Vintage Hooking Rediscoveries

I was doing some post-Nemo (big-ass blizzard, for those in a cave) poking around my studio and happened upon a stash of vintage goodness I'd not seen in a while. One was this treasure, "Fourteen Filet Crochet Sweaters" by Emma Farnes. Based on the clothing worn by the models and by the nouveau-style font used on the cover, I would have guessed these were from around 1915-1918. But if the newspaper clipping from "American Farmer" inserted long ago is a clue, it seems to be from around 1921. Oh well, my bad.

But I thought all one of you might enjoy seeing some of these beauties and the scanty instructions that accompany them.

 Besides the Filet discovery, I also came across these gems.  One thing I absolutely love about vintage pattern books are the marks left by their former owners. (Actually, that's one of the things I love about used cookbooks, too). Take Collingbourne's, for example.  Apparently, someone didn't care so much for the artistic crochet contained within these pages, as she (I presume) glued other patterns straight over them!  Virtually every page has been rethought with an "improved" pattern glued over the inferior one.

 Another favorite, and among the books that compelled this hooker to bloody learn to knit,  are these copies of Leach's.  Take a look.  Do I really have to explain?  I mean, that cape is faaaaaaabulous!

Some More Vintage Whimsy

Thought I'd post a few more of these lovely chapeaus....

I particularly love the clever use of the stitch patterns in the top one.

Enjoy!

Vintage Pattern Alert - 1915 Boy's Hat

I frequently get requests from readers asking for the patterns of some of the vintage crochet that gets posted here. Because I have a pathological need to collect these, but not necessarily organize them, it's not always easy to get my hands on the specific pattern. That said, I will try to do better about scanning the patterns at the same time I'm scanning the pictures so they'll be available to whomever wants 'em. Obviously, I won't honor requests for patterns under copyright, so don't ask. But I will do what I can to post those patterns people have asked me for over the months. And since this boy's hat was the easier find, here it is. This is sized for a really little kid, so if you are looking to reinterpret for an adult, it might take a bit of futzing. If you make up any of the patterns I post, could you send me a photo of the finished piece? I'd love to post it.

The Vintage Challenge

Hello! My name is Matilda - of waltzing fame, if you must know. I've come to you from the 1916 edition of Collingbourne's Encyclopedia of Technologic Art Needle Work Instruction by Virginia Snow. I'm here to discuss with you all an issue of great import to your remarkably charming hostess, Subway Hooker. As she described, albeit in rather more coarse language, while quite smitten with this lovely cap as presented in my mighty tome, she found the technologic pattern instructions to be wanting for clarity. She explained that you might find it frustrating that we do not indicate the weight of the yarns utilized, nor do we inform our dear readers of the particular crochet hook size necessary for the successful completion of the cap (or any of the patterns presented, truth be told). I find this odd - aren't these simply meaningless details that any needlewoman trained in the dainty arts would understand upon seeing the illustrations? Furthermore, Miss Hooker took to the giggles when, upon reading the pattern instructions, we reference "holes," as in: "8 sc in the hole." And what else? Ah yes, she rather laboriously discussed her preference for understanding gauge, what with the lack of other specific details such as yarn weight and hook size. I'm sorry, but have women gone rather simple in the head?

Well, despite the challenges presented given the issues discussed above, Subway Hooker will attempt to recreate my gay chapeau for your edification. Furthermore, she will make any amendments to the pattern instructions deemed necessary to avoid failure. And in her unending well of generosity, she has decided to post the original instructions so that those experienced in the needle arts may try to complete the project at hand.

In return, Miss Hooker would be most gratified if, upon the cap's successful completion, you were to send to her a photograph of your finished work.

And without further ado, I present to you the Matilda Cap:

Manchette

Hello dears. So while you've all been sleeping a-snug in your beds, the Hooker has been hard at work pulling in some interesting bits of history for your perusal. Ever hear of a Manchette? Me, neither. Sounds like something that helps you chew. But it is, in fact, a lovely precursor to everyone's favorite fingerless gloves or wristwarmers. Oh sure, you're all so cool with your mitts on, aren't you? But so was the fashionable crocheter of 1848. That's right. The hipsters swirling around in outfits like this were madly hooking their exceptionally beautiful and delicate manchettes--13 years before the Civil War. My gut is that, despite the technical explanation from Wikipedia, these lovelies were probably less about being a wrist cozy and more about dressing up a plain blouse or jacket, but I am charmed by the notion that our foremothers were crocheting these simply because they are so cool.

So I am thinking that the fingerless glove can do with some fancifying, don't you think? For this and more inspiration, take a look at the Antique Pattern Library, which has thousands of pages of gorgeous old crochet patterns to pore over.

December 31, 2007

Okay, let me get this off my chest. I am lame, LAME I tells ya! That's right, I haven't done SQUAT for this site in ages. Can I give you a pile of excuses? Like the fact that my iMac lay dying, its hard drive clickety-clacking in its belly, kernel panics every other day? Oh sure, maybe I do have too many pdfs of obscure and vintage crochet patterns clogging its little iVeins, but isn't that what it does best? Whatever. I'm now the proud owner of some new souped-up iMac, yanking envy out of the little iElves at the Apple Store (oh yeah, baby, the new one in the Meatpacking District). Smell me.

Oh, things have happened behind the scenes, don't you worry. I've interviewed some of my beloved Hookers, that's for sure, but all I can tell you is blame Corporate America. That's all I can say for the moment. Okay, that AND the fact that I promise I will deliver the interviews with these utterly amazing people, as god is my witness.

But in the meanwhile, I have to do something easy. Easy for me, easy for you. I will have some sense of accomplishment. You will have a li'l old feast for your peepers. Yes, that's right. All.......three of you will have some fresh vintage to enjoy. Go ahead. Swirl the glass. Hold it up to the light. Sniff the bouquet. Coat your tongue with it. Wait, did I say Coat? Well how about that! What a coinky-dink, because here are some lovely vintage coats for you to enjoy. So......um.....ENJOY!