Let's Knit Magazine - Your knitting, your style

Hi all,

Seems like I’m collecting hobbies at the moment! One of my newest ones is scouring the web for out of print knitting books from yesteryear.

So far I’ve got myself Knitting For Children by Louise Daniels (printed 1971) and The Beatrix Potter Knitting Book by Pat Menchini (printed 1987).

Haven’t started anything from them yet, and there is the obvious yarn substitution issue, but there are some really great projects in them.

Some are a bit naff, but I quite like the retro appeal of the kids clothes in them.

Does anyone else like finding old patterns, adapting them etc? Any great books you have come across?

Be great to hear your views xx

Hi Emma! I don’t realy have any retro books but when my great-grandma passed away I, being the only crafty soul left in the family, was given her ‘craft basket’. It’s full of patterns. I have loads of retro crochet pattern books in it and heaps of saved pages from magazines, I love looking through it all! It really is like a treasure chest. There are small issues with some of the things though because it appears that my grandma kept a lot of the instructions in her head and so I’m clueless with some of the sewing patterns and such in there. I was sorely disappointed when I couldn’t figure out how to put together the 1938 pattern I have for nightwear!! And it’s in my size just to make things worse!!! But I can absolutely understand your love of retro books and patterns. One of the best bits is looking at the pics, especially on some of my grandma’s older patterns where a matching glove and hat set are referred to as ‘A gay couple’, something that would just never happen today. I’ve written quite a lot - can you tell that I really love that handed down craft basket??!! 

I too have lots of vintage patterns, I much prefer them to the modern day ones..

HI ladies....you would enjoy my DEN as I have got hundreds of patterns and books. I recently passed one of my stash to No1. that was dated 1911. The picture is on t,forum somewhere of one of the patterns which is almost identical to a 70s pattern and NESSA has just posted one today that she wants to knit for DiL and it is almost the same style.  SO ..what goes around ..comes around. as they say.

I have got the Beatrix Potter characters in knitting AND sewing books. but ALAN DART is my favourite.

I love Alan Dart’s designs!! Thank goodness for Simply Knitting Magazine publishing his patterns again!

Luckily my mum has always bought womens mags so I always got the ones he published in them.

I like the ease of making up as he gives great tips on how to do them.

They are like pieces of sculpture too!

My boyfriend who sculpts laughs at the fact that I can ‘sculpt’ in the warm cosy lounge watching tv, with our cat and dog, whilst he’s getting messy and cold in the garage with only the radio for company!!

you should get together with historicjoyce,, she recreates genuine knitting for WW2 displays and has some fascinating stuff.

hi all
another knitting day for all of us.
i am slogging away on some USA civil war socks and hope to finnish the 1st one this week.
if anyone is intrested or local i am off to New Milton community center for 7.30 pm to give my history of knitting, 1800- now, lecture tonight (tues). it is the womens probus group.
well back to the sock.

she’s based in Hampshire

I have a few ww2 patterns and hope to collect more shortly. I find them fascinating, especially the recipes as cooking is my other passion, in particular, cakes. I have fruit soaking in cold tea even as I type ready for baking in the morning. 

I have a few vintage patterns and a lot more retro ones. I did make Zakk a jacket from an 80’s pattern but the shoulders are a little boxy. A bit reminiscent of all those shoulder pads!!!

knitternicky - 23 May 2008 08:16 PM

I have a few vintage patterns and a lot more retro ones. I did make Zakk a jacket from an 80’s pattern but the shoulders are a little boxy. A bit reminiscent of all those shoulder pads!!!

That is why I prefer a lot of the older patterns as they have more RAGLAN sleeves and for children especially, they seem to give a better fit and are more comfortable for little ones as there is no bulk under the armpit like modern straight up and down patterns.

Definately a raglan over the straight up and down.

gill1946 - 23 May 2008 07:31 PM

I have a few ww2 patterns and hope to collect more shortly. I find them fascinating, especially the recipes as cooking is my other passion, in particular, cakes. I have fruit soaking in cold tea even as I type ready for baking in the morning. 

did i mention I like you?

Montaffera - 23 May 2008 09:28 PM

gill1946 - 23 May 2008 07:31 PM

I have a few ww2 patterns and hope to collect more shortly. I find them fascinating, especially the recipes as cooking is my other passion, in particular, cakes. I have fruit soaking in cold tea even as I type ready for baking in the morning. 

did i mention I like you?