Recently I came across an issue of Vogue Knitting from 1953 and was taken by many of the patterns for both women and men. My favorite men’s sweater was in a tattersall check using a combination of knit and crochet stitches. So, I pulled out some beautiful linen yarn from my stash and began to experiment with this idea. I have since discovered the tattersall pattern dates back to the 18thcentury. The name was taken from the Tattersall’s horse market, which started in London in 1766. At that time blankets sporting this design were sold for use on horses. Today tattersall is a common pattern for fabric, typically woven in cotton or flannel and used for shirts, jackets and suits. And there is a tradition for shirts of this cloth to be worn with a stock tie by horseback riders dressed formally for fox hunting or certain competitive events including dressage and show jumping. Perhaps a sporty equestrian will someday wear the tattersall chested cardigan I’m designing. — James
