Knit or Crochet a Caplet, Just for Fun

Tucked away in an old (public domain) magazine I came across several capelet patterns, mostly knit but a couple crochet.  In their write-ups, some of these are billed as both capes and some as collars.  I bill them as fun.   They are 1960s and are, of course, reminiscent of the era.

This one, Pink Cape Collar,  is a pullover and knitted with jumbo 1 inch needles.  The top folds down to make the wonderful collar.

The Flower Yoke Cover-Up zips in the back (in case you have a BIG hairstyle) and features delightful embroidery work.   This one is knitted in Stockinette Stitch.

This is called the Banded Cape Collar, for apparent reasons.   It is knit/crochet and, has that go-anywhere casual look.  

The Striped Crochet Collar, sits gracefully on the shoulders with a nice twist to secure it.   Now, I can see why this one might be referred to as a collar; particularly with the little mandarin thing going on.

The Luxury Cape Collar is crochet, with a giant hook for that chunky look.   It's a pullover, close fitting piece.   I'm not sure it would work on a broader shoulder woman, but what do I know?

Now, although I like all of them, the yellow one, Banded Cape Collar has to be my favorite ... with the little Striped Cape Collar, closely behind it.     These brought to my attention how lacking I am in life.   Why, I don't own a single cape / capelet.   And, here in Southeast Louisiana, where a coat certainly would not be a requirement, a capelet may be just perfect.    I'll have to see what I can do.  

I've listed these in my shop; there might be a couple more as well ... I do have several thousands waiting for me to get around them them.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Family Circle Collection, Sewing Patterns

Tucked inside one of my patterns, I found this Butterick sales flyer advertising 5 Great Patterns = 1 Sensational Wardrobe.     The flyer is dated 1986, as are all 5 of the patterns.  

Butterick 4035

Butterick 4036

Butterick 4037

Butterick 4038

Butterick 4039

And, they are definitely 1980s in style. (Like, what would I expect from a 1980's flyer, right?).  I  think, however, that once you remove the shoulder pads from the equation, and probably the tied bow around the neck, they are quite appropriate for todays eclectic style.      I especially like the coat, not only warm, but comfortable looking, as well as the gored skirt with either 6 or 8 flared panels.    Nice. 
I don't know how many patterns total were in the Family Circle Collection, but, it series lasted a number of years.   I have several Family Circle collection patterns in my shop and they span between 1986 and 1995.   I wonder if these were also advertised in the Family Circle Magazine?


Dear mystery seamstress.  Thanks for leaving your flyer in the pattern.  I enjoyed it !


Thanks for dropping by, 
Lorrie 

Styled For You, 1950s Mail Order Dress Patterns

The year is 1953 and all the ladies are styling in sleek angled fashions.    Dresses are generally fitted with a lot of seam interest.   The unexpected is delighted upon.  Here's a nice example from the pattern advertising page in the November 1953 issue of The Workbasket.

Workbasket 4857 (left) - Wide straps that attach to shaped waist draws attention with the deep neckline and the seam interest on the skirt.   Nice 3/4 inch sleeves with side notched collar and larger buttons add the finishing touch.    This is a half size pattern; misses 14 1/2 - 24 1/2.

Workbasket 9080 (middle) -  This interesting apron wraps at the shoulder for an interesting effect and features a shaped hemline.    (There's one available over a wikia patterns under the name of Marian Martin) ... at least at the moment).

Workbasket 4751 (Right) - This beauty features an envelope bodice; a very fashionable leftover from the 40s.

The selections in this issue were thin, literally.   Just one page of offerings and, not a single craft or crochet pattern.

Hope you enjoyed the styles.    Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Square Chair Seat Pattern to Crochet

Although this pattern isn't extremely exciting, should one need a pattern to crochet some seat covers, this pattern might just work perfectly.      It's from the November, 1953 issue of The Workbasket.   (A vintage pattern to park your vintage, or not-so-vintage, seat).   Okay, I'll admit it ... really corny joke.

If you'd like to print this one, first you have to copy/paste it to a word document on your hard drive.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Tulip Sleeves Adds Just the Right Touch To The Dress Pattern

Okay, I'll admit it, I love tulip sleeves.   The tulip sleeve is a touch of the unexpected.   A short sleeve, yes, but not simple and straight forward.  It's soft, romantic and, well ... pretty.

Butterick 6601 - The tulip compliments the straight lines of the dress.  

McCalls 2353 - The tulip adds a touch of flirty fun

McCalls 2302 - The tulip sleeves dresses up very nicely

I haven't seen this sleeve much in the fashion mags over the last couple of years, which is a real mystery to me.  Why would one not want to design with the Tulip Sleeve?

Thanks for dropping by.
Lorrie

Christmas Tree Lamp Shade from 1953

Two advertisements from The Workbasket, November 1953.

just for fun

An advertisement for an Christmas Tree Lamp shade

 And, just to prove the popularity of Christmas Tree Lamp Shades, another advertisement for a variation of the same thing another 20 pages back.     And, this one Glows in the Dark !!! AND ... there's a limit of not more than 2 per customer.    I particular like the line, 'turn off the room lights, and won't your guests be surprised'.     (10 years later and this could have been equated to a Timothy Leary experience)

They must have been immensely popular, because a search of Ebay shows nary a one.   This must mean that they've passed down to the next generation and are now family heirlooms.  

Ya right.   (Now I have a better understanding of my my mother use to put hang bells and tinsel on our lamps!

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Chin Strap, Vintage Beauty Torture Device

It's an advertisement from the 1953 issue of The Workbasket.

To recap the article :
Use 15 minutes a day, exercising  and massaging with throat cream.  The natural movements of your chin and neck do their part.  Muscles obtain exercise, circulation is stimulated.    Expect to be lovely in just a couple weeks.

And, you can tell just looking at the picture that it works.   That young woman has lovely skin, taut and firm. For her, that was $1.50 well spent !

But, I just don't get it.   Now, I know that I don't have one of these uncomfortable looking torture devices to coax my neck into absolute loveliness, but I'd think the the 16 hours per day that I spend talking, singing and eating would surely substitute for the 15 minutes.   Oh Well.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Crochet Motif Collar, Soft and Pretty

Here's a very pretty collar that will tempt one to take this vintage design and incorporate it right into tadays fashions.   Wheat a beautiful motif.  Based on your dress, make it two rows, make it three rows (as instructed), or add on another row or two for a shawl or cape effect.    I think anyway you go would be lovely.  

 This is one of the accessory patterns from American Thread Star 117 (public domain), that I thought I'd share.

To print, click to enlarge and then copy / paste to a word document on your computer.

I'm not sure I'd restrict this pretty motif to collars.  It would look great as clothing trim and on belts.     Let your imagination go.   

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Great Dress Pattern, But Not a Bertha Collar

I'll admit that I'm learning sewing terms as I go along.   For example, I was entering Butterick 4190 into my shop inventory and noted the use of 'Bertha Collar' throughout the description.  

  

Bertha collar ... a new one to me, so I referred off (my mother would have called this sidetracked) to my good friend Google for an education.     And, what did I find ..... 

A Bertha collar is a wide, round, flat collar designed to accent a woman's shoulders. It has a long history stretching back to Victorian fashion. It can be worn as an accessory to a dress or a top, and it is sometimes removable like a shawl.    It goes on with a whole lot more details, including morphing into a cape at times, but the premise remains that it is round.

I then found pictures of collars at InfoVisual that clearly lays out the different names for collar types



So, I'd like to say that Butterick 4190 is a really great dress with a SQUARE collar ... a Bertha Collar ... Not !

Thanks for yet another education, Google.


Thanks for dropping by for another brief .. talking to myself ... session.  
Lorrie  

Daisy Medallion Crochet Afghan Pattern

As far as afghans go .... this one is fun.    It's fun to look at and I have no doubt that it is equally (perhaps even more so), fun crochet.     It measures 46 x 60 inches and is made up of 176 daisy medallions that are 4 1/2 inches from point to point.       It's one of the mail order patterns, Design 711 to be exact.

The fun part has to be making these sweet daisies.  Make them on the couch or in the car.   You could even go overboard and take them out to dinner and work them between courses.   You know how addictive they would become.    In no time at all, you'd be making afghans for everyone ... even those you have already gifted with an afghan.     Okay, so maybe that is a stretch ... but, that is what I would be doing.   

As a surprise, the previous owner of this pattern stapled the original mail order ad from the newspaper.   Given us that little bit of history was indeed very sweet and something I wish all of you readers do ... attach a little history to your patterns. 

Just 50 cents, plus first class postage, back in December of 1968.    I bet they sold plenty of them.  

I've listed this pattern, Mail Order 711, in PDF format in my shop, should you be interested.   There are, of course, dozens and dozens of other Crochet Afghan Patterns, as well as a fair number of Knitted Afghan Patterns as well.  

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie 

Sew Up Some Scuff Slippers, Free Vintage Pattern

Tucked into the pages of a Needlecraft Catalog, is a pattern for a pair of scuff slippers.   Smart Scuffs to be exact.   Part sewing, part craft project, they have a look to them of total fun.    They beg for creativity.  Make up a pair to go with each of your robes.   And, don't have enough robes, well, I have a number of patterns in my shop to take care of that problem.  

I'm not sure they are long term sturdy, but really, slippers seldom last more than a season anyway.   Perhaps you'll give the pattern a try.  

To print, click on each picture to enlarge and then copy/paste to a word document on your hard drive.

Create marvelous slippers !    Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Lot of Vintage Mail Order Pattern Treasures

Considering the definition of treasure is :  Valuable or precious possessions of any kind, I'd say I hit the jackpot with this one.  I keep an eye on Ebay for the mail order knitting and crochet patterns to add to my collection.   There were four listings last week that I had my eye on.  I was just half lucky; winning two of the four.   But, no great grief; those were not destined.

Now, the patterns were old and the pictures were not great, so it was no great surprise when I took them (39 in all) out of the shipping envelope.   The patterns were communicated as being 1940s and 1950s.   About 1/3 of these are actually late 1930s.  There are some Laura Wheeler, Alice Brooks and a fair number with names I'm not (yet) familiar.   

Not all, but many, are in the original envelope mailers, which are mostly in very poor condition.   The patterns themselves vary between fair and poor, with a few falling on the good side.   And this is where the fun begins.  

Over the next week or two, each pattern will be carefully opened and restored, as needed.  Some are crumbling; most have tears of some kind.  But, with a fair amount of patience, a hot iron, starch, transparent tape, and a little white out here and there, they should all be recoverable ... such as the first 5 I've completed.

These will not scan nicely straight to PDF copy, so each will be digitally reworked to duplicate the text and maintain the original images.   It's all quite a bit time consuming, but well worth it to restore these old (mostly doily and lace) patterns.

I have no doubt that I'll be blogging about some of the surprises I find in here.   Perhaps you'll drop back by.

Lorrie

Cadenza Girdle

I am pleased that I am either of the generation that were not required to wear girdles, or that I have enough self confidence with my abundant girth that I never had to force my body into girdles.    Especially ones like this vintage advertisement ... McCalls Magazine - 1965.  

 This has to be one heavy duty contraption.   First, one would have to figure out how to get it zipped without getting your skin included.   Then in has the additional band across the tummy line with hooks to hold it all in place.   And then, of course, the garters.  Now, the crotch is open, so one would not have to remove it to use the 'ladies room', but, don't you think it would have to be rolled up (it that's possible), in the back?   I also wonder, how one was to bend or sit?  

And, consistent with advertising ... it's COMFORTABLY YOURS .....

Let me say it again.  Although my time would have been mid 70s/80's (or possibly now), I'm so thankful I was never required nor compelled to do this.      COMFORTABLE?

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Needlecraft Mail Order Catalog, Vintage 1970s

Sitting in my book collection is an issue of Needlecraft.   This is a mail order catalog from, my guess, early 1970s.   It's loaded with lots and lots of little clips of the patterns currently available for individual purchase directly from needlecraft.    These are the same patterns that would have been available to the wide number of newspapers and magazines, along with Laura Wheeler, Alice Brooks, etc., that marketed these patterns as well.    A total of 44 pages ... mostly pattern clips.  There are, however, 6 pages that contain craft patterns that I'll list as separate blog posts.

The front cover and back cover are the same; giving us a very small sprinkler of the patterns within.

 Craft and doll patterns

 And, in addition to pages of knit / crochet patterns for her, and children, there are several pages 

of patterns for him. 

Afghans

And, of course, misc sewn accessories.     

The primary bulk of the patterns are knit and crochet for him, her, children and the home.   Then, odds and ends for the other needlecraft interests ... even a few macrame patterns (which tie the undated catalog) to the 1970s.  

I separated the knitting and crochet ads into separate clips, which I've listed in my Mail Order Catalog Pages.  I've scanned the (public domain) catalog to a PDF file and listed it in my shop in case someone is interested in a copy for their own collection, or, perhaps, collage/mixed media art.     

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

My Double DeLuxe Dress Form, 1960s Advertisement

I was flipping through a 1965 issue of McCalls Magazine and come to a screeching halt.   Is that a woman wrapped in chicken wire, I ask myself.   So, I ready the entire article.   And then, I read it again.     I found myself dwelling on the ad.

My curiosity got the better of me and I headed over to Ebay to start some searching ... after all, Ebay has everything !    But, not this.   So, either the magic link construction did not last a lifetime (i.e., they are all broke and residing in landfills, or they worked so incredible well that they are all still in use ... being willed from one generation to the next !  

But, joking aside, how do you think it works?    Other than patented magic links (with a conscience) it does not say what it is made of ... plastic or wire.  How do you lock and unlock those magic links?   Once you have all those magic links in the right place, how to I get it off without disturbing those links.   Inquiring minds want to know !

So, what do you think?    Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Alice Brooks Designs Catalog, Knit and Crochet Patterns

I have several of the vintage (40s to 70s) catalogs from the Mail Order pattern folks.   I had been contemplating for some time, what to do with these.   You may have seen these around.   This one is an Alice Brooks Catalog.   It have no date references, but based on the furniture styles in the pictures, I'm guess late 1950s.

 This little catalog, 32 pages in all, is filled with mail order patterns that Alice Brooks chose to distribute.  

 This catalog, like the others, have an assortment of the various needlecrafts sold as mail order patterns - like clothing, 

and crafts and quilting, 

 and tons of embroidery; a very popular craft in the 1950s. 

And, a fair number of knit and crochet patterns.  

Now, I did scan and put this catalog in my shop for those that also collect them, or want the public domain images for mixed media art.   Then I continued to ponder how to go about sharing them in a way other than blog posts for the individual pages.     Then the idea came me.   I could set up individual pages here in my Blog and create a co-mingled mail order catalog of my own.   And, that's what I did.

One Page for Crochet Patterns 
One Page for Knit Patterns

I know, how about the other pattern categories.  Well, many of these sewing patterns are over at Wikia Vintage Patterns, and, at the moment, I just don't have time to take on the sewing crafts, quilting and embroidery.

If you have a couple minutes, drop by the new pages and let me know what you think.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie  omain, I wanted to share the pattern and cover art information with you.

Simply Crochet Jacket Pattern with Trim Options

You know how old magazines patterns are ... it starts on page 27, another bit on 32, then back to 87 and on to 114.   Well, this is one of those patterns.   It took a fair amount of time to reformat and put together, but I think it has enough fun potential to make it well worth the effort.

It starts with a simple crochet jacket, with below elbow sleeves, in an easy pattern stitch alternating between single and double crochets.

All by itself, it is a great cover-up, worn as a jacket or a cardigan.    A pattern that one might just want to crochet to become a wardrobe staple.   But, I've heard, there are those that like to add a bit of whimsy to their wardrobe.   And this pattern offers several suggestions ... 6 to be exact.

And, of course, pattern instructions to create each of the individual embellishments are included.   (Versus some patterns that show you some interesting ideas and then leave you unattended to figure it out !).    I particularly like the tassels around the neckline for an interesting collar effect.

I've listed this one, vintage 1965, in my shop.   There are of course, dozens and dozens of other crochet jacket patterns in my shop as well.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Crochet Doll Dresses, Crinoline Sweetheart, No 65-D

In my collection of Doll Patterns is this Crochet pamphlet from Lily.   It is Lilly Doll Leaflet No 65-D to be exact.   It's a 4 page fold-cover leaflet and gives us two marvelous crochet dresses for the 7 1/2 inch doll ... a rather standard size for when this book was issued - 1951.   The leaflet contains just two patterns. 

Crinoline Sweetheart 

Strolling Down The Avenue

Both the twirly southern belle style dresses have matching hats and instructions to make fabric panties and slips.  Two perfect ensembles for the girly girl to dress her dolls.  

Although this is officially Lily Doll Leaflet No 65-D, I don't think that means that Lily graced us with 64 earlier Doll books.   Just that this is the 65th leaflet that Lily issued and just happened to be Doll patterns.   

These old patterns are timeless; little girls today will love them just as they did back in 1951.   The only challenge (beyond the crochet skills, of course) is finding the 7 1/2 inch doll.      I've scanned this to PDF format and listed it in my shop - Lily Doll Leaflet No 65-D.   I also have a number of other doll crochet patterns, should you care to browse.   

So, which is your favorite ?    Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Baby Knit Crochet, Coats Clarks Book 200

Coats & Clarks pattern books, in comparison to, say, Columbia Minerva Baby Books, is on the small side.  But, we certainly can't hold that against them, at least in this little booklet - Knit and Crochet for Babies.   Although there are not a lot of patterns, there are some real charmers here.

 Coats & Clarks, Book No 200

 B-759 :  Crocheted sailor suit, complete with cap

B-760 : Crochet Cross Stitch Dress - sized 6 to 18 months.

B-761 - Crochet Sacque, Bonnet and Bootees for infants.  This is shown in color on the back page. 

B-762 - Crochet Soaker Pants on the left and knit on the left. 

B-764 - Crochet Surplice Jacket for those 6 to 18 months.

B-767 - Baby (6 to 18 months) Knit Ruffled Neck Dress

B-768 - Knit Two-Color Sacque and Cap, sized 12 to 18 months

B-769 Knit Bunting and Cap - One Size

B-770 - Knit Lace Shawl measures 58 inches square.   The only item not for baby, but so very nice.  

And, the back cover, detailing a couple of the items in color.  

I think that perhaps the smaller books have a lot going for them.   The biggest point being their are no so many patterns that it becomes overwhelming.   A couple of these .. well ... the soakers, no longer an essential to pair of with the cloth diaper (for most), but we should still consider them for their accessory value!   AND, as for that knit ruffled neck dress; I don't see how they could get much cuter than this.

I don't have this book available.  I'm not able to scan this book to PDF for my shop as the copyright is 1970, making it NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.  But, if you see something here that is a must have for a favorite baby, a Google search should uncover a couple.     I do, of course, have alot of other baby crochet and knit patterns in my shop, should you care to browse.  

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie