We hatched a cunning plan involving an exclusive design, some very special yarn, and all manner of excitement mounted.

When we realized that in-person classes were not going to be in the cards, the Bazaar Girls and I put on our handknit thinking caps and sorted out a way to make it happen anyway. Which brings us to today, Gentle Readers, when I am pleased to announce that the exclusive nature of my workshop is no longer subject to the constraints of physical teaching.

While the Port Townsend gang has mostly taken up the limited number of spaces in the upcoming workshop, I’m happy to report that three available slots remain.

Before I give you the rest of the details, I’m going to tell you my favorite part of these shenanigans: Students will be working with the Victoriana design, which will only be available to participants. It is without a doubt my most ambitious project as a designer, not because it’s more technically difficult (don’t worry; it isn’t), but because the students will choose from kits which I have designed in not one, but FOUR colorways:

Included in each package are a custom-sized yarn kit in the color of your choice, the Victoriana pattern, and an exclusive class workbook which contains information not published anywhere else in my work. Due to the limited class size, I’m able to work with each student to personalize all of the sizing and design elements. Prefer a different neckline? Easy. Want short, long, or no sleeves? No problem. Have your own ideas about closures, edge treatments and other finishing elements? Bring ‘em. My goal is for every participant complete the experience with exactly the version of my design that they want, with help at each point in their decision-making and execution. This is my idea of Concierge Teaching, Gentle Readers.

But why, you may ask, would I go to all the trouble of posting such dreamy stuff about a super-fabulous knitting event if only three spaces remain? That’s not even nice, Mary Scott Huff! Nope, it’s downright unfair, which is why I’m happy to tell you that I’ve convinced the Bazaar Girls to create a waitlist for A SECOND WORKSHOP SESSION. Yep. I hear and obey, Gentle Readers. Just one more service I provide.

CLICK HERE for all the details. I can’t wait to share this with you!