This lovely long sleeved bolero has a crochet border and would make a perfect spring jacket.
Date: early 1940s
Measurements: bust 32 to 34"; length 15.5"; sleeve seam 18"
Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.75mm US 5 and 3.25mm US 3 needles; 3.75mm US F crochet hook
Original used 8 ozs Sirdar Majestic Wool 3-ply in mid-blue and 1 oz in navy
Tension: 9 stitches and 9 rows to 1 inch over pattern using 3.75mm US 5 needles
UK crochet terms used in pattern
5 Pages
This lovely blouse has a lace yoke and can be worked with either long or short sleeves. The overall pattern is fully written out and easy to follow.
Date: late 1940s or early 1950s
Measurements: 34" bust; length 19"; sleeve seam 6 or 18"
Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3.75mm US 5 and 3.25mm US 3 needles; 4 buttons
Original used 6 or 8 ozs Femina Crepespun
Tension: 7 stitches 1 inch
5 Pages
This fabulous cable and twist design is perfect for this lovely cardigan or coat.
Date: late 1940s to early 1950s
Measurements - bust 34-36"; length from shoulder 22"; sleeve seam 18"
Materials - double knit or light worsted; 4.5mm US 7 and 3.75mm US 5 needles; 15 buttons; cable needle
Original used 17 ozs of Patons Moorland Double Knitting or 18 ozs Patons Bulldog Double Knitting
Tension - 5.25 stitches and 7 rows to 1 inch using 4.5mm US 7 over stocking stitch
This classic mid 40s sweater has lovely puffed sleeves and a great stripe pattern. The original blue and white could easily be switched out for any colour choice of your own.
Date: mid to late 1940s
Measurements - bust 34-35"; length from shoulder 18.5"; sleeve seam 6.5 or 18.5"
Materials - 3-ply or light fingering; 3.25mm US 3 (with points at both ends) and 2.75mm US 2 needles; 6 buttons
Original used 4 ozs Marriner's 3-ply Heritage Shrinkless Knitting Wool in Pompadour Blue (short sleeves, and 5 ozs for long sleeves, 1oz or 2 ozs in Royal Blue, and 1 oz in white
Tension 7.5 stitches and 9.5 rows it 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles over stocking stitch
5 Pages
This great mid 1930s patterns used odd sized needles to produce an openwork or drawn thread look. It works up quickly and looks fabulous. I mean, just look at the points to that collar
Date: mid 1930s
Measurements: bust 32 to 34"; length 18"; sleeve seam 5"
Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.25mm US 3, 7.5mm US 11, and 5mm US 8 needles
Original used 3 ozs Jaeger Feather Fleck
Tension: 7 stitches and 8 rows to 2 inches (possibly over pattern)
5 Pages
This short sleeved cardigan is a really attention getter. The trellis pattern adds visual interest without being too tricky.
Date: early 1940s
Measurements: bust 34 to 36"; length 19.5"; sleeve seam 7"
Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 4mm US 3 and 3mm US 2 needles; 6 buttons
Original used 7 ozs Hema 3-ply Super Merino Wool or 7 ozs Dainty Wool
Tension: no tension given
Dunbar & Nairn 2 - Smocked Twin Set with Gloves and Turban
This is the only pattern I have ever seen from Dunbar and Nairn. As far as I can see they were wool exporters based in Glasgow and were active in the decade from the late 1930s. There is a reference to them producing children's patterns too but I can't find any more information.
This pattern came to me in quite a bad way and it suffered water damage (possibly early in it's life). The pages had stuck together but someone in the past separated them and where the type was illegible, wrote the instructions. I added some of the words that were missing but please use caution when making the set and if you become stuck, please get in touch and I can go back to the original.
Feminine and elegant with a simple fair isle motif and gently puffed sleeves. This is a classic wardrobe piece and can be worked in any colour combination you fancy.
The motif pattern is written out but it is clear with line for line instructions so you shouldn't get lost.
Date: estimated late 1940s or early 1950s
5 pages
This chic 1950s blouse or jumper coat comes in 2 sizes and is great for summer
Date: mid 1950s
Measurements: 34-35" and 36-38" bust; 20.5" and 21.5 length; top of shoulder to sleeve edge 11.5 or 12.5"
Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.75mm US 2 needles; 9 buttons
Original used 7 or 8 ozs Contessa 3-ply Fingering
5 Pages
This sweet, short sleeved bolero has an all over pattern and curved fronts
Date: estimated mid 1940s
Measurements: Bust 34; length 14"; sleeve seam 5"
Materials: 4 ply or fingering yarn; 3.75mm US 5 and 2.75mm US 2 needles
Originals used 6 ozs Emu Unshrinkable 3-ply Botany
This is wonderful - that deep ribbing around the waist and cuffs and the check just sets it all off
Measurements: Bust 34"; Length 18"; sleeve seam 18"
Materials: 4-ply or fingering; 3mm US 2.5 and 3.25mm US 3 needles; 7 buttons
Original used 6 ozs brown and 4 ozs natural Patons Super Scotch Fingering 4-ply
Tension: 8 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm needles
Language Note
This
pattern had a word commonly used to describe dark brown for much of the
20th century: the N-word. I have edited it from the pattern and
substituted with the word ‘dark’. The original pattern was a product of
its time, and although the word is not being used in a racially hateful
way, it allowed prejudices to continue. By editing the word I hope that I
am not suggesting that these prejudices never existed, merely that they
are not acceptable today (nor were they in the past).
This elegant jumper with plain body and lace puff sleeves comes from Stitchcraft in April-May 1944.
Date: 1944
Measurements: 32 to 34" bust; length 19"; sleeve seam 4.5"
Materials: 3-ply or light fingering; 3.25mm US 3 and 33mm US 2.5 needles; 3 press studs
Original used 4 ozs of Patons Beehive Fingering 3-ply
Tension: 8 stitches to 1 inch using 3.25mm US 3 needles
4 Pages
Just click on the pattern picture for a copy of the pattern
Not sure that these are quite roses but these pretty flowers make for a sweet short sleeved jumper or sweater for spring and summer
The pattern is in one size but working it on larger needles should give you an extra couple of inches.
Measurement: bust 34" 86cm; length 19" 48cm; sleeve seam 7.5" 19cm
Materials: 4ply or fingering wool; 3.25mm US 3 and 2.25mm US 1 needles; 5 small buttons
Original used 6 ozs white, 1 oz rose, at least 8 yards green and 1 yard black Sirdar Crepe Wool
No tension is given
Click on the link above to access the pattern
This pattern is a classic ribbed twin set with puffed shoulders and neat double breasted cardigan. I especially like the single ribbing across the shoulders on the jumper.
It's slim fitting (which you'd expect with all that ribbing) but stretches to a 34" bust and is made from a vintage 3-ply or more 4-ply judging by the needles. .
Click on the image to download the pattern and have a go at making a classic of 1940s fashion.
