Throwback Thursday

It's been a while since I trawled through my ancient/vintage/horribly 80's patterns for you all, and with our recent cold snap here in Melbourne I thought I'd show you a highly useful pattern book.

It's my Paton's Knitting Book No. 232, which isn't even on Ravelry - can it be possible? I looked it up by both the title number and the title pattern name "Erica" and nothing came up. (Sidebar: look up "Erica" in the category of "gloves" on Ravelry. You won't regret it, but your knitting queue may grow a bit.) I do like these gloves, they're so very "calling on" gloves, aren't they? I think they'd look wonderful in a pale spring green.

"Harebell", while beautiful with the little repeats and sensible cuffs, would probably catch on everything. "Heath" look like a more sensible option, if not a tad plain. With the right yarn though...maybe something with a silver thread?

Next up are "Hyacinth" and "Holly", some very nice fair isle gloves and mittens. You know how I feel about fair isle by now, so I shan't go into extreme rhapsodies as usual.

"Primrose", despite such a prissy name, are the thermal underwear of glove patterns. Just look at the sensibleness of them: long cuffs, reverse stocking stitch, fabulous lines. If you made these in a gorgeous charcoal grey you could easily give them to a knitting-worthy man. Not Felix, though. He has Tardis mittens.

Can't have glove patterns without some plain ones. Here are "Ivy" and "Honeysuckle", the plainest of plain gloves, zhuzed up with some embroidery (is that how one spells "zhuzed"?) and "Hawthorn", the equally plain/embellished mittens.

More examples of "Ivy" and the "Hickory" hat to throw on top. I like this hat, it's fairly easy and Nordic-y.

It's even more Nordic-y on the back cover. It's also in fair isle (yay!) and once you throw in a fluffy blonde you're practically living in the fjords. No more pining.

The reason I love the old pattern books so much are the illustrations and instructions. They're usually perfectly done and the ads - oh the ads! Great fun.

Let me know if I should scan this and add it as a download - enjoy!

Throwback Thursday

Oooo, have I got a doozy for you all today. Not only am I a junkie, but I'm a hooker as well*, so I've reached into the folder for a vintage crochet pattern book today.

Crochet Book No. 1 by Villawool. Granny square cardigan front cover. I love granny squares desperately, hence the purchase.

I want the blue skirt. I think if I made it in graduating colours it'd look really really cool. But not all one colour, and definitely not a suit.

"I am shocked, genuinely shocked at this photoshoot."

These are almost nice. I like the white one. I think it's be great for summer nights. But all this yellow...

"I'm just a sweet transvestite....From transexual Transylvaniaaaaaaaaa-haha!"

The bun holder to match the dress. Spiffy, I tells ya.

Back cover? The duster. With snood. Add massive sunglasses. Classy.

Same as usual: let me know if you want a pdf and it shall be done!

* Junkie = knitter (we both use needles), hooker = crocheter. Mind out of the gutters, people.

Throwback Thursday

I am fully aware that today is Monday. However, I failed to give you a Throwback Thursday last week as that would have forced me to leave the air conditioning and head out into the bungalow. Which has no air conditioning. Wasn't gonna happen.

I'm making it up to you all by giving you the glorious Book 50 from Vogue Knitting, from March 1957. Form an orderly queue, please.

First up, we have the fabulous Princess Dress. Perfect for walking your oversized poodles with.

A SUIT. An actual knitted suit. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

A very cabled dress with a cinched in waist and oversize sunglasses. I'm in Grace Kelly heaven here.

C'mon! You know you want a boat. Ask your cat. Your cat is thinking about buying a boat.

This vest comes in 12 sizes. That's 12 different people to dislike you for knitting them a vest.

If you don't want to knit this upon sight, we can't be friends. We just can't.

Evening wear in lurex and 2-ply? Not a chance, but I love the look of it.

I want to grow up and be this model, honestly I do.

So, should I scan this pattern book and add it to the site for download? Let me know, my readers, and it shall be done.

Oh, and nobody show this to my dad or he'll request it. Cables & crew neck? My dad's idea of happiness.

Throwback Thursday

My darling Joannah has atrocious taste in knitting books. As in, going out and finding the most terrible, tacky, over-the-top 60/70/80's knitting books she can discover at op shops. Then she gives them to me. Because I love them.

That means I'm the one with the atrocious taste, not to mention a plethora of tacky/vintage/insane knitting and crochet books. And pamphlets. And leaflets. And things cut out of newspapers. So from now on I'll share them with you all every Thursday and even have copies to download (Only the ones out of copyright. I like not being sued.).

Today brings the glorious epistle "Knit Me A Rainbow" by Ye Goode Olde Family Circle. Ahhhh, Family Circle. I miss you. Especially the stories about Selby, the world's only talking dog. And Cocky's Circle Club.* As you can see by the cover, this book was printed in the 80's. Now, when it comes to knitting books it's great to make fun of things. In the 60's books it's the models terrible poses. In the 70's books it's the flares and the men's moustaches. But the 80's? Hair and makeup. Soooooooooo bad.

Look at this bowl cut. Mummy obviously foresaw a future where this photo would not get her child mercilessly teased. Mummy was an idiot.

Awwwww, crimping! Who didn't love the crimper in the 80's? My own sister Leah had one in high rotation in 1985. It doesn't help that the poor model/victim is posing in the most fluffy mohair jumper. With an off-centre hairband.

Oh, so much to say. I can't. It's just too cruel.

Lest you think I'm being mean and just picking on these poor children I present to you a blonde version of me on the right. Picture her with brown hair and it's me at 12. Especially the head scarf. Except mine would have had a HUGE bow.

Once you move on to the pictures without models you can concentrate on the jumpers more. This one isn't bad, per se, just needs a different collar, less 80's sleeves etc. I like the idea of it in cream.

If this was in a different colourway I might make it for Dot. I loathe pink with a passion, but I like this effect. I'd have the button bands the same colour as the jumper, though. Ditto the collar.

Cables. I am a sucker for cables. On little boys it just looks perfect. I really am quite old fashioned sometimes. The pattern used Patons Herdwick, which is one of the itchiest yarns available. Knits up sloppily but washes like a dishrag, again proving that you can't have it all in yarn.

Final opinion? One or two possibilities, but generally worth it for the laughs!

*Kingfisher 294