Rah Rah Stripes! Vintage 60s Sweater Knitting Pattern

Stripes have made a big comeback, as they always seem to do, in the fashion world!  Digging through my vintage knitting patterns once again, I found this delightful striped chunky knit sweater pattern from the 1960s. Link to pattern here.  The rest of the instructions are below.

It is made from heavy rug yarn and there are directions for Small (34-36), Medium (38-40), and Large (42-44) sizes.

The directions state to work same as back of Classic Cardigan, which is:  BACK:  With No. 8 needles cast on 69 (77, 85) sts.  Work in K 1, P 1 ribbing for 2 3/4 inches (all sizes) ending on K 1, P 1 row.  Change to No. 11 needles.  1ST PATTERN ROW: K 1, * sl 1 as if to P, K 1, repeat from * across row.  2ND PATTERN ROW: P across row.  Repeat these 2 rows until back measures 14 (14 1/2, 15 1/2) inches from beg. or length desired to underarm ending with 2nd pattern row.  SHAPE RAGLAN: NEXT 2 ROWS: Bind off 5 sts (all sizes) at beg. of each row.  NEXT 5 ROWS: Dec 1 st at beg and end of row.  NEXT ROW: Work even in pattern.  NEXT ROW:  Dec 1 st at beg and end of row.  Repeat last 2 rows 13 (16, 19) times.  Bind off remaining sts.

Have fun knitting up this fab sweater!

~Marilyn Huttunen

Mod 60s and Boho 70s Apron Patterns

Stylish apron sewing patterns continued on into the 60s and 70s.  They were, however, a far cry from the ultra feminine domestic goddess aprons of the 50s!  Frills, embroidery and appliques were replaced by sleek lines, and no-nonsense design.  I really like this apron style, having several in this design.  They really are practical and protect the clothes, being the messy cook I am.

McCall’s pattern #8445 is dated 1966.  It features mod women with geometric haircuts, looking like the last thing they want to be doing is wearing an apron.  The feminist movement is just on the horizon, and it seems like McCall’s is trying to downplay the whole apron/housewife association.  In fact the pattern is for “Bazaar Aprons”;  I guess for the burgeoning womanly entrepreneur to make patterns to sell, not to actually (gasp!) wear.

McCall’s “Sample” apron pattern is dated 1975.  This is a quite ubiquitous pattern that I run across quite frequently, even some 37 years later.  Aprons, by this point, had become so unpopular that they had to disguise them as wrap dresses and call them “Butcher Aprons”.  And McCall’s, apparently, couldn’t even sell the pattern, opting to give them out as a “Sample” (i.e. free).

The Butcher style apron is still popular today.  In fact, my son made me a red and black flames butcher apron in his 7th grade Home Ec class a few years ago.  I wear it almost every day to cook in, and I love it!

While apron styles may come and go, and the popularity of aprons themselves will vary, I think there will always be aprons.  There is just such a sentimental attachment, paired with the mere usefulness of the thing that will always be around in some way, shape or form.  Thank goodness!  🙂

~Marilyn Huttunen

Kate Goes To The Movies In Matthew Williamson

It’s been almost a year since the extraordinarily beautiful and fashionable royal couple, William and Kate, said their wedding vows.  Egad, that was such a stunning extravaganza!  I adored Kate’s wedding gown, and especially loved the fluffy white bolero that topped her reception gown.  All that British Royal pomp and circumstance was quite thrilling too.

A year has passed, and certainly Kate has not disappointed us with any fashion faux pas.  My goodness, I think she is actually getting more gorgeous and chic by the day!  For instance, take a look at Kate and Will’s recent movie outing (to the U.K. premiere of “African Cats” at the British Film Institute).  Kate is wearing a lovely dress by British designer, Matthew Williamson.  The dress is sleek, gray, and has embellished neckline and sleeves.  She looks positively incredible, with an elegant, yet youthful, air about her.

Can this girl do no wrong?  Not in my book!  Keep up the divine fashion sense, Duchess; you are truly an inspiration.

~Marilyn Huttunen

Vintage 60s Five Fabulous Felt Flower Petal Pillows!

Could anything be more FAB than these crafty felt petal pillows from 1963?  This McCall’s pattern (#6751) is just so delicious that I just may have to break out of my no-sewing comfort zone to try making them!

I was thrilled when I found this stunning pattern.  It features “Five Felt Petal Pillows” or “P.J. Hide-Aways” (am I the only one who remembers P.J. Hide-Aways from the 60s?  A staple for every young girl’s bedroom).

It has designs for six types of flowers; chrysanthemum, rose, poinsettia, oriental lily, carnation, and zinnia (however, the poinsettia and oriental lily look suspiciously similar).  They are all so beautiful and bright in that mod 60s kind of way.  Made in felt, of course.  Does anyone make anything in felt anymore?  It was surely everywhere back in the day.

What is even more fascinating, is that while the pattern is uncut, a page torn from a magazine showing the pillows actually made up was included.  I love finding these pieces of ephemera that add depth to the original piece.  It seems as though someone was quite taken with the pillows shown, bought the pattern, put the page in the pattern…and then never made the pillows.  Oh yes, I can relate!

They sure look cheerfully adorable on those girly 60s bedroom sets.  And I’m sure they would look just as cheerfully adorable now, 49 years later!

~Marilyn Huttunen

 

Those Charming Vintage 50s Apron Patterns!

I collect masses of vintage sewing patterns.  Oh, I do manage to sell a few here and there, but I find myself hanging onto the most delightful patterns…and most of those are aprons.  I kick myself now for selling some really splendid examples of vintage aprons, they are long gone.  I realize now how hard they are to come by, so I cling onto the remaining vintage apron patterns that I have.

I thought I’d share two really fab patterns from the early 50s.  The 50s were when Domestic Divahood was in full bloom.  Pull out all the stops, ladies, and don those incredibly feminine aprons! It’s interesting that most women sewed prior to say, the 70s.  Sewing a wardrobe of stunning aprons was certainly a source of fashionable pride.

McCall pattern #1578 is dated 1950, and features a full bib apron.  Festooned with climbing flowers, rick-rack, and frilled hemline, you were definitely ‘the hostess with the mostest’ in this beauty!  Pearls added a nice touch and, of course, one must wear a dress and lipstick.

McCall’s pattern #1892 is dated 1954, and the style now tended towards the short apron.  You could work your embroidery skills with this one as well; transfers were provided for decorating it with flourishes.  Pearls, bracelets, and earrings were still de rigueur, as well as an impossibly thin waistline to tie your apron on.  I am quite certain that the women of the 50s never ate any of their fabulous cooking.  Maybe the stress of running a household held to absolute perfection kept the weight off?

Aprons are just so delightfully fun!  I don’t sew, but I enjoy collecting the patterns.  I also wear and use vintage aprons most every day to cook in.  Most assuredly, my waistline is nowhere near those of these vintage beauties.   But I can still feel as charming as I’m sure they felt.  🙂

~Marilyn Huttunen

Secondhand Kate: The Duchess Goes Thrifting!

My heart was warmed, once again, by the fabulous Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.  Of course, I think she is just marvelous and genuine and real, so there is really little about her that doesn’t warm my heart!  Her completely sensible and stunning sartorial taste is to be admired.

I positively glowed hearing that the coat dress she wore to the National Portrait Gallery was purchased secondhand; Royal Vintage, if you will.  The lovely gray tweed design is by the now-defunct high street label, Jesire.  It was reportedly bought at a secondhand shop in Bucklebury called The Stock Exchange.  The shop is near the Middleton family home and is described as “the premier venue for the fashion-conscious bargain hunter”.

Being the thrifty, vintage-loving gal I am,  and knowing that often the truly best finds are secondhand, I love to hear that someone of immense wealth also has a practical side.  The great thing about most vintage and secondhand clothes is that they are truly unique and one-off.  You will rarely, if ever, run into someone who is wearing the same thing, so you will always have your own look.  Especially important, I would think, if you are the Duchess of Cambridge, and don’t want to look like every other woman.  And it has the added bonus of utilizing environmentally-friendly fashion; recycling and reusing at its finest.

So three cheers for the Duchess – she is a Vintie too! ♥

~Marilyn Huttunen