Watch out for that right hook

I know it’s a bit old hat to laugh patronisingly at kitsch and quirky images from yesteryear … but check out this kitsch and quirky vintage knitting pattern I just came across (laughs patronisingly).

Looks like a lot of thought went into setting up this mis en scene, so I’m trying to get imagine the storyboard meeting: man comes home from work, he’s been slogging at a dull 9-5 he hates.  The boss hates him, the feeling’s mutual, he feels impotent and frustrated … but he’s got dreams, he’ll fight his way out of this somehow.  He opens the door and finds a bunch of women in his living room – they are (from l to r) his sister-in-law, his sister and his wife.  This irritates him even more – he’s out earning a dollar while they sit at home chatting and knitting.  But wait, what’s this?  Darn them all, they’re wearing HIS SWEATERS!

He threatens them with a right hook – they laugh coquettishly, they’ve seen it all before, he’ll never carry out his threat.  But maybe he will this time, maybe this is just enough to push him over the edge …

Well, whatever the outcome, I figure the formidable lady on the far left would give as good as she gets so he’d better watch out.

How to Knit

Okay, it wasn’t a figment of my imagination, my ridiculous imaginary project I’d dreamed up to keep me company instead of doing any real work … here it is! No really, it’s a book about How To Knit (did you guess from the title?). And you can download it from this site, lucky you. It includes a cool 1940s dress trimming pattern as an easy first project, hopefully to tempt you further down the road into those wonderful vintage suits and blouses.

Tell your friends and watch out for the next one, coming soon … well … this year sometime, hopefully, erm … did I mention it’s the first in a series?

How to Knit

I haven’t blogged for a week or so – not just being lazy, I’ve been trying to finish off a small booklet I’ve been working on about knitting basics.  Should be finished in the next few days so I’ll post it when I’m done in a .pdf format.  It’s the first of 3 or 4 instalments and covers the very basics – casting on, knit & purl, casting off … I’ve been working on it for the last few months and it’ll be good to finally get it out there – check out the free 1940s dress trim pattern!

Knit Me, Trafalgar Square

Looks like it went well!  Congrats Kat, and good luck with your show.

Knit me flier

Kat Hall has organised Knit Me, a collaborative knitting event in Trafalgar Square this Saturday 14th March – as each person turns up, they have to join onto the main piece of knitting using their own needles, wool and imagination.

An unfeasibly excellent thing to do, although sadly can’t make it myself so am looking forward to seeing the outcome.

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.

Cath Kidston knitting bag & needles

My dearest friend bought me these gorgeous bamboo needles and case by Cath Kidston for Christmas.  I’ve been promising myself for years that I’d start a new collection of needles – I’ve always used my Mum’s old-fashioned metal ones (plus a few fancy plastic ones she must have splashed out on somewhere along the line) so it was a joy to find how beautiful and smooth these ones are.  They’re textured enough that the stitches don’t slip off unnecessarily, but smooth enough to let them slide when needs be.  Feel good on your fingers too.

Then to top it all she’s bought me a knitting bag for my birthday – did I mention she’s my dearest friend?!

I tried hard not to like Cath Kidston for a long time – her stuff’s everywhere and the designs seemed too obvious – but she’s really got a great eye for vintage designs and it’s hitting the mark at the moment, so I’m drawn into her Brighton shop whenever I’m there.  There’s an interesting range of 40s inspired clothes at the moment and I’m never one to turn away from a retro vintage (inspired) dress or two.  The website’s rather lovely too.

Vintage craft books

I’m adding to my vintage craft book collection and it’s such a joy to go through the pages I thought I’d share some of them here.

I feel such a geek listing them … erm, some justification was meant to finish this sentence but I can’t find one, I am a geek.

They exude an enthusiasm which I feel around again at the moment in the craft revival and I think they’re apt for right now.  Many of them are from the war or just post-war period so they were a necessity – how to use your scraps, how to make do and mend, and the Government issued leaflets along similar lines.  Just think, not only was craft seen as a great and useful hobby, it was of national importance!

They include:

• ‘Pins & Needles: Treasure of Family Needlework’ (2nd ed 1953)
• ‘Modern Knitting Illustrated’ (1st ed, approx 1945)
• ‘Wooden Toymaking Step by Step’ (2nd ed, 1963)
• ‘Practical Knitting Illustrated’ (1st ed, approx 1940)
• ‘Encyclopedia of Needlework’ by Therese de Dillmont (1st ed, 1897)
• ‘Gifts You Can Make Yourself’ (1st ed, c.1940s)

I think we’re at a time when recycling and cutting back are high on our agenda at the moment so I can only think the craft renaissance will continue.  Materials can be so expensive now – if you look at the knitting books on the shop shelves you’d be forgiven for thinking that there are only about 3 wool manufacturers worth buying wool from, and that a size 12 jumper will cost a minimum of £45 to knit up.  It’s about time we saw some cheaper alternatives coming to the fore, but I think that will only happen when knitters develop the confidence to experiment a bit more, to read their wool bands, do their tension squares and think ‘hmm, this will knit up the same as that Rowan wool for half the price’.  I’ve been a sucker for that myself in the past but no more, I’m going to do some more research and find out some good quality alternatives.

It’s time there was a bit of a backlash against the expensive brands – in these times of fiscal need, craft should be a more satisfying and fulfilling way of saving a bit of wedge here and there.

Lucas jumper

Knitting this cute little jumper for Lucas at the moment on circular needles – it’s taking its own sweet time as I’m using 3mm needles and a rather fine cotton, but it has a jaunty sailor air and I’m rather looking forward to seeing the finished article.  Mind you he’s growing at a rate of knots so I’d better look sharp about it in case he gets too big for it.

The yarn is Drops Safran by Scandinavian company Garnstudio.  It’s soft, good quality and very reasonable too.  They also do a nice range of needles and free knitting patterns, so definitely worth checking out.

Alright I know I said no more trying to be clever with the titles, but it made me laugh. Sock … Rock? Oh forget it, it was tenuous anyway. A friend recommended this wonderful site, Cardigan in Brighton. Seems to be getting a good deal of recognition now – good on ‘em. Check out these gorgeous butterflies – ties in this Wunderkammer stuff occupying a small drawer in my head at the mo.

Off to France on holiday for a couple of weeks – knackered but reinspired at the mo, hope to come back refreshed and raring to craft.