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About Skiff

Skiff Vintage Patterns was started up at the beginning of 2009. Born out of a passion for the fashions of the 1940s and 1950s, I combined it with my die-hard love of knitting.

Vintage Tips

If you're new to the vintage knitting pattern game, have a look at these useful tips first - they'll help you decide which wool to use and if the pattern needs adapting ... RavelryDrop by and see what I'm working on at the moment!

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Vogue Vintage bib blouse

pink elegance

it's not that I've got a thing for pink but ...

Getting very excited about my next vintage project - a blouse pattern from Vogue Knitting No.35 with ‘a deep tuck-lined bib with tiny round collar’.  I’ve had a scan through the instructions and can’t see any glaring errors, so fingers crossed shouldn’t be too complicated.  I’m tempted by the skirt (you can knit it as a dress or separates), but I’m not sure I’m ready to brave one yet … looks simple enough but the time factor could be of biblical proportions. I could start it and keep it going on in the background, but I think by the time I finish it the blouse will be faded through use!

I haven’t really got a thing for pink, but I do quite like the idea of the pale pink in the picture (although am toying with the idea of black with white trimmings) … need to do some tension square but I’m hoping that Jamieson & Smith’s jumper weight 2-ply will do the job.

Just the small matter of finishing the other vintage pattern I’m working on now … so much to do …

She’s thrifty, she’s nifty, she thinks it’s 1950

Knitting Fashions of the 1940s

Knitting Fashions of the 1940s

Well 1940 didn’t rhyme.  Ah, Knitting Fashions of the 1940s … I’ve had my eye on this book for ages and now it’s mine, all mine.  I’ve ordered some great jumper weight 2-ply from Jamieson & Smith, a wonderful Shetland wool specialist in Scotland, I’ve got my size 12 needles and I’m ready to go.  Sometimes it’s nice to knit up a vintage pattern knowing that someone has done the adapting for you, although I’m still lining up some originals … I think if you’ve got the patience to knit on small needles with fine wool you can make some wonderful garments which you just won’t see anywhere else.  Occasionally though I just need a quick fix for something quick and easy in between, so I’m knitting a small jumper for Lucas at the same time.