hey I found that the british history museum is sharing a ton of vintage knitting and crochet patterns from the 40s for free!
Despite what the original Reddit post says, this is just the V&A’s collection. If you haven’t checked it out, you should. If you already know that collection by heart, I’ve saved you a couple of click-throughs.
I thought some of you might enjoy a peek at my knitting notebook! Tumblr is so useful but I really love having a physical book for storing all my yarn-related thoughts. This is where I keep cute stitch patterns, color ideas, techniques I’ve learned and even some whole patterns for taking on the go. Perfect for when I don’t have internet access and can’t remember which one is m1r and which is m1l. But mostly, it’s just so nice to sink some time into it once in a while. Taking a moment to draw pictures and make each page something pretty just for me has been so relaxing and rewarding.
My very first pattern is now live at Ravelry! You can buy the pattern to make this little cottage house here. Since you found me on Tumblr, use the coupon code “HELLSITE” for $2 off through May 31.
I’ve had so much fun making this pattern and I hope you all do too! Please tag me in any photos you upload here! Happy knitting!
This issue offers up a soothing natural palette on the cover, but along with some quiet pullovers, it also offers some strong colors too. There are a total of 18 patterns, including 12 pullovers, 2 cardigans, 1 vests, 1 pair of shorts, 1 wrap, and a bottle holder.
The sweater on the cover is the dramatic despite its pale color: it is asymmetrical, creating both one sleeve with eyelet and a deep slit up the side. Called Corrales, designed by Wei Wilkins, it is made of Cascade’s Cantata yarn, a cotton/wool blend. Make it if you want people to ask you about your clothes.
Easier to live with is the simple rectangular pullover in pale yellow, one of my favorite colors, with a slip stitch pattern and a polo collar by Rachel Brockman called Virden. Univeral Yarn’s Magnolia which is a luxurious modal/cashmere blend in sock weight. It is a 3 out of 4 for difficult.
The wrap called Mossy Glen uses garter stitch, which is simple, and short rows, which takes more concentration, to make the 5 undulating colors in Indigodragonfly R.O. U. Sport yarn which is a wool. Kim McBrien Evans designed it and it is also a 3 out of 4.
The landscape sweater called Bayview by Syliva Watts-Cherry is one of the bold designs in this issue. Made of Debbie Bliss/Lovecraft Rialto which is a wool sport yarn, it uses some 9 colors. It is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty like the rest of these. There are easier tops as well in this issue,.
In addition, there are several interviews, an article on linen production, and another on why we should think of inches per stitch instead of the other way around when we ponder gauge, and a travel piece on the Navajo Nation in the southwest. Of course, the usual short pieces on new yarns, fashion trends, etc.
Knit Inspiration: Fox Paws. Fox paws is a rectangular wrap with a distinctive stripe motif that looks like little interlocking fox feet. Using only increases and decreases, stripes are shaped into extreme waves using the same technique as the Petal Cowl pattern but with more unusual shapes.
Okay, small rant incoming. I’ll just preface by saying I have practically no successful lace knitting experience, and it’s entirely because of charts like these.
I want to use this mesh lace edging in an upcoming shawl project, but I gave it a test knit and i have no idea what I’m doing. First of all, the note at the top says “14 stitches” but the first row contains 15 boxes. And if that didn’t confuse me enough, 14 stitches is NOT enough to accommodate all those yarn overs and k2togs. (The triangle symbol). Counting the triangles as two stitches (as they should be, because k2tog affects TWO stitches, not ONE, as these charts seem to think) I figured out that to knit the entire first row as written, you need 21 stitches, not 14.
There also is a scalloped edging in the sample picture, but I could see no indication of it in my test knit, despite following the chart closely. And yes, I was knitting in the correct direction.
If anyone could provide guidance, I’d be much obliged. I just don’t know what information I’m missing to make this chart (and others like it) make sense. Other people seem to be able to knit these things, so clearly I’m missing something lol!!
You do only need 14 stitches to start the first row because while k2tog takes 2 stitches, a yarn over creates a stitch where no stitch was before.
Each of those k2tog has a YO that balances it out, plus you have 1 extra YO, for a net gain of one stitch. You will have 15 stitches when you end the first row, even though you started with 14.
I’m a chart person, but some people find it easier to follow down out line by line instructions, so you could try that and see if it’s easier for you
