Now I bet not everyone will claim that a collection of knitting patterns is a bit of a history book.
But if you have enough of them, then I rather think you have some of the story of the middle decades of the 20th century.
I say middle decades because our Jillian who collects the knitting patterns has them from the 1930’s through to the ‘70’s and she roams the charity shop chains with a mission not only to save these knitting patterns but press them back into use.
I should know I will soon be the proud owner of a jumper with a zip and collar and dancing reindeers in brown and red. She made the original for me in 1970 and I am looking forward to the new one.
But back to the patterns, for here contained on the front covers are how we dressed during the age before online shopping and cheap supermarket clothes.
They include balaclava, and other hats, woollen toys and of course the cable jumper.
So over the next few days I shall be rummaging through our Jillian’s collection and wait for the gasps of “I had that” “Mine was green” or “Oh God did I really wear that?”and when the series is over there is always my stories about wool shops.*
And there is just one more delight in these old knitting patterns, and that is the game of hunt the famous British actor when they were waiting for the big break and instead had their picture taken with a nice “cardy”.
Our Jillian has one of Roger Moore which is looking for as I type, and he might well find one of my old mate Joe when in between classes at Art school he too wore a selection of woollen jumpers.
Location; pretty much everywhere
Picture; knitting patterns, 1930-1970 from the collection of Jillian Goldsmith
*The Wool Shop, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=The+Wool+Shop
I say middle decades because our Jillian who collects the knitting patterns has them from the 1930’s through to the ‘70’s and she roams the charity shop chains with a mission not only to save these knitting patterns but press them back into use.
I should know I will soon be the proud owner of a jumper with a zip and collar and dancing reindeers in brown and red. She made the original for me in 1970 and I am looking forward to the new one.
They include balaclava, and other hats, woollen toys and of course the cable jumper.
So over the next few days I shall be rummaging through our Jillian’s collection and wait for the gasps of “I had that” “Mine was green” or “Oh God did I really wear that?”and when the series is over there is always my stories about wool shops.*
And there is just one more delight in these old knitting patterns, and that is the game of hunt the famous British actor when they were waiting for the big break and instead had their picture taken with a nice “cardy”.
Our Jillian has one of Roger Moore which is looking for as I type, and he might well find one of my old mate Joe when in between classes at Art school he too wore a selection of woollen jumpers.
Location; pretty much everywhere
Picture; knitting patterns, 1930-1970 from the collection of Jillian Goldsmith
love the patterns and probably have knitted some of them or similar ...My Mom a BHC taught me to knit when I was about 6years old , just squares at first , so happy she did , still love to knit and crochet and love the old knitting books and I do have a few...thanks for this post and am looking forward to more if you can....love the memories it brings ...stay safe and well...
ReplyDeleteI'm still itching from wearing my balaclava 60 years ago. But it did come in handy when I played the dormouse in the Madhatter's Tea Party at St John's, with the addition of some furry ears and pipecleaner whiskers.
ReplyDelete