Green Gables Knits: A Review

This past November 30th was L.M. Montgomery's 140th birthday, and it reminded me that though I've previously done a L.M. Montgomery-related knitting post, I never did get around to reviewing Joanna Johnson's Green Gables Knits, which has been published since. So let's have a look at the patterns in it now.

This is Anne's Carpet Bag, which, as Montgomery fans will immediately realizes, is a tribute to the carpet bag in which Anne carried all her "worldly goods" as she travelled from the orphanage in Nova Scotia to Green Gables in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. It's a nice-looking bag with a good shape, and I love those handles. The colourway is not that attractive, but then of course it's been chosen to resemble something Anne might have carried. As a Montgomery devotee and general nitpicker, I will just comment that Anne should not have had a suitcase in the cover photo, as seen above. She arrived at Green Gables with only the carpetbag.

Anne's Sweater. I don't recall a single reference in any of the Anne books of Anne ever wearing a sweater (with the possible exception of the Christmas she received an ugly magenta sweater from Aunt Mary Maria Blythe in Anne of Ingleside), so this sweater is not directly referencing the text. But it's a nice open front cardigan and does look somewhat like a modern take on something Anne might have worn at some point in her life, especially in the Edwardian period of her life.

As an aside, can I just say how impressed I am with this photo? The pansy on this old book very possibly references the Pansy books mentioned in Anne of Green Gables (the Avonlea students read a Pansy book out loud to each other during recesses), Pansy being the pseudonym of Isabella Alden, who was a popular and prolific author of didactic fiction. That pansy on the book could be a coincidence of course, but I'm guessing it was an intentional reference, and if so that is some high level metatextual photography, so kudos for that.

Diana's Hat. Diana is described as wearing a "jaunty fur cap" in Anne of Green Gables, but that's not to say she mightn't have worn something similar to this cute cap at some point.

Gilbert's Scarf. We're on surer sartorial ground with this scarf of Gilbert's, as it looks like something he might well have worn. It's a handsome article with good texture.

Marilla's Apron. A carefully finished design, if perhaps more frivolous than anything Marilla might have worn. The lace pattern used here is almost too pretty for an apron. I'd be inclined to turn this into a skirt.

Matthew's Vest. Classic menswear design.

Miss Stacy's Shawl. A modern take on the capelet that will look well over many a contemporary outfit.

Rachel's Table Runner. Because you know Mrs. Rachel Lynde's immaculate house would have had the requisite supply of fancywork table linen as well as all those "cotton warp quilts". I can't imagine ever using something like this, but it is pretty enough.