Free Saturday (meant to be Friday) Pattern - Men's Gloves and Socks Woman's Weekly 25

That Bank Holiday on Monday has completely thrown me so I am a day behind. With storm Hannah blasting out overhead, I think that something appropriate is needed and this time it's for the blokes (well not just for them but you know what I mean). This men's glove and sock combo seemed just the thing to remind us that spring still can have a bite.

Click below for the pattern 

Woman's Weekly 25

Free Pattern Friday - Bedjackets and Bedsocks Patons 678

I don't know why but I have a fascination for bedjackets. Possibly because they call to my 'lady of leisure' side who would be brought breakfast in bed on a chilly winter's morning, possible by the maid. The fire not having quite warmed the room, means I need something to cover my upper body as my delicate silk negligee just isn't up to the job. But I think that it's also because they tell of the history of a rather chilly island.

They tell of houses with no central heating and austerity and form part of the 20th century (and earlier) social history of Britain. Most of the fancy old houses in Britain are still freezing as it costs a fortune to heat such a large space but it would be hasty to think that bedjackets are an item of clothing for the wealthy. Until recently most British homes were poorly heated. A small heater or open fire might warm the bedroom on the coldest nights and a fire in the living room but the rest of the house would be cold. A bedjacket was a practical solution to women of all classes to combat chilly times just before bed and first thing in the morning.

The patterns have their heyday in the 1940s and early 50s with just about every pattern company producing them. The light and airy nature of the bedjackets created a warm garment using larger than standard needles and would have also used less wool, which was rationed until the late 1940s. Many of the covers show quite a glamorous setting which I think was deliberate to give people a glimmer of pretty and feminine during a dark period of the world's history.

The patterns start to dwindle in the early 1950s which also ties into a boom in housing. Nye Bevan, the joint health and housing minister, insisted that there was a link between the health of the nation and housing. He insisted that good quality materials were used in new builds and that council built homes were linked to gas, water, and electric. Many of the council houses of this period were warmer due to better design, advancements in building technologies but also fuel prices had fallen so it was cheaper to heat the whole house for longer. The era of the bedjacket had passed and by the late 1960s they were seen as fuddy-duddy and only for old ladies.

I still have a soft spot for them though and hope that you do too.

Well that was longer than planned so here's your reward. This is a pattern from the very late 1940s or early 1950s judging from the hair styles. Click on the link below to get the pattern

Patons 578 - Bedjackets and Bedsocks

Free Pattern Friday - A Simple Rib Bestway 912

This Friday is a nice and simple pattern that a beginner could handle with easy and makes a great bit of telly knitting. The back and front are the same and it has those wonderful boxy sleeves of the early 40s that makes it a much have.

Although this is for a 34" bust, the finished garment is 29" so lots of negative easy and this should be easy to up-size if needed. One of the easiest ways is simply to go up a needle size but you could also use a thicker yarn to get the next size up. I think a combination of both should give you a couple of sizes difference but be careful that you don't get the fabric too loose or those sleeves could go floppy.

Click on the link below to get the pattern
Bestway 912 - A Jumper in Simple Rib

Soooooo . . . it's been a while

My word hasn't time flown? I hope everyone has been having fun. I have, well mostly. For the past couple of years I have been working away from home with only the weekend visits back to do my washing and attend comic cons with my fella (he does art and sells it but is a bit scared to give it a go on his own). This has left me with very little time to do anything.

However, I now have some time on my hands so thought that I would see if I can actually make a bit more of this wonderful blog and my pattern shop on etsy and Instagram and tumbler and Facebook, and I nearly forgot Pinterest. Look at me getting all fancy with social media.

I will try and post about my adventures in knitting, which fell by the wayside too but is being revived with the very lovely (and free) February Lady Sweater, as well as offering the occasional free vintage pattern to pique your interest and maybe even a KAL.

My time over the past week or so has mainly been spent tidying the living room. Yes, I know it shouldn't take that long but it's amazing what forms of distraction you can create when you don't want to do something. Anyway, I have to vacuum and find a couple more homes for bits and bobs and then I should be finished. And then I can try and tackle the bedroom. It has become the dumping ground for everything that doesn't have a place so it crammed. But the incentive there is that I know there are loads of fabulous patterns just wanting to see the world again.