Retro Knits Cool Vintage Patterns for Men, Women, and Children from the 1900s through the 1970s

162 Pages·2008·19.13 MB·English

by  Kari Cornell

e t r
r
o
KKnniittss
Cool Vintage Patterns for
Men, Women, and Children
from the 1900s through the 1970s
Kari Cornell and Jean Lampe, Editors
Voyageur Press
First published in 2008 by Voyageur Press, an imprint of MBI Publishing Company, 400 1st Avenue
North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA
Copyright © 2008 by Voyageur Press
All rights reserved. With the exception of quoting brief passages for the purposes of review, no part of
this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Publisher.
The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations
are made without any guarantee on the part of the author or Publisher, who also disclaim any liability
incurred in connection with the use of this data or specific details.
We recognize, further, that some words, model names, and designations mentioned herein are the
property of the trademark holder. We use them for identification purposes only. This is not an
official publication.
Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders and clear permissions for the patterns included
in this book. Please contact the publisher if you believe you are a copyright holder whose rights have
not been cleared.
Voyageur Press titles are also available at discounts in bulk quantity for industrial or sales-promotional
use. For details write to Special Sales Manager at MBI Publishing Company, 400 1st Avenue North,
Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA.
To find out more about our books, join us online at www.voyageurpress.com.
Editor: Kari Cornell
Designer: LeAnn Kuhlmann
Printed in Singapore
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Retro knits : cool vintage patterns for men, women, and children from the 1900s through the 1970s /
edited by Kari Cornell and Jean Lampe.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-2977-1 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-7603-2977-X (pbk.)
1. Knitting—Patterns. 2. Vintage clothing. I. Cornell, Kari A. II. Lampe, Jean. III. Title: Vintage patterns
for men, women, and children from the 1900s through the 1970s.
TT825.R427 2008
746.43'2041—dc22
2007039572
PERMISSIONS
Patons and Bernat patterns are used by permission of Spinrite GP Inc.:
Patons Hand in Glove No. 28
Patons Hand Knits by Beehive No. 130
Patons Beehive for Bairns No. 96
Bernat Cables and Raglans Book No. 1320 design 335-130
Bernat Handknit Classics
Coats & Clark patterns are used by permission of Coats & Clark, Inc. © 1947, 1952, 1957 (as applicable),
Coats & Clark Inc. Products and supplies for these patterns may no longer be available.
Columbia Minerva knitting patterns are used by permission of Caron International.
Bucilla, Bernard Ullman, Fleisher and Bear Brand patterns are used by permission of Plaid Enterprises, Inc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
T
his great collection of vintage patterns would never have come to exist without the help of many
dedicated people.We owe special thanks to those who granted permission for us to use patterns
in the book:Catherine Blythe of Spinrite GP Inc.,Lynn Brown of Coats & Clark,Ed Hamrick of
Caron International,and Dan Musick of Plaid Enterprises,Inc.I would like to personally thank
Jean Lampe for offering her knitting expertise,for providing a range of sizes for today’s knitter,
and for knitting swatch after swatch after swatch to ensure that the recommended yarn weight,needle size,
and gauge was correct for each pattern.A special thanks also goes to designer LeAnn Kuhlmann for
finessing all of the disparate elements in this book into a cohesive,attractive whole.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 9
1910
s
Winsome Sweater Vest 14
Roseate Sweater 16
Fairy Bonnet and Fairy Slipover Sweater 18
Tam 21
Lady’s Bow Sweater 24
1920
Men’s Checked Cardigan 26
Mildred Scarf 29
s
Winnifred Negligee 30
1930 Women’s Classic Cardigan 34
Women’s Ruffle Edge Cardigan 37
s
Ear Cosy Baby Hat 40
Women’s Bathing Suit 42
Bunny Hugger Cardigan 48
1940
Men’s Vest 52
Seasider Cardigan 54 s
Men’s Cardigan 57
Men’s Argyle Socks 60
Baby Bonnet and Jacket 63
Men’s Two-Tone Cardigan 66
Stocking Cap and Glove Set 70
Men’s Heavy Gloves 73
Lady’s Pullover 75
Men’s Turtleneck Sweater 81
Women’s Hooded Pullover 86
1950
Men’s and Women’s Cardigan 88
s
Embroidered Mittens 93
Versatile Shoulderette 95
Boy’s and Girl’s Cardigan 97
Men’s Pullover 100
Dolman Bolero 103
Women’s Shell 108
1960
Girl’s Lucky Lady Cardigan 110
Men’s Striped Sweater 113 s
Boy’s Cowboy Pullover 116
Men’s Cardigan with Solid or Striped Sleeves 118
Men’s Jacket 122
Women’s Irish Panel Sweater 126
Women’s Mohair Sweater with Hood 130
1970 Halter Top 136
Men’s Waistcoat 138
s
Kid’s Footsie Sweater 140
Leg Warmers 142
Paris Look Sweaters à la Mode 144
Women’s Folk Cardigan 148
Hooded Cape 152
Glossary 154
Abbreviations 158
Index 159
Happy are those who wear the knits included in this 1930s pattern book!
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INTRODUCTION
A
s long as I can remember,I’ve adored all
things vintage.In high school,I idolized
James Dean and Marilyn Monroe,
poodle skirts,saddle shoes,and smart
sweater sets.For prom,I rented a black
gown made in the late 1940s from the community
theater’s costume shop.In college,I stocked my
wardrobe with retro finds from local thrift shops.
And when I got married,I found a cream-colored,
wool cloche hat at an antique store and had a
Minneapolis-based designer make me a simple,
pretty wedding gown reminiscentof the 1920s.By
the time I started knitting in my early thirties,I was
a fan of forties fashion. The design for this classic cable
sweater was featured in a 1940s Bernat pattern book.
It wasn’t long before I discovered the hundreds
of vintage patterns from the 1940s and beyond 1940s.The fit may be snug or roomy,depending on
available on eBay.Needless to say,a knitter who is a what is in fashion at any given time,but the sweater
fan of 1940s fashion is very lucky indeed;during the design remains essentially the same.
1940s,a decade often referred to as the Golden Age As Jean and I were gathering patterns to include
of Knitting,knitting patterns flooded the market. in this collection,we were struck by how similar
My stars aligned in another way as well;as an editor designs from the 1950s,1960s,and 1970s are to
at Voyageur Press,I happened to be collecting patterns found in magazines and books published
stories and artwork to fill our first knitting recently.The vintage pattern for the Versatile
anthology,For the Love of Knitting.I spent many Shoulderette from the 1950s has made a comeback
hours shopping for vintage patterns and as today’s basic shrug.Our retro version is made in
corresponding with top-notch knitters and writers. a wonderful fingering-weight yarn that gently
The book was a labor of love,and the collection of drapes over the shoulders.And designs very much
patterns I gathered to use as artwork turned out to like the Hooded Cape and Leg Warmers from our
be a treasure trove.Once For the Love of Knitting 1970s collection are common in today’s fall clothing
was released,readers began to ask where they could catalogs.Everything old is indeed new again.
find the instructions for the pattern book covers
that appeared in the book.And so the idea for BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Retro Knits was born. Our plan in creating this book was to print a large
With the plethora of magazines,pattern books, collection of cool vintage patterns as they were first
and web patterns available to knitters and published,with very few changes.We would include
crocheters today,why the need to dig back into the updated yarn and needle suggestions,of course,
past? What is it about retro designs that continue but otherwise we wanted to retain as much of the
to entice knitters? wording as possible,and publish the fun photos
Knitting from vintage patterns not only evokes that accompanied the original patterns.For the
fond memories of garments mother,grandmother, most part,we’ve done just that.But along the way,
or a favorite aunt made for us;it also provides an we made a few discoveries that prompted us to
escape to a time when life seemed less complicated. adapt the patterns to make them more useful to
And retro styles have become classic style. the modern knitter.We’ve added abbreviation
The women’s traditional sweater set,made explanations,schematics,a glossary of terms used,
popular in the 1940s,will always be a wardrobe and,where possible,extra sizes,offering at least
staple,as will the basic men’s V-neck sweater of the three for most projects.
9