Monday 19 August 2013

Fashion in Film: The British Film Annual 1949

I picked up a copy of The British Film Annual: 1949 from a charity shop this afternoon and couldn't wait to share some images with you all. Period cinema and film-related literature is a great way to get inspiration for vintage styles, and for the couple of pounds I paid this book does not disappoint. This book was put out by British newspaper The Daily Mail, in connection with the National Film Awards.

The book has a couple of pages each dedicated to a total of 54 films released in the previous year, with black and white and colour images. There are screen shots, studio portraits and promotional images. I've picked out a selection of my favourites to show you.

Valerie Hobson, Blanche Fury
Valerie Hobson as Blanche Fury

Greta Gynt, Pat Parsons, Easy Money
Greta Gynt as Pat Parsons in Easy Money

Young actress Hazel Court

Gene Simmons as Ophelia, Hamlet, Ophelia
Jean Simmons as Ophelia in Hamlet

Anna Neagle, Judy Howard, Spring in Park Lane
Anna Neagle as Judy Howard in Spring In Park Lane

Patricia Roc, One Night With You

There are, of course, some beautiful hats being worn.

Margaret Lockwood
Margaret Lockwood

Beatrice Campbell, My Brother Jonathan
Beatrice Campbell as Edie in My Brother Jonathan

Greta Gynt, The Calendar
Greta Gynt as Wenda in The Calendar

Of course, you can't have 1940s fashion without some novelty prints!


Sally Ann Howes, My Sister And I
Sally Ann Howes in a beautiful leaf-motif dress.

Sheila Sim, Robert Flemyng, The Guinea Pig
Sheila Sim in The Guinea Pig

Paula Valenska
Paula Valenska in a beatiful leaf print with contrast collar.

Friday 2 August 2013

Tiny Knitting, with baby mitts pattern

I haven't done much knitting recently. It's not exactly a summer activity, especially in the weather we've had recently! It's cooled down a little now though, and we've had a week of much-needed heavy rain, so my fingers have been getting a little twitchy for the needles.

Luckily, I have the perfect excuse to do some small projects to ease myself back into knitting. My best friend is currently expecting, with her bundle of joy due at the end of September. I've been putting together a gift bundle for her in time for meeting up in a couple of weeks- our first and last chance to see each other in a long time, as we currently live at opposite ends of the country.


First up I made this little jacket in aran weight wool/acrylic blend. It is a very simple pattern from Debbie Bliss that knits up very quickly. I've now made it twice as gifts for people!



This set of hat and mittens are done in acrylic double knitting weight. The hat is the Pointy Hat from Cool Knits For Kids, by Kate Gunn and Robyn Macdonald. I made the 3-6 months size. Again, it's a very simple make, and is knit flat then seamed which is a bonus for me. I'm not fond of knitting in the round. I didn't use a pattern for the mitts: I did a quick bit of maths then made it up as I went. The pattern is below. I haven't written in the colour changes: I worked two-row stripes, changing to the grey after row 2 (the first purl row).



Baby Mitts

Approx age 0-6 months

With 3.5mm needles and DK yarn, cast on 28 stitches.
Work 6 rows of k.1 p.1 rib.

Change to 4mm needles.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Work even in stocking stitch for 12 more rows.
Row 15: K2tog, k.11. Work a double decrease- slip 2 stitches together, knit next stitch, pass 2 slipped stitches over together. Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Row 16: Purl
Row 17: K2tog, k9, double decrease, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Row 18: Purl.

Either cast off on the next row, or knit across half the stitches and do a three needle cast off, which I did. Seam the side. I used a mattress stitch which is almost invisible.


I'd wanted to make some socks or booties to complete the set, but as I already said about the hat, I hate knitting in the round, especially on tiny things. Of course, I cannot find a two needle pattern suitable for DK yarn. Can anyone point me towards one?