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| Miriam McDonald Simply Knitting's Production Editor |
It's interesting to see how knitting patterns haven't changed much over the decades. We sometimes hear from people who think charts are a modern innovation, but I've got a 1930s pattern that uses charts (for a very natty man's Fair Isle scarf, glove and sock set, which my husband would refuse point-blank to wear). There are more words and fewer abbreviations in the early 20th century patterns, but the terms are all virtually the same, and most knitters should be able to follow them. In fact, when we get enquiries about vintage patterns in the Simply Knitting office, it's not usually about the patterns themselves but about finding a substitute yarn.
I feel a spell of vintage knitting coming on, once I've finished a few of my current projects... Have you made anything from a vintage pattern? Do you simply enjoy looking at them? Maybe I shall make the Fair Isle set anyway and wear it myself!
Charity shops are a good source for people interested in collectiong old books and patterns, and a lot of my favourites have been found this way. It's good for recycling, the charities benefit too and I get to add to my collection. Win all round.
Posted by Elizabeth Jarvis (127.0.0.1) on January 22, 2010 at 02:00 PM GMT
Website: http://www.bettyknitter.com #
Posted by Melinda Myette (127.0.0.1) on January 25, 2010 at 11:22 PM GMT #
I do agree with you that the really old garments are tiny, Melinda, and often the ones from the 1930s and 1940s come in just a couple of sizes. Some Continental firms still do quite limited sizing in their garments as they expect knitters to be able to size up or down as required, but it's certainly not something I'd want to do - resizing designs is a real skill!
There are more sizes in the 1960s designs (I have a lovely coat pattern in a Vogue knitting magazine from the 1960s - not linked the the US publication as far as I can tell).
We won't devote an issue to vintage knitting as we don't do themed issues, beyond the obvious aspects of trying to get Christmassy patterns done in the run-up to Christmas, something for Easter or Mothering Sunday and so on.
Posted by Miriam (127.0.0.1) on January 26, 2010 at 12:26 PM GMT #
Posted by Norah (127.0.0.1) on January 31, 2010 at 07:16 PM GMT #
http://www.purplekittyyarns.com
http://www.freeknittinglibrary.org
http://www.vintagecraftpatterns.info/knitting/index.shtml
http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/
http://books.google.com/ to only find the free downloadable ones, click on advanced book search, then public domain only before putting in the key word
Posted by Ellen Hunt (127.0.0.1) on February 06, 2010 at 03:42 PM GMT #