My favorite costumes to date for Downton Abbey were tonight's handknits during the cricket match. There were so many wonders to see... that it was impossible to see them all! Some of them were definitely hand knit. Others appeared to be store bought - pretending to be handknit. I'll show them to you and let you be the judge.
Lord Grantham and Carson appear in some lovely cable vests with colored trim. Alfred is in an alternating cable and vertical striped sweater. It's not a very crisp photo so I couldn't tell if Alfred's was actually handknit. The first two appear to be machine made. Sorry to say.
*Note - Actor Matt Milne - aka Alfred - was the only one on the cast that actually had any significant cricket experience before filming!
Molesley appears to shop at the same store - or has the same knitter friend as Alfred. Nice sweater vest. It's definitely a classic - and a winner - even if Molesley is not.
Jimmy is wearing an adorable handknit cable vest. I love how the neckline puckers just a wee bit. Perhaps there was a bit of time pressure to finish the vest for filming? Did the knitter have to knit one or two identical vests?
Matthew donned a handknit cable vest with a bit of interesting color in the neckline and waistband.
And speaking of the waistband - check out this unfortunate picture of the sweater as the filming progresses. The waistband has a few errors: perhaps the knitter didn't go down a needle size; perhaps the knitter didn't decrease the number of stitches; perhaps the knitter could have chosen a tighter bind-off. Whatever the problem was, poor Matthew's vest loses its elasticity and is progressively more and more droopy as the filming continues. It's still a beautiful sweater vest... it just needs a little revamping. Again - perhaps this was the result of knitting for a film production deadline? And dare I imagine having to knit two identical sweater vests in case something happens to the first during filming?
Runner up for favorite vest of the cricket match is Thomas' unphotographed vest. I wasn't quick enough tonight with my camera to actually snap a picture of it. If I get a chance tomorrow during the replay, I'll snap a picture. It was beautiful.
But let's talk about the best costume of the night. Top prize for best handknit sweater at the cricket match goes to Tom Branson. Of course, it seems only fair that that the Irish character would get the most beautiful vest of the day... perhaps knit by his Irish mother? I like this vest so much, I think I might be knitting one for myself in the very near future.
And there you have it. The real stars of Downton Abbey - the costume designers and knitters and their handiwork. Which handknit at tonight's cricket match was your favorite?
Jennifer,
Don't you mean last Sunday's episode? I saw the cricket match on Sunday, February 10!
Millie
Posted by: Millie | Monday, February 18, 2013 at 10:19