Summer Stripes

Hello!  I hope you are enjoying your summer.  We are two thirds of the way through the school holiday here, and I have a rare day of peace so thought now was as good a time as any to share with you a couple of jumpers that I knitted a few months ago.

I don’t know what it is about them but, like a moth to a flame, I always find myself drawn towards striped knits. 

Striped knits, along with Fair Isle, have always been popular, but were even more so during the war years.  Promoted to the Home Front knitter as a great way of using up those odd balls of wool left over from other projects, thus keeping hold of your precious clothing coupons a little longer (1 clothing coupon got you 2 ounces of knitting wool) there were plenty of patterns to choose from.

 

While saving and making do were hugely important at a time when literally every ounce of wool counted, you only have to take a look at the various ways the stripes were worked and woollens designed to understand that frugality wasn’t the only factor, and that fashion was also key. 

From graduated stripes of varying width, to a classic horizontal stripe.  Multi-coloured rainbow affairs to a far sleeker, and stylish, look. Look hard enough, and you’re bound to find a pattern to suit everyone. 

 

    

                     

 

I’ve knitted a number of striped jumpers in the past.  When I first started to knit, I only used DK, so the colour range available to me, in what was then my favoured Stylecraft, was a little limited.  But once I found I could effectively use 4 ply, the options were vast!

In the early part of 2016 I picked up a pattern on eBay, a favourite hunting ground of mine, for a wavy stripe jumper.  I hadn’t heard of Pearsall’s before, but was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the instructions and clear way the pattern was set out. 

 

Trying to keep to the 1940’s palette, I looked to the original pattern for inspiration because, unlike many of my favourite patterns, it offered up colourways which could work well.  Chestnut with New Gold, Wine and Moon Blue, Navy and Hyacinth or Black and Peach were the options offered up to tempt your fancy.  Because I am on a bit of a stash busting blitz, or at least I should be, and I didn’t have anything close to the colours suggested, I had to pick my own shades from the hoard of wool I have squirreled away.  There was plenty to choose from and I finally settled on my much loved Adriafil Azzurra in yellow and brown. 

The pattern is simple, and knits up really quickly.  I ignored the bit in the instructions which said you weren’t to press the work.  I think the lack of pressing was to do with the fact that they used rayon yarn, which, I’m guessing, hangs differently to wool, maybe weightier?!  Anyhow, I did press my work, and glad I did, else it would have looked dire!

 

It has a slightly unusual neckline.  Rather than a closed neck ribbing where you slip the jumper over your head, or a side opening one with a little fastener at the side, the front and back neck rib were worked entirely separately, and then fastened with a little button each side of the neck.  Made me think of Frankenstein’s monster, to be honest, but in a stylish sort of way! 

 

It sold really quickly, to a lovely lady right here in the UK, and I like the design so much that I started on another one pretty much straight away, this time in two-tone green.  And that, too, has found a new home, this time over in New Zealand.  The shades I used were army green and emerald green.  Sadly, emerald has been discontinued by Adriafil, goodness knows why.

The pattern is for a 33”-34” bust, and at the tension I knit at, both mine turned out as 34”-35” busts.  It isn’t one to be worn too snug, because the open work means you can see everything that is going on underneath if you pull too tightly. 

An added plus point is that it is an economical knit, taking just 136g of main colour and 80g of the accent shade, so it really is perfect for using up the little odd balls.  And from a cost point of view, using Azzurra, the wool worked out at just less than £15.00.  Not too bad!

If you fancy giving this little knit a go, the pattern is for sale in my Etsy shop , here, .  If you do knit it, I'd love to see the finished result! xx

Free Knitting Pattern - 1940's Cardigan in a Large Size - Stitchcraft 1943

Final pattern today, this time for a cardigan.  This one is from 1943, printed in the October edition of Stitchcraft. 

 

Perfect for 4 ply, this one is for a size 42"-44" bust! 

 

Click HERE for the pattern.

 

Free Knitting Pattern - Simple 1930's Jumper - Good Needlework

This is a great little 1930's number.  Knitted in a simple stripe design with smart lines, this is great for a beginner, as it is entirely worked in knit and pearl stitches.  The original is for a 35" bust, but because the pattern repeat is only over 6 stitches, its an easy one to size up.

 

Click HERE to get the pattern.

 

Vintage Haberdashery Heaven - Christmas come early!

What an incredibly lucky lady I am. 

In this previous post I told you about the kindness of a stranger and how they had generously given me a collection of knitting patterns, including issue 1 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft.  Well, last week, the same amazing lady contacted me again with the offer of some knitting and crafting things.

Delivered this morning to a very excited household were two rather large heavy parcels.  I had been expecting them but what was contained inside them was far more than anything I had imagined.  The collection of items was so vast that it took me a very happy 2 hours to sort through everything.

It would be impossible to show you everything that arrived, such was the volume of items, but I have picked out some of the most pretty and colourful things and hope that you like them!  Here goes!

Along with lots of little squat balls of thread, there were over 120 embroidery silks which means my 1930's sweet jar is now perfectly full!

Some pretty pastel crochet threads, so incredibly fine.  In the central part of two of them I found some delicately crocheted edgings; stored away and forgotten about maybe?

A vast range of shades of the most beautiful threads.  I've never seen anything like them before.  They are delicate and fine yet have a wool like texture.  There were over 50 of them but the amount wound on the cards isn't great so I wonder what they were meant to be used for. 

Various mending threads including wool for Chilprute underwear, the needle still threaded and slipped into the wound wool by the hand of it's last user.  Stocking threads, darning wools and my favourite of all, the little green and navy Greenwoods card with the rather dashing sailor on the front.

Two items were still in the bags they were originally packaged in.  One still with the receipt from a shop in Hanley, close to Mr Y's old stomping ground from when he did his teacher training.

More amazing examples of vintage packaging, so much more appealing than the ones we get today.  My favourites are the two Newey's ones.  The blue one from the 1930's and red from the 1940's - stunning in both colour and design.

Numerous bindings, grosgrains, ribbons and lace!  All so pretty and many in shades that you simply cannot replicate today.  Matching binding to vintage fabric should be a whole lot easier now.

In an old cardboard box, there were crisp wrappers containing clean, white starched collars new and never used.  Delving deeper, I discovered four CC41 collars, again, unused.  Precious clothing coupons would have been exchanged for these simple pieces of white cotton yet they, too, look unused.

The most delicate of collars.  Dating from, I believe the 1930's, these collars are simply splendid.  So pretty, feminine and fine, obviously belonging to one incredibly petite person, so tiny in size.  I hope to have them cleaned and then frame them, they're too pretty to be in a drawer somewhere.

Last, but by no means least, a little collection of small, pretty things which were discovered  among the various paper bags and mountains of threads.  I love the little handmade flower pins, the green bakelite needles, the pretty box of pins, well, all ok it really!

The owner of this amazing collection certainly took great care of all she had.  Tiny pieces of embroidery silk wound round pieces of wrapper, carefully kept.  Threads shorter, I'm ashamed to say, than I throw away.  A mended stitch ripper laid alongside another, new in it's wrapper.  Items kept until they could no longer be used, because they had to be, the result of living through a period of great austerity and rationing, nothing like the throw away society that we live in today.

It was an immense gift from an incredibly generous, thoughtful couple and one I'm truly grateful for.  Some things will, obviously, be used to create vintage inspired pieces.  Others, like the packaging and collars, will be kept and used for display purposes, meaning that the items treasured by this amazing woman, can be enjoyed by many more people in the years to come. 

Norwich Vintage Finds!

Well, half term has finally arrived, thank goodness!!  It's been a long time coming and we are certainly looking forward to taking a break.  Mr Y has taken C out for the day, M is happily playing and, while I should probably be doing something productive like ironing, I'd far rather share with you the lovely things that were found this weekend.

On Saturday, we left the car at home and instead took the train to Norwich.  We were taking our wares to the Little Vintage Lover Fair which was being held at Dragon Hall.  I love the train journey.  The carriage was peaceful, nearly empty in fact, as you would expect at 7am on a cold October morning.  We enjoyed looking at the countryside and watching the sun rise over the autumn fields revealing the varying shades of amber and brown.

As we approached Norwich, the sunny Suffolk skies faded and we found the station shrouded in ominous dark rain clouds.  By the time we got off the train and out of the station, the heavens had opened but, undeterred, we paddled our way to Dragon Hall!

The venue was lovely, old, charming in fact, with lots of nooks and crannies.  We were very lucky and were positioned in a little room just beside the main shop.  It was so pretty and quite luxurious in comparison to other places we've been.  There was an amazing 1930's sideboard and a rather comfy leather couch which I utilised to full effect throughout the day!  It was so cold that I didn't venture outside of our space and therefore didn't get any photographs of other stalls, sorry.  I did, however, get a few snaps of our things.

Although we could see through the window, it took me a long time to
realise that the same couldn't be said for the other side! :o)

 The fair itself was very slow with a small footfall compared to normal.  It couldn't be helped.  It's an established event, brilliantly organised, publicised wonderfully well and in a great location but what you simply can't plan for is the weather.  Rain, I find, especially heavy, freezing rain with an added bit of hail never does a good fair make!  On the plus side, I got a lot of knitting done and managed to finish the beret I was making in Stylecraft heather to go with one of our jumpers.

Despite low numbers, I sold the dress I'd made in Clydella fabric from the 1940's Hollywood pattern as well as the 1937 jumper in mint green that I showed you only the other day!  We had a lovely time, chatting to some of the other traders with a just little bit of shopping to boot!  I came away with just one thing, issue No.45 of Needlewoman Needlecraft magazine from 1951.  I know that it's not the specific era that I collect, but it still had the transfer for the most adorable children’s embroideries that I simply couldn't resist! 

Mr Y, on the vintage front, was far more successful.  He never sticks around at these things.  It's not a place for the girls and anyway, Norwich held things far more interesting than anything I had to offer!! 

Up in the Forum, there were a handful of vintage stalls with various books, ephemera and the like.  Stacked alongside some Picture Post magazines, he spotted 9 Good Needlework and Knitting magazines dating from the 1930's.  They aren't in the best condition, a couple have some water damage on and bizarrely someone has removed all the staples!  However, the patterns inside them are simple beautiful.  I'm now itching to get started on another 1930's jumper but I shall resist - for now!

One of the other stalls had an eclectic mix of vintage jewellery including 3 of the wartime brooches I collect.  Luckily for my purse, I wasn't there to see them or I may have been compelled to buy them all!  Mr Y was far more sensible and entrusted the choosing of a brooch to C who, knowing my fondness for the "sticky up ones", as she calls them, chose this pretty blue one.

As if that wasn't enough, he also took a trip to Waterstones book shop where Alex and Peter from Wartime Farm had been book signing.  Much to C's disappointment, who has been fascinated by the series, they missed the actual signing, but did manage to pick me up a pre signed copy. 

I know the series received mixed reviews due to the number of inaccuracies.  I mean, celebrating Christmas 1940 with a gift of CC41 socks?  Really!! 

When I watched it, I did sit there having a little grumble now on then, mostly about the clothing!  But I really like the trio and had previously enjoyed both the Victorian and Edwardian farm series so stuck with it to the bitter end.  The book is really nice; I actually like it a lot, from what I have flicked through anyway.  I'll definitely be reading it.

Norwich really does have some amazing vintage shops as well as a rather massive Cath Kidston store!!  We always go there Christmas shopping - I can't wait!! :o)

Turn Back Time - 1940

Have you been watching the Turn Back Time series which is currently running on BBC1?  If you have, do you like it?  If you haven't, you can see it here on BBC iPlayer. 

The series features 3 families who get to experience what life was like for their actual ancestors, from the 1900s through to the 1970s.  There are 3 houses which have been decorated to reflect the living conditions of the working, middle and upper classes. 

Episode 3 featured my favourite era, the 1940s.  They briefly touched on air raids, evacuation, being called up for service, rationing and the black market.  There was so much more that I would have liked to have seen but, within the time limits of just 1 hour, I accept that they were limited as to what they could show.  Photographs of the series are scarce on the Internet, but I did find this one of the Meadows family.


Image taken from BBC website.

I don't know much about the era's featured in episodes 1 and 2 but the decor in this most recent episode was spot on, so many beautiful things, I wanted them all! :o)  Poor Mr Y was subjected to the shouts of "I've got one of those" or "Mum still uses her one of those" as I sat watching it last night.  The kitchen in the Taylor's house was AMAZING!  Vintage and green - what more could you want??  The sink, the cupboards, the enamel, I could go on but I shan't bore you.  

On the downside, the clothing, in a large part, I found disappointing.  Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't expect that they would all be wearing actual clothing of the period, I believe in preservation and all that, but I thought they could have done a far better job.  Take the "spiv" for example in his 1950's trilby!! 

Also a let down were the hairstyles the women had.  I didn't expect perfectly styled rolls because that's not realistic.  If you could see me as I'm typing you would question as to whether I've actually brushed my hair today - birds nest to say the least - but I would have liked to have seen some curls.  Minimal effort seems to have been made and in my book, if you're living the era, that should encompass everything.  As for Mrs Meadows portraying a member of the ARP with her long hair rather than having it properly put up - don't even get me started!!  I shall get off my soap box now :o)

 At the end of the episode, they celebrate VE day with the family members having a bit of a dance. I was half watching it, half knitting when I saw what looked distinctly like one of our jumpers.  Calling Mr Y to come and take a look, I sat perched on the edge of the sofa hoping it would make another appearance.  It did, although very fleetingly, and I was in no doubt that it was mine.  It was unmistakable because I remember having great trouble with the collar that simply wouldn't lie flat and the colour, emerald green by Stylecraft, was incredibly bright, distinctive in fact.  

However, frustratingly, I had to wait until this morning to check it out on iplayer.  Having watched it and paused it numerous times, I can safely say that yes, it's one of ours!  It's shown at about 54 minutes in.  The buttons on the back were the clincher.  I remember selling it last year through eBay.  I wonder where it went and how it came to be on the box!  Here it is being modelled by Doris (the dummy)!

I've been on the telly :o) !!!

Forgive me for being somewhat chuffed, safe to say I haven't stopped smiling since!  

In other news, this weekend, we're at Festival of the Forties.  This is a new event but there is so much going on and even better, it's only £1 to get in :o)  The organisers have gone the extra mile to make things easy and enjoyable for all parties concerned and I'm really looking forward to it.

I should really go and start sorting some bits out, so much to do, not least packing wet weather gear because, according to the weather forecast, we're supposed to have rain, rain and more dastardly rain.  So far this morning all I've managed is to do is card these pieces of jewellery, surprised I'm parting with them really :o)

1930's / 1940's earrings and brooches

Back soon!! x