Finding the words to say . . . What?

I want to try and play with words again and see if I can make them make sense for other people. I want to write stories. I love language: the way people use (and abuse it), the tempo, the timbre, the nuances. I love the way that words feel. I shocked myself this morning though, when I realised how small my spoken vocabulary has become. I don't consider myself to be particularly eloquent but have always imagined that I got by pretty well but I found myself using 'amazing' several times when talking about the exploration of the Pacific by Polynesia peoples. What they did was amazing but there were other ways I could have described their ability to cover vast tracts of water. I was disappointed in myself and wish to find a way to use more, and better suited words. But how to go about such a challenge?

My bookcase is relatively light. I have some books I have returned to throughout my life - Littlenose; The Moomins; The Bone People; Victory; Jude the Obscure; The Gone Away World; Wolf Hall; Terry Pratchett is always there as is Iain (M.) Banks and of course my enduring love of vintage knitting books, but I have so few books.

Some people suggest that reading helps develop stronger language skills, but I am not a great, nor vociferous reader. I can read, and am not afraid of a complex or challenging read, but I am not one of those that always has a book on the go. Perhaps I should try to read a little more to see if it can help. I enjoy a wide range: science fiction, some fantasy, quite like modern fiction and dabble in the classics, will gladly open a book on poetry and non-fiction is something that I do enjoy. Yet where do I start? Many of the those that grace the best sellers lists I find dull and poorly written. The stories derivative, the characterisations unimagined and the language ungainly and more about the author than the story. They seem to have been written with the soul purpose to fill up critics list of 'must reads' but I wonder if the critics have read them.

I think that I am going to ask random strangers and friends to recommend a book for me to read and see if that expands my words and helps me write more myself. I know that there are those "100 books you should read before you die" type of lists but I find them a bit unoriginal (not the books, the lists) and I've probably already read many of them. I really would like to find new authors and stories so what is on your 'best books ever' list? And what do you think I should read next?

Spring is Springing . . .

. . . and what better way to celebrate than with this great Spring Jumper from Good Needlework and Knitting 1938? 

Worked in a fancy rib with lovely long, close fitting sleeves and a  wee bow at the neck this is a classic 1930s design and will fit up to a 35" bust.

I love how a colour scheme is given for your whole outfit. Soft Tulip Green is suggested with a matching green angora woollen skirt; brown shoes; suntan stockings; and brown, green and yellow bangles. I like to think that those bangles are the big, chunky Bakelite ones that stack half way up your arm.

The second colour scheme is no less vibrant being Poker Red but toned down with a grey flannel skirt and jacket, grey suede shoes and belt and natural stockings.

Unusually the sleeves are worked from the top down so this could easily be made with shorter sleeves if you choose.

To download the pattern, just click on the image above

Family Woollies and a bit of history

 I love these knitting supplements - this one was produced by Texet for Mother and Home in about 1937. Not only do you get a range of patterns also get a teeny glimpse of what was 'socially' acceptable for that era - history and knitting in one happy bundle. This one has the perfect nuclear family for the 1930s: Mum and Dad and 3 children and reflected the British government's attempts to raise the population.

Although it may not seem like an obvious campaign, images of the ideal family across a range of media presented what was desirable and in 1930s Britain, a larger family was desirable. Having a large population in the early part of the 20th century was seen as a positive thing as people were needed to work in manufacturing and agriculture but also meant that you had a population to buy the goods you made.

During the First World War the UK population had slumped and although there was a significant spike immediately afterwards, the birth rate soon dropped again. By the late 1920s the number of births had dropped to current levels, about 700,000 a year, and infant morality meant that 1 in 10 children didn't survive to their first birthdays so subtle campaigns throughout the 1930s were designed to encourage larger families (but not too large). These feed into all aspects of normal life including knitting patterns.

So there you have it: a little bit of history and a little bit of knitting - click on the cover and download the booklet with 9 family designs

Surprise Sunday - 1940s Fair Isle Gloves

 

Since this was the scene that greeted me this morning, I thought that we could all do with a quick and pretty pattern  to help keep the cold away so I came up with gloves and mittens (all fitting an average hand, whatever that is). They are all made with quite a tight tension to keep your hands nice and warm. 

Each pair use only an ounce (about 28g) of the main colour with the pattern being made up from oddments. Model A uses white, clover, lilac, rose, green, and peach as the contrasts. You can use what ever colours you have about as I think that it's probably only a few metres of each that you'll need for both gloves. Although the originals use 3-ply one of the thinner 4-ply wools would work equally well as long as you get the tension of 10.5 stitches to 1" using 2.75mm US 2 needles. Model B are the mittens and have this lovely toning patterns across the back of the hands in a light, medium and dark shade. The tension of these are a little bit tighter: 11 stitches to the inch using 2.75mm US 2 needles. Model C has brown, green, red, white, lemon and yellow and are worked as a tension of 10.5 stitches to 1 inch using 3mm US 2 needles.

To down load the pattern just click on the pattern and it should take you to the pdf.

New In

I had a bit of a 30s splurge this week (it's probably my favourite era style wise). First was a great diagonal striped jumper with a stylish jabot (or decorative ruffle) from Munrospun from the mid 1930s. Munrospun was one of those companies that always produced high end patterns and was seen as being slightly more chic than many of the standard pattern companies. The pattern is for a 36" bust and uses a 4-ply so I think it could easily be resized by using larger needles and thicker wool. Then there is this wonderful lace blouse with a bust measurement of between 33" to 36" depending on how tight you like your clothes. The original was made from an artificial silk or rayon so if you want to match the drape, make sure that you choose something that slips.

This set of 5 jumpers, all different sizes that come from the Good Housekeeping Second Knitting Supplement. I found this tucked into a modern book and was so surprised to find it. The patterns are wonderful and probably date from the early 30s judging by the hair styles. My favourite is the diagonal striped jumper: I love the way they carry on through to the back and the way that one of the stripes coils down the arm. Each jumper has only one size but they are different, so a crafty use of different needles and yarn weights could get you a larger or smaller version. However, no tension is given so you really will just have to see how they feel.

On to the 1940s and there is this stunning cable and bobble twin set in a great petite size. To make this larger, just increase the number of repeats, but remember that you might also need to alter the arm scyth too so you could use a pattern in your size to work out that one.

For those of you that like a bit of lace, there is this gorgeous lace jumper pattern, also in a more petite size. This is a Bairnswear pattern, La Laine is the wool needed. Bairnwear did this frequently but probably the most recognised if 'Femina' which was another one of their wool lines.






My final 1940s pattern is this wonderful puff sleeve blouse or evening jacket with an all over shirred design. This one was designed by Munrospun and is, I think, extremely beautiful. I can just imagine it in a midnight blue yarn with a bit of glimmer to it and crystal buttons. The shirring is easy to achieve: it's just a matter of increasing and decreasing at the appropriate points to get the ripple effect.

To finish there is this fun 1950s 'sweater girl' jumper pattern with a nice open mesh lace. This is achieved by using a large (10mm) needle every few rows. This pattern has 2 sizes 34" and 36" but I think that it might be tricky to make it larger by just using larger needles or yarn so you might have to work out the maths if you want to resize it. 

R.I.P. David Bowie

The man was a god among men. I think he was one of the most creative individuals I have every come across. He challenged so many things and showed others how to explore the world around them on their own terms. He showed that style and substance could go together.

Also, as Ziggy, he could rock a knitted body suit like no other person.

He will be sorely missed

Surprise Sunday - 1950s Batwing Bolero - Bestway A2749

The pattern is for a 34" to 36" bust and has a simple basket stitch pattern and is worked in a 3-ply or light fingering. It also has a shirt collar and fastens at the neck with a single button although to could leave this off if you want. There are instructions for either long or 3/4 length sleeves.

As it's worked on small needles, if you wanted this to be larger, you could go up a needle size without compromising the hand of the garment, or even use a 4-ply with a larger size needle to get a few extra inches.

Measurements: 34" to 36" bust; length from shoulder 15.5"; three-quarter sleeve seam 11.5"; long sleeve seam 18"

Tension: Over the pattern 17 stitches and 22 rows to 2 inches using 3mm US 2.5 needles

Materials: 8ozs Emu Zephyr 3-ply Botany Wool; 3mm US 2.5, 2.75mm US 2, and 2mm US 0 needles; 1 button

New lovelies

As part of my new year's resolutions I am going to add one pattern to the shop every day. Granted, it's only been a week but it's going really well. I decided to go for a mix of different style and eras so there's something for everyone (as long as you like ladies' patterns).

There are these fabulous 1930s designs. The Patons jumper is for a 34" bust but should be easy to resize as you can just add another pattern repeat to make it larger. Alternative, you could use a slightly heavier yarn and slightly needles to take it up a few more inches.

The Woman's Weekly stretches to 40" bust (despite the sylphlike model)  and has a great lace pattern. I made one of these beauties last year and it's fabulous. I went up to a 4-ply yarn and used 4mm needles instead of using 3.75mm to get a larger size. My measurements when the photo was taken was a 49" full bust and 42" waist so you see it adapts very nicely to a larger size.

I also included some great and easy to make jumpers from the 1940s, just check out those victory rolls. The Bestway pattern was reprinted with slightly changes until the mid 1950s (I'll do a post later about that) and has a lovely lace pattern. 

The striped pullover from Copley's has a slipped stitch which gives it a slight lace look. I love that the Copley's changed their logo during the war. Pre-war it was a bellboy but during the war, they gave him a tin hat.

A mainstay of British patterns until the 1970s is the bed-jacket. Most homes until the 1980s, and even the 1990s, didn't have central heating so you had to find something to keep you warm whilst reading in bed or before dressing in the morning.

These 2 patterns are light and lacy and look amazingly glamorous. Every woman needs a bed-jacket and you can always use them as a light cardigan for those chilly summer evenings.

The final pattern for the week is this cardigan and jumper set from Twilleys. Both have fabulous deep v-neck and I love the contrast round the neck and welts. I think these made from a soft 4-ply cotton would be wonderful for summer.

All the patterns have already been entered on to the Ravelry database.