The above image is of a rather wet cotton jumper, knitted from a 1940s pattern contained in the excellent book, A Stitch In Time, Vol 1. I offer it up as proof of my continued existence, as things have been rather quiet around here lately. I hope to get back up to speed soon!
I won Vogue Knitting Book 35 on eBay a few weeks ago. It was a fairly quick purchase but I’d been thinking about it for a while. I love vintage knits but own very few actual patterns, which seemed silly, and this excellent post on needled reminded me that I really ought to go back to the original vintage designs if I want to understand them. So, a lucky bid later (okay, it wasn’t lucky – I planned my bid strategy like an army General) and this lovely book was mine. I believe it to be from 1949, based on their numbering system, the date on the American version, and some calculations, but I may be slightly off. I’ve posted some photos of my favourite patterns, plus my notes and thoughts, into the rest of this entry.
(It may be worth mentioning that this is the British version, and that the American one seems to differ in terms of pattern content. The cover is slightly different too.)
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Cover – stocking stitch jacket Although this is knitted in the simplest of stitches, I love it. It’s nicely finished with turned hems, pockets and a flared double-thickness collar, and it would be a peach to accessorise. |
As the weather warms up (or attempts to) I inevitably start having fantasies about balmy summer afternoons, sipping drinks on someone’s patio, the smell of a barbeque, the sound of ice cubes in a glass, the smell of freshly-cut grass… and even more inevitably, in these fantasies I am wearing the perfect summer dress. This year, perhaps, I’ll finally get there. I have four 1940s-50s patterns secreted away, and I would like to try and make at least one of them this year. (I also said this last year, but never mind.)
When my mind turns to a new interest or hobby, I like to delve into it as much as is humanly possible, so I’ve been looking for interesting and/or inspiring sewing sites. Here’s what I’ve turned up in the past few days:
Sew Retro: I could spend hours browsing through the archives (and have, in fact). It’s a group blog for people who make vintage patterns and retro clothing, and there are a lot of photos of finished garments! Often the pattern drawings are posted alongside the photos, which is very useful – I’m used to knitting patterns coming with several full-colour photographs, so you know exactly what it’ll look like, but when using old sewing patterns you have to rely on the cover illustration. Some of my favourite posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Suzical.co.uk’s list of sewing blogs: Pretty self-explanatory – sewing blogs ordered by their Technorati ranking. I read quite a few of these. A Dress A Day is one of my favourite blogs out there.
U-Handblog: Lisa Lam’s excellent bag making blog, with oodles of free patterns and tutorials (a bag to match your summer dress, maybe?). She also runs a flickr group for handmade bags, and another specifically for bags made using her tutorials. An old favourite of mine!
Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki: A valuable resource where people can browse patterns and see related blog posts, reviews, and sellers of said patterns.
Flickr Group – New Vintage Wardrobe: In their own words, “a group dedicated to the use of old patterns to make new fashions and vintage fabrics featured in new clothing.” Lots of photos, obviously.
Flickr Group – Vintage Apron Patterns: What, you never imagined yourself baking cakes wearing a sweet little flounced apron to protect your (immaculate) dress? Must be just me.
Flickr Group – Vintage Patterns: For sharing and viewing the envelope art on old patterns.
Now, with all these resources at my fingertips, I can hardly fail! (Famous last words.)
