The Vintage Knit-Along

I’ve finally reached the back of the 1940’s Ribbed Blouse. I should have the fool thing done by spring I suppose. I always forget the mind-numbing tedium of knitting nothing but ribbing.

The second photo is progress on a wool one-piece from the cover of Weldon’s Pretty Undies. There are several out of that book I want to do and the one I’ve started will get knitted again in some black silky stuff eventually. I’ve knitted nearly to the waist of the back piece since I took the photo but was much too lazy to take a new one.

Out of complete insanity I’ve also started on a pair of men’s bicycling stockings (on size 0 dpns) from a Weldon’s stocking pamphlet. I seem to think you can’t buy kneesocks on a store.

For some reason two of the photos don’t seem to want to come up but they’re posted here, as well as some inane ramblings about the projects.

Just a heads-up for all you vintage knitters- someone’s posted two books of knitting patterns from World War II. One is more of a ‘knit your bit’ book, but the other has ‘victory patterns’ for the whole family.

Vintageers,

Just noticed this on ebay UK:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Vintage-knitting-BUCILLA-1920s-sweaters_W0QQitemZ280047402414QQihZ018QQcategoryZ41241QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There’s some gorgeous socks in there amongst the sweaters and knickerbockers.
Unfortunately the shipping to Aus is kinda prohibitive, but I thought someone here might be interested in scoping it out/ scooping it up?

I really hate the picture that goes with this pattern, it´s ugly. Pictures of the progress on yoke and arm comes after this sexy pose, smug smiling girlcreature. If not a fellow knitter started to ask questions about the pattern so i had to read it, i never would have done it. I´m on last piece now, hope to have it done in december. Found the cutest black and pearl buttons in the shop where i work to put on it.

I’ve been hoarding vintage patterns for years and now I’m knitting one! In hand dyed Scottish merino, I’ve even done a tubular cast on!

Hi Vintageers,
I’ve finally started the 1945 V Neck Blouse in Jaggerspun Zephyr (doubled strand). I’m in the process of getting gauge and about to make the adjustments for my size, which in vintage sizing is - I think- 17 !!! (for a 37″ bust). What I’m interested to know if anyone’s done this pattern, is whether going off one’s bust measurement takes negative ease into account?

In the photo, the sweater appears to be not too form-fitting. So maybe no neg. ease?
Anyway, any thoughts appreciated!

Carson

In my flu-addled haze I’ve managed to finish knitting these wool undies as well as sew the fool things together & put in the elastic. I suspect someone else snuck into my apartment while I was hopped up on Nyquil and did the knitting for me. I mean, the finishing is done all neat and stuff and since my finishing is usually pretty half-assed it couldn’t have been me. I couldn’t have darned all those yarn ends in, could I?

They come a lot lower on the hip than the illustration because I’m taller than the average 1940’s woman and for some insane reason decided to go with the original measurements rather than figure in my own crotch-to-waist length. Don’t know what I was thinking but it seems to have worked out pretty well.

You’ll notice that there are two different dyelots in the yarn. Pity I couldn’t have noticed that while I was knitting them. Grr! So they’ll have to be overdyed in a darker color, probably black since I wanted them to be black in the first place.

Next pair will be either black silk or maybe I’ll try some cotton/lycra sock yarn.

Progress pic of the wool undies, right side. Pattern here. The photo is a lot pinker than the real yarn–it’s really more a primary or fire engine red. Of course its now too warm to even want to knit these, but just you wait until it gets cold enough for the wind to blow up your skirts!

I really have to do these in silk next go round.

Thanks so much to all the folks who contributed a photo to our little contest!  We have three winners - Aija, April, & Danielle!  I’ll be sending some yarny delights to all three… stay tuned to see the original photos!

Or maybe not since they’re wool (Nature Spun, Husker Red), because I followed the pattern for once in my life. But they’re fire engine red. Hot stuff! I only wish I had enough for the vest. I had two skeins of the red Nature Spun in my stash and I kinda hate to buy more.

I’m sure these things will itch like the devil.

This will at least tell me what kind of yarn I need to spin for another pair. Iva Rose has a new Weldon’s pamphlet I’m dying to get and it has a great 1940’s one-piece knitted teddy.

Must. Knit. More. Undies.

Folks, I’m looking for photos of vintage finished objects - with or without you in them - that have not been previously published on your blog or here on the Vintage KAL. These can be either portraits of you wearing a garment, or of close-ups of a garment detail - you can get as arty as you want. The garment should be knitted from a genuine vintage pattern (not a Nancy Bush or a rewrite) and photos should be clean, well lit, and well composed, but beyond that the sky’s the limit.

The best photo will win a fat hunk of yarny goodness from me, plus your photo will be published here at the Kitchener Bitch at a later date. There’s more brewing, but I can reveal more later.

The catch? I need you to return your photo to me by Friday, September 29. Yes, that’s a week away! Ridiculous, I know, but on the off chance that you can…

Please don’t post your finished object here - mail it to me at krengren AT hotmail.com. I can take sizes from 300 pixels wide to 1 megabyte large, 72 dpi. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks! And I look forward to your submissions!

Hi everyone, am I glad I found this site. Vintage patterns are my favorite and I collect alot of them. Oh yes, I have a fiber stash, but no way I’m gonna win! ~)

I’m trying to start gift giving from a Beehive knitting book that has NO GAUGE on any pattern~(! Yeah, I’m guilty of eyeballing stuff, but I’m trying to change my ways. So I’m swatching.

Well, here’s my first question: is a No 11 Queen Bee knitting Needles a size 2US? Yarn called for is Beehive Fingering 3ply patonised or Patwin 3ply patonised.

Second question: How do I find the gauge on a pattern that has No GAUGE specified, just yarn and needle size?

Third and fourth questions: this site has some interesting features that I’m not sure about. What is allow Pings? (doesn’t sound good ) and what is discussion under categories on the right? Is that where I should post questions? Yikes! Rank forum newbie here.

TIA

Courtesy of Batty, who brought her camera to the SnB last night:

Since I have a sneaking suspicion the picture won’t post properly, here’s a link:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/sock_mockcable.jpg)

I’m nearly ready to divide for the heel on No. 2. Warm, cuddly socks!

-Eileen

Again the camera is not playing nice. We can (a) upload the pics to DH’s PC, but then my online host can’t access them, I’ve no idea why, and (b) they won’t go to my PC. *sniff*

But the outfit was a hit on the Queen Mary, and, in fact, I ended up being pulled into the fashion show!

DH’s vest still isn’t done, but I’ve started a pair of socks for myself. 1941, I’ve modified it quite a bit, adding 1×1 ribbing and mock cables in place of real. It’s got a slip-stitch heel. Frogged (and then tossed!) the first effort, I’d been working on it half asleep and found four mistakes, I couldn’t stand it (don’t fly red eye and knit something unfamiliar). But I’ve begun No. 1 again….

-Eileen

At last, I am free of glove committments and have started the sweater. The gloves came up beautifully - no frogging involved this time. I will post them off to the shop tomorrow.

I finished all the collars for the sweater, thinking these will be quick and inspire me to actually finish the project. To my surprise, the sweater is knitting up really quickly - I have managed most of this in the past 3 days. It is ribbed in knit 1 purl 1. I am using a 4 ply premium wool blend - 80% wool, 20% nylon, which I have never used before, so I hope there are no nasty surprises in store for me. It feels nice and soft and has a bit of give in it, which is good, as so far I have stuck to the original dimensions, and seems to be going along just fine - famous last words (something is bound to go wrong!). Also, it has nice shaping at the sides.

Here’s my version of an 1890’s Lady’s Mitts pattern I’ve got on my blog. I’ve got several UFO’s floating around and thought I needed just one more flaming project on the needles. I’m claiming this is the “stunt” pair since I didn’t want to go to all the trouble of spinning just the right yarn and having the pattern go all wonky.

I kinda wanted a harder-wearing pair for everyday plus I wanted to try out the pattern so I used a skein of acrylic Red Heart Luster Sheen from the thrift store I had lying around growing fungus. Apparently I’m a closet masochist. I’m sure they won’t be warm at all and the yarn squeaks as I work with it. Trust me, the “real” pair will be in merino or alpaca with silk trim.

These came only in one size and used an old needle sizing system. I guessed US dpn size 0 which makes a mitt that’s a teeny bit small on me. I suspect that if it was made with wool it would have a bit more give to it since the Luster Sheen doesn’t stretch at all. I wear a men’s medium glove so I expect my hands are larger than those of the dainty Victorian creature who would have knitted the original.

Hey yall! I just read a post from CRAFT Magazine highlighting the “Antique Pattern Library”– free pdf scans of antique pattern books… may be up someone’s alley!

Antique Pattern Library link

I´m new here and thought i´d introduce myself. I´m Swedish and i love art and vintage crafts of all kinds. I have just started to share some of the things i do at Daturas Art & Craft.

At the moment i´m making an 1913 Corsetcover with square yoke from an Utopia yarn book. I got it at Vintage Knitting Patterns. I have allready done the bodypart and the yoke is on its way. It is knitted in an k1p1 pattern ad very stretchy so i have made it in original sice. This is before i started with the yoke. i´ll try to find the original picture that came with the pattern later.

Happy to be here

They’re still going to be thighhighs, just only have made it to the knee so far (there are two, just shot one on)
I have a few more pics and details on my blog today–

:)

One thing I’d like to ask yall… I am toying with the idea of knitting buttonholes into the leg cuff (I’m still going to fole them over and in for a doubled fabric, so there will be a set of buttonholes to be lined up and overstitched together. Partly I want to do this to make use of a useless garter I have that I can easily add buttons to, and partly to help insure they stay up (nothing says secure like buttons in my book). I will also be inserting a band of elastic in the roll-over, below the buttons (I’m guessing the band will be about 2.5″ deep, once doubled over.

Advice? I think I should be able to still use a metal clip garter belt later even with this mod (clipping to the cuff, not the holes). My only worry now is ripping the fabric… I’m going to knit the tops *way* up and with a lot of fabric so I won’t risk pulling the buttonholes out (think earrings being ripped out!) I have a ways to go before I get there, knitting them both at the same time, so I still ahve some time to toss the idea around in my head.

I have been meaning to post a progress shot for weeks and weeks, but somehow time keeps getting the better of me. That, and also I haven’t really had much progess to show, as picking the right yarn and trying to work out what the pattern is on about has taken me quite some time. In the end, I have decided to change the pattern quite considerably, so I guess I’ll be going for a ‘vintage inspired’ garment rather than straight out vintage. The main changes I’ve made to the pattern are to make the body shorter and to add some shaping, and I’m thinking of having short sleeves instead of long. Anyway, here’s what my swatch looks like:

Hopefully I’ll have something more to show very soon!

-Ali http://shedreamsofyarn.wordpress.com

how is this for kwik and kooky?

Dee

I have two weeks to make a cool lacy ankle sock for a vintage project I can’t yet reveal - and I’m at a loss for a pattern. Does anyone have any suggestions for a pattern?  Thanks so much! I promise to be less obtuse soon…

Hi all,

I went away for 4 days this week to country Victoria. I couldn’t resist going to The Ardent Alpaca in Beechworth, a shop full of alpaca goodies. While drooling over the yarn section, they spotted my gloves and asked if I would knit for the shop! So I joyfully walked out of there with 2 lovely skeins of Mi Inca Alpaca yarn that they GAVE me, to knit up some gloves for them. I had just finished the promised pair, now I have these to finish, then I SWEAR, I will get back to that 2-tone sweater. I won’t let it go to my head - I have only committed to one pair. It is a nice opportunity to see how the yarn knits up without having to pay for it (and nice to be paid - maybe they can pay me in yarn, hmmmm!) And the ribbed sweater, knit 2, purl 2 ho hum - it is still there, beckoning, but I’m not listening…

Dee

At least, I hope it is a picture. Here is how far I’ve gone on these stockings:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/KnitHat_cropped.jpg

Ignore the woman beneath the hat. Anyway, it matches the sweater set, and it stays put. Plus it’ll be easy to pack in a suitcase!

-Eileen

I’ve managed to creep along at a snail’s pace with this K2 P2 ribbed blouse. I’m still thinking on the buttoned neckline–I’ve got a couple teeny round black vintage buttons that might work. Or I could just wander around flashing my bra at everyone.

Thanks everyone for participating in the Vintage Knit Along Miss Personality Contest! It’s been a ton of fun and we’ve gotten some really great posts. Keep on with those fantastic vintage projects and stay with the Vintage KAL in the coming months! (I promise to have some very exciting new patterns up soon - including some 1930s “Parisian” designs and some Hollywood 40s spectaculars. Stay tuned!)
Without further ado, the winners are:

Grand Prize Drawing: Sockpr0n wins a skein of Helen’s Lace!

and additional goodies go to:

Best Pic from a Vintage Pattern: Mandy W, for that incredible coat

Best pics of a FO or WIP: Dee, for her lovely gloves

Funniest posts: Severina, you nut

Thanks to EVERYONE for participating in the contest.  (Have no fear - the Vintage Knit-Along CONTINUES just as it has been running, and there will be contests in the future as well!) This was so much fun, I would like I’ll do it again sometime soon - let me know if you have good ideas for future contests!

Kisses darlings -

- The Kitchener Bitch

HI, Thought I’d introduce myself as a new KAL playmate: Velma. I knit, I spin, & I blog. If you’ve got nothing better to do than read about life amongst the Redwoods, you can waste a few minutes at Velma’s World or my new SnB blog, Purl ‘n Hurl. There’s even a couple of half-way interesting pix of my stash, WIPs, FOs, & handpun at Flickr. Please come by sometime and say “HI!”

I noticed that my personal fave vintage pattern site wasn’t listed on the ‘Links’ page, so thought I’d share it here. Tabitha at Vintage-Knitting Patterns is a sweetie, & she has both free & for-sale pdf patterns. You can even sign up for a pattern-a-month email! How very convenient.

Finally, this is a photo of the hat I plan to do for the KAL. Cheers!

Last night I finally frogged the bad ribbing on the neckline. Couldn’t bear to touch it before that. So I’ve been working on bedsocks for my MiL. And then I screwed up the instep pattern on the second one! Ack.

But with some luck I’ll get back on the ribbing this week, I really do want to finish it before the Art Deco Festival on the Queen Mary. (If I don’t I suspect it won’t be done until this time next year, I’m so sick of this darned thing!!)

-Eileen

Hiya! I waited to get any real progress on these, but I’m pretty happy with how my morale-inspired stockings are going…

I wanted to replace the lace panel like Severina did with her skull lace, but the lace panel didn’t work for me visually when I worked thigh-down, so I went toe up.

I’m using Henry’s Attic Kona Superwash fingering, dyed w/ acid dyes, and imVERYHUMBLEo its pretty rad– they’re warm but they’re being knit at a looser gauge than I’m used to for socks (see my blog entry for pics of what I mean)– but its perfect for stockings. The fabric is a bit loose while still being warm, stretchy, and sooo soft. I actually am curious how this yarn will do for “stiffer” gauge socks, I really like how warm and soft they are like this– but they’re not “sturdy” enough for everyday socks.

I’m hoping they’ll be done in the next few weeks or so– they’re knitting up quickly (especially figuring in the vertical stretch I’m building into the stockings). I am waivering on inserting an elastic band at the top– I don’t know how much it will interfere w/ a garter. I still haven’t bought one of those, either!

More info on my blog…

Just a reminder to get your posts and comments in - we’ll be doing a drawing first thing Wednesday morning.  Looking forward to your updates!

In other news, here’s a great book that’s up on eBay for only $3 - I have it and highly recommend it:   http://tinyurl.com/nxzce

Today I knitted six more inches of dull, tedious, ribbed fabric for my 1942 Ribbed Blouse. Even this photo bores me to tears. Yes, that’s cat hair on it. I’m sure he rolled on it while I was getting the camera. I’ve got 2 1/2 more inches to knit beyond that orange yarn marker before I can start on the slightly more interesting neck-hole.

I discovered ten minutes ago that the dye in the yarn runs a bit so I’ve got a mark around one finger where the yarn was wrapped around it and all of my fingers are stained purple-ish. Fan-freakin’-tastic.

Here’s the unfeltable hat. I turned it inside-out and dipped it in starch. The I-cord is knitted in the contrasting colors I used for the sweater.

[IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/HatProgress_2.jpg[/IMG]

The I-cord might be single piping, or, I’m thinking of braiding it–sort of a wide plait–and using it toward the brim, or…

-Eileen

I was doin’ some surfin’ and found this link to more free Vintage patterns…. Fantastic patterns from the “Fleisher’s Knitting and Crocheting Manual” circa. 1922. Check em’ out!!!

http://www.agoodyarn.net/PT_Main.htm

Jennifer - jcyarns

Everyone is working on such lovely garments! I’m still at the business end of the Morale Builders, just about ready for the second run stop. Can’t wait to get to the lace!

I gave up on the sock needles for the moment since I kept losing stitches. Am using a 16″ circular needle and things are a lot smoother…literally! Once I get to something that looks interesting, I’ll upload a picture

Guess what? I’ve started a blog of my own! Apparently all Real Designers have one so I’m out there jabbering about knitting in the country. Kristen, may I post the address here?

Ellen

I’m using the links, because I’m afraid the images won’t behave…

First, the sweater set:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/1934MinervaSet.jpg

Next, the vest (though right now it’s crumpled into my knitted bag and I still haven’t frogged the bad ribbing. >:-(

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/JimmysVest.jpg

And for good measure, to show that my cat endorses the yarns I use:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/ThaisYarnCouch.jpg

At lunch today I finished the neckline ribbing.

Oh-no-I-didn’t! (Have I mentioned that I hate circs?) Picked up too few stitches, it’s positively shirred together, but I couldn’t tell with the circular needle.

Time to get froggy. Good thing I’ve still got three weeks to get this thing done, there’s a lot of other stuff (not necessarily knitting) with the same deadline.

I can’t believe I did something so stupid! Back to picking up, and making sure, at this tiny gauge, that it’s a stitch for every stitch.

*sniffle*

-Eileen

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/VestOTN.jpg

This should work; I don’t know why the image didn’t post yesterday. *shrug* (No techie am I!)

With any luck, it’ll be done by Monday, if not earlier!

-Eileen

Be sure to post over the next few days - because every time you post, we’ll enter your name in a drawing for a skein of Helen’s Lace!  There will also be prizes for best WIP or FO, funniest post, and other goodies - so don’t miss out and post today! 

I finished my gloves today. It took forever for them to dry. I hope my Mom likes them! There is more info on the blog, if you are interested!

www.costumechick.blogspot.com

So yes, I broke down and bought some circs. Inox…they’re okay, they’ll do. I like the pointy tips, but I’d've preferred the Addis. No 29″ cables in stock, though. Yes, this stripety never-ending vest will become a Finished Object. And soon!

Here’s a reminder, from way back in March, In The Beginning:

[IMG]http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e111/lindydiva/VestOTN.jpg[/IMG]

Insomnia isn’t always a good thing, but last night it let me pick up the neckline stitches and move into the second row. (I also picked up a forlorn sock that’s been languishing away for about 2 months, but that’s another story.)

We didn’t have our SnB on Monday (now Batty’s sick!), but we should both be there this coming Monday, and she’s bringing her camera! So get set for recent pictures: this sweater, and the 1934 outfit. Who knows, I might even have the hat done by then, it’s in the works right now.

Oh, the hat? Well, I made a roughly oval juliet cap (and it wouldn’t felt). But I turned it inside out: instant reverse stockinette; it looks good tipped over one eye, with the crown folded over a bit. DH gave me a good idea for trim; using piping. I’ll make I-cord piping with the colored yarns and see how it looks. Someone on Knitty mentioned using machine stitching to increase density; might give that a go, too. Or….I wonder…could I get a similar effect by picking up and knitting? That could be very interesting!

-Eileen

and it’s great to be here. I came here by way of Canary Knits and I’ve been enjoying reading all your posts and seeing your projects. My current project is this (crocheted) shawl

from a 1962 pattern I found HERE. I’m not doing mine in the traditional 60s/70s ombre, though; I’m using Kureyon for a more shaded striped look. Will post a pic when I have more done.

I finished the knitting on my gloves last night. I used **just** into a second skein of my yarn. I still have to block them and turn under the hem, but they are nearly complete! when I get that finished I will take a picture - and hopefully get it to post successfully. Why do my pics always turn out huge? Ha! It’s kind of like my sweaters!

First the good news: the wet-blocking worked like a charm, it’s now absolutely a perfect fit. The side seaming went well.

But those steel DPNs are acting like they’ve been greased. If I only had wood! Boy…maybe I’ll go to the hardware store & bring my needle gauge. One dowel should do it! I don’t have No.1 circs, and BOTH the LYS here are closed on Mondays. (Shouldn’t they check each other’s schedules??)

Pah. So I can’t do anything until tomorrow, and it’s killing me! Maybe I’ll cast on for that hat. I’m messing around with some Schiaparelli-esque designs right now.

-Eileen

Yesterday I dropped the joined-at-the-shoulders, ends-woven-in-version over DH’s head, and…um, this boy has gained some 15 pounds since I started the sweater in March!! (Not a bad thing, he’s had a long-term illness and these last meds finally boosted his meta. back. But as a knitter—-!!!)

Wet-blocking is my friend. Whew! And it’s almost dry, now with 4″ more ease. And today I picked up vintage “size 12 steel” dpns (U.S. no. 1) for the neckline and armhole ribbing. Hadn’t realized at first that it would differ from the waist ribbing. I am really excited about this! (In the meantime, I am working on a BORING washcloth for MiL, who loves the darned things.)

Took a pic, but of course, still no software. DH said earlier that he’ll try to find it tommorow. Ladies, pleeeeease keep your fingers crossed for us, I want to post these pictures. *snivel*

-Eileen

Hey guys! Since a lot of us are knitting 1940’s stockings I thought I’d post some links to 1940’s knit woolly undies patterns. Winter is coming up, despite the recent heat.

WW2 Vest

1944 Vest & Knickers

1946 Vest & Knickers

Someone has already posted the link to the Victoria & Albert Museum, right?

I’ve already decided to do the 1946 set, but I haven’t decided to do it in wool or if I should spin some silk yarn for it. I’ve been a little slack in my spinning lately.

Short row shaping for shoulders, I mean. *swoon* I’ve done the 3-needle BO before, but it was on a sweater vest for a child, and I didn’t need to do the short rows first.

Last night I finished the front, s.r. shaping included. The back is OTN again, and I’ve got a couple of rows before shaping commences. I also measured the pieces against one of DH’s favorite sweater vests, and it should fit beautifully. But boy! is he long-waisted. 8-o (If I hold the ribbing at my waist, the top reaches past my eyebrows. eep.)

This fine gauge stuff is the shizzle, now I’m dying to cast on for a Lana Turner style sweater for myself out of the charts in the Alice Carroll book. The yarn is in the stash and it’s calling out to me…

-Eileen

…but I’ve had it with this no-picture thing. ( (I’m going to see if Batty can bring her camera to the SnB on Monday and take one for me!)

DH’s sweater vest is getting very close. I’m on the last few regular rows of the front. Then I need to add a couple of rows to the back & do the shoulder shaping, 3-needle bind off, and the finishing! The fabric looks so nice, but I keep thinking it’ll be too small. (I know. Stupid to curse myself, isn’t it?)

If I can actually finish the vest this week I might see about getting a hat made to go with my outfit. I’d love to felt one; a sort of “smart” little fedora, worn at a tilt. It should be pretty easy to come up with a pattern, and I’ve got 10.5 DPNs already. That would be my first felting venture, but I’ve already steamed and re-blocked old hats, so it wouldn’t be entirely new to me.

-Eileen

so i finally decided on the stitch pattern for my vest, which may well end up a cardigan if i have enough yarn.

i’ve cast on but just have knit about 2.” this rowan 4ply soft is sloooow knitting.

I got so much stuff done on vacation! I made pretty good headway on my Lacey gloves. I put the whole story on my blog. www.costumechick.blogspot.com But here is a quick preview!

Hi there. I finished one stocking and, well, I’m not gonna do the other one. Mostly because I don’t think I have enough yarn and partly out of “I screwed up” ness. I will be making these socks agian, I do believe, when I have enough yarn. Hehe. Here are some photos, so now, the “Stocking poem” has pictures. Yay!
(more…)

I have been working on this forever. It is being knitted on size 13’s in 2 ply wool, which I am doubling. I got the yarn from a local spinner in Melbourne, who spins and dyes her own yarns (Marta’s Yarns). The pics don’t do justice to the colour - it is a nice blue. Sadly, it is the project I leave too often, but have been making real progress of late. I like making ribbed blouses, as they are guaranteed to stretch and fit nicely. This looks like it isn’t wide enough, but it fits well.

xoxo Dee

OK, these things are finally done! I wound up having to frog the first stocking all the way up to the start of the calf decreases because they were too big around the ankles. I’ve decided that my picot hem stocking top doesn’t spring back like a ribbed top would, so when I do another pair I’ll probably go with that. They wound up being really shaped, so the fit is closer to a Victorian pattern than the 1940’s one. They also knitted up pretty quick so I can see whipping up another pair or two.

I’ve already started on the Ribbed Blouse from Alice Carroll’s Complete Guide to Modern Knitting and Crocheting. I’m using a kind of nubbly rayon/cotton blend that has this fantastic drape like heavy silk yarn, plus it has a little bit of a matte/shiny thing going on. I don’t think I’ll have to make any changes except for the length. I’ve already knitted about 6″ of the front. I like that it doesn’t have shoulder seams–it just goes from the front on over to the back. I’ll have to try on the finished product before I decide on putting in shoulder pads. The neck-hole is a bit deeper than I’d like but I think I’ll just knit it as the pattern says but put a couple of button loops when I crochet the picots around the edging and use a couple teeny vintage buttons since I don’t have any small brooches to pin it up.

One thing I really like about vintage knit patterns is that the fronts are usually wider than the backs so they fit so much better. I don’t come across that in very many new patterns unless they’re purposefully doing a vintage fit. I’ve had it with sweaters that are too baggy in the back.

Check out this 1945 blouse pattern:

I screwed up. I was knitting along merrily on the front, when I fianally went from my pattern notes back to the pattern to double-check on things…I forgot to divide for the neckline, and now I need to frog back 8 rows and re-do that last inch of armhold shaping. Also, I need to find more gray wool (might have to skein & wash it first) and wind more blue.

Feh. But I really do need to keep moving on this. We are definately going to the Queen Mary Art Deco Festival over Labor Day weekend, and I promised DH he’d have his sweater for that!

Last night I spent most of the evening finishing those darned baby booties. I don’t like doing them, I’ve decided, though I don’t mind making hats at all. In fact, I enjoyed doing the hats. But all that fiddly sewing and turning on preemie booties…oy! Now they’re wrapped (2 sets: hat & pair of booties each) and in a Priority envelope. Off to LA to their new home…

-Eileen

…but I’m really moving right along on DH’s striped sweater vest. The front is done except for the shoulder shaping–I want short rows rather than the step bind-off–and I’ve just begun the armhole shaping on the front. This thing has been in the works since March! I hope the sizing will be right; I’m thinking about doing a wet-block after I do the 3 needle bind off for the shoulders.

I’m also making a linen face cloth for my MiL (her request), using a stitch pattern from my Readers Digest Needlework book. It’s the chevron seed stitch, with a garter stitch border. It looks gorgeous, and the drape is lovely, but it’s not mindless knitting, like the sweater! It’s taking longer than I thought, so she’ll probably just get the one, her birthday is next month.

It’s so frustrating, not being able to post pictures! I’m about ready to buy drinks for anyone who can take ‘em and send them to me so I can put them on my online album!

-Eileen

I’ve finally goten to the decreases below the calf on the second stocking.  It’s been too hot & humid to knit even with the AC cranked up.  I think the first stocking doesn’t decrease enough on the ankle and it’s a little baggy so I’m going to knit more decreases on the second one and frog the first one to about 4″ above the heel and reknit it to match the second. 

They look a little short but they tend to stretch a lot lengthwise. 

I think I’ll try using Naturespun fingering yarn for the next pair.  Woodland Woolworks sells it by the ball and the cone, it’s pretty soft, comes in tons of colors, and it’s inexpensive.  I’m also considering trying to knit a pair on my single bed knitting machine and sewing the seam up the back.  I’ve got a late-50’s Brother machine and I haven’t been able to get the ribber attachment from eBay yet (I’m always outbid!) so I can’t do any pattern that has purls in it yet.  Lace I can do and that nice little picot hem, but no ribbing unless I take it off the machine when I’m done and pick up the stitches on knitting needles.  It might be nice to whip up a pair one weekend!

There’s a really nice couple of pictures here of a 19th century cotton stocking showing a very fancy top with embroidered initials and a lace pattern that I hadn’t seen in handknit Victorian stockings before.  All the ones I have seen are solid stockinette with one color or stripes and the lace patterns seemed to be used for baby stockings.  I think I might try knitting that top part sometime.

I was flicking through my old pattern books the other day and a pattern jumped out at me. It’s one that I have been thinking of making ever since I first saw it. I don’t know why I like it so much, it’s just a simple little bolero type top. Nothing that hasn’t been remade a zillion times by other designers. But I like it. So:

I have made a start and finished one front. Women sure were tiny back in the 40s! I think my 11-year-old daughter might get this one.
If I like the finished product I’ll size it up for me.
I’m using SWTC Karaoke yarn (wool/soy silk blend) in a brownish shade. Not the ideal colour, but it’s what I had available.

I’m trying to use my stash for all my projects at the moment - to make up for my pattern purchases. Oh dear, I have gone a bit beserk lately. I’ve bought a couple of books from Iva Rose, renewed various magazine subscriptions, and found some German lace pattern magazines on eBay.Mortgage? What mortgage?

Hi everyone,

here is the link to the pattern for the 2-tone blouse, as requested. I don’t have a blog, so I posted on flickr. If anyone has trouble accessing it, and really wants it, I am more than happy to email the original scan to you. The file is way too big to post on the KAL.

BTW - I have started mine. So far I have knitted the collar - oops! the promised gloves are on the back burner! Enjoy…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmj/194342260/

we just moved in the last month or so & my husband (conveniently) forgot that he put a box of my most important craft stuff in the back of his closet. so i had no access to my vintage patterns.

anyway, since i foolishly decided to join this knitalong, along with the project runway kal, i figured i should try to kill 2 birds with one stone & modify a vintage pattern, which satisfies both kals.

so, anyway, this is my base pattern:

sorry for the crappy picture. (i’ll scan a color one eventually…)i bought the pattern book off ebay in the last year or so. i think i will mod it by adding sleeves, which will mean changing the shoulder size/shape as they look wide in the pic. i’m using rowan 4ply soft i’ve had in my stash:

also, for the sake of time, i would prefer to decrease is not eliminate completely the stockinette portion. i’m thinking of doing the whole thing in a pattern something like one of these:

so, that’s it. just have to finish my swatch & adjust which size i follow on the pattern accordingly. i think i’ll just cast on & knit & keep modifying/designing as i go.

Have started the Morale Boosters in JaggerSpun Zephyr on #1 needles. I swatched it at 10+ stitches per inch, but when I blocked it, it hit 9/inch exactly! I’m ready to do the row that makes the hem turn over, but I can’t imagine how it works. How do you knit 1 together? Or is is a typo? I’m inclined to purl a row and keep going, but I would also like to know how everyone else is doing this row.

This blog is such fun! I really enjoy seeing everyone’s projects!

Ellen

Hi Everyone;

This is my first post - this is a great kal, and I wanted to share my first turly vintage knit, this shirt from the Victoria & ALbert Museum website:

Here’s the link too:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/13096-popup.html

This shirt has a story behind it: I went in to my LYS and asked the owner for a suitable sub yarn that gave the gauge called for in the pattern. She said I wouldn’t be able to find any (I don’t know what she was thinking, I just used sock weight yarn) and warned me against making it because it would “drive me crazy” due to the small gauge/needle size. She suggested an updated-vintage look (oxymoron? or just a moron?) Anyway, I didn’t listen, and I love every stitch I made. Apox on you, silly yarn store owner! (I’ve yet to parade around the store with my shirt, but when I do, it will be sweet)

I spent friday on the beach - poor me, I know - knitting away on my lacey gloves. I decided to go with dark fushia, and to go for it in the written size. I have small hands, but I guessed that I could give them away if they were too large. well…

This is a picture of the glove on the table. I am 8 rows into the glove after you put the thumb stitches on the holder.It’s pretty, and doesn’t look too big. “what is Costumechick talking about?”

The next picture is on my hand. “It looks fine…”

Then take a look at the back.

It is a good 2″ too big around for my hand. Also, I am to knit for 1.5″ past the thumb stitches holder. That is about half way up my fingers. Let’s not even talk about the length and width of the fingers.

So what do I do? Obviously, I will frog this. I don’t know any basketball players who want purple lacey gloves… Should I try smaller needles (size 1’s won’t cut it. I’ll need to go down to at least 0’s). I afraid the fabric will be too stiff. I could try smaller needles and thinner yarn. They won’t be warm gloves, but they might fit. oh, and I am on gauge.

I do like the lace pattern. It is easy to memorize, and is only on the back of the hand - so it is good tv watching type knitting. The yo increases to make the thuimb gusset are pretty. I was concerned at first about having holes in the thumb gussett, but they have grown on me.

Any advice?

I finished my gloves. I knitted them in 4 ply Eki Riva alpaca. They are from The 1942 Australian Women’s Weekly Knitting book for Adults. They gave me a bit of grief - I undid them 4 times, but I persisted. The two-tone blouse is in the same book - I have to make that! I have picked out the colours - the blue for the main and the wine for the contrast. I can’t wait to get started! I promised a pair of gloves to someone, so alas, the blouse must wait. I don’t know if I will be able to contain myself - maybe the promised gloves can wait….

Not a lot, particularly compard to some of the rather large projects featured here.

One bootee and one fingerless mitt. Wonder if the pairs will be made? I have so many projects on the go at the moment that it’s scary.

I have been wasting a lot of time looking over old patterns. There are truly some amazing designs from yesteryear. I suppose it helped that women were supposed to sit at home looking beautiful - how else would you have the time to make a knitted three piece suit at 7(or more) sts to the inch?

Susan

Hi everyone,

I have finished my 1960 cardigan (3 weeks ago actually, but I have been too busy wearing it to take a picture!). And now that I have time DH has taken the camera away with him. I started on another pair of gloves from 1942. They have given me so much grief - I frogged it FOUR times! I am finally on track. They have a lace pattern with many increases and little guidance in