Free Pattern Fortnightly: Seven crochet edgings

Well, the weeks got away from me a little there. Sorry about that! Let's get back on track shall we?

This week's free pattern is for seven crocheted edging designs, by Coats. Although written for lighter weight crochet cotton, these could be worked in pretty much any weight with an appropriate sized hook. As always, right click > View Image (or open in new tab) to view full size.

Crochet trims look lovely worked in bright colours for a more modern feel. Add them to bed linen, towels, clothing, or anything else you fancy! There's plenty of inspiration on Pinterest to get the ideas flowing:

Beautiful bright colours

Tonal trim on bold florals

Lovely linens

You can either make up the trim separately and sew it on, or work it directly onto your fabric edge. Either work a line of blanket stitch along the edge with a needle first, and use this as your base, or make your crochet chain, making a slip stitch through the fabric every few chains. 

Free Pattern Fortnightly: For Early Spring

Whoops! I was due to post this at the weekend- sorry about that!

This installment of my free pattern series is one that I genuinely want to knit soon if I can find a colour that catches my eye. From the January 1958 edition of Stitchcraft, this pattern is for a cute short jacket perfect for the "in-between days" of spring. It would also make a nice cover-up for summer evenings made in a colour to complement your summer frocks.

It is knit in a simple mini-cable rib done by crossing stitches, with plain ribbed collars. The tension is equivalent to 23 stitches over 4 inches on UK old size 7 needles (4.5mm), knitted in double knitting yarn. Instructions are given for two sizes: 33-35 and 36-38 inch bust.

I might just go for a simple black version that will go with everything, and maybe add some sequins or embroidery on the collars for a bit of sparkle! A nice light colour would be lovely for summer wear- an aqua or pale yellow perhaps?

Free Pattern Fortnightly: Sirdar Sports Sweater

This is the first in a new regular feature I want to introduce: Free Pattern Fortnightly. This year I want to try and blog more regularly, and have written a proper blogging schedule for the first time in the year and a half since starting up this page! My collection of vintage patterns is not as large as I'd like, but I do have lots and I'd like to share them more often with you all. I will try and post a range of patterns: it might be knitting, crochet or sewing; for men, women, children or home.

This week's pattern is actually one of the first vintage knitting patterns I bought, quite appropriately. Here in Blighty we're in the middle of a cold snap, with a lot of the country under snow (not that we've seen more than a few flakes here on the coast). This early 1950s sports sweater from Sirdar would be pefect for colder weather and knit up quickly in thick wool:

In three sizes for a 34, 36 or 38 inch bust, this sweater uses thicker wool and a tension of 4.5 stitches per inch. It is knit in plain stocking stitch with deep ribbing at the waist and cuffs, with a ribbed shawl collar.

Votre Mode, 10th May 1956

Today I have pages from another French fashion pattern magazine, Votre Mode, dated 10th May 1956. I bought this one as much for the pattern included, a lovely shirtwaist dress or blouse and skirt outfit. One thing I love about this magazine is the size of the patterns: it is given in continental sizes 44 and 50 (which translate to English sizes 16 and 22), with instructions for resizing that produce a size range from 42 to 52. It is pretty rare to find vintage patterns in a range of larger sizes like this!

The cover illustration is of the shirtwaist option, with a ruffle-trimmed button placket and puff sleeves.

The pattern supplement, showing different options including puff or cuffed straight sleeves.

The magazine includes articles on ready to wear items, as well as home-sewing.

Beautiful summer dresses...

Children's wear...

Embroidery designs...

And more stunning dress designs. I love the red polka dot number!

Don't blink

So, my two year old is a Dr Who fan. Her excitement at the TV adverts for the most recent series was probably way more than my own, and she knows most of the characters and monsters by name. She's my beautiful mini-geek! For one of her gifts for Christmas, I'm making a set of crocheted Dr Who toys to go with a purchased TARDIS toy. This is the first one, a Weeping Angel. While there are a couple of patterns around, none were quite the right scale, so I wrote this one up myself.

These directions are written using UK crochet terms. For conversion to US stitches, this page is very useful.

dc =  double crochet (US single crochet)
trc = treble/triple crochet (US double crochet)
2dctog = 2 double (US single) crochet together: decreases one stitch.
st = stitch/stitches
ch = chain
Rd = round
Where a number of stitches is given, work one stitch in each stitch of the previous row the stated number of times. E.g. 5dc = work one dc in each of the next 5 stitches of the previous row.

Materials:
Grey DK yarn.
3mm crochet hook
Polyfibre toy stuffing
Pipe cleaner or florist/modelling wire
Grey embroidery thread, slightly darker than yarn. 
Large-eyed sewing needle

Head:

I worked the head in rounds joined with a slip stitch, but work in spiral if you prefer.
Work 6 dc in a magic ring,
Rd 1: 2 dc in each dc (12 st)
Rd 2: (dc in dc, 2 dc in next dc ) to end (18 st)
Rd 3: (dc in next 2 dc, 2dc in next dc) to end. (24 st)
Work 5 rounds even, making 1 dc in each dc of the previous round.
Rd 9: (2 dc, 2dctog) to end. (18 st)
Rd 10: (dc, 2dctog) to end (12 st)
Rd 11: (2dctog) to end. (6 st). Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Body:

Chain 7. Dc into second ch from hook, dc to end. Join in a ring. (6 st)
Follow rounds 1-3 as for head, then continue as follows:
Rd 4: (3 dc, 2dc in next dc). (30 st)
Rd 5: 5 dc, 2dc in next dc, 3 dc, 2dc in next, 10 dc, 2dc in next, 3 dc, 2dc in next, 5 dc. (34 st)
Rd 6: (5 dc, 2dc in next) twice. 10 dc. (5dc, 2dc in next) twice. (38 st)
Work 6 rounds even.
Rd 13: (3 dc, 2 dctog) (31st)
Rd 14: Work even.
Rd 15: (3dc, 3dc in next dc) to end. (45 st)
Work even for 10 rounds.
Rd 26: (4dc, 3dc in next) to end.
Work 6 rounds even. Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Base:

Make 6dc in a magic ring.
Rd 1: 2dc in each st
Rd 2: (dc, 2dc in next) to end
Rd 3: (2dc, 2dc in next) to end
Rd 4: (3dc, 2dc in next) to end
Rd 5: (4dc, 2dc in next) to end
Work successive rounds in this manner, doing one more dc before the increase in each round, until your circle is large enough to comfortably fit the bottom of the skirt.

Wings (make 2):

The wings are worked flat in rows. For each row, work to the end and then turn, ready to work the next row. The first four rows are worked in double crochet, then work in alternate rows of treble and double crochet.
Ch 7. Dc in second ch from hook, dc to end. (6 st)
Row 1: 2dc in first st, dc to end. (7 st)
Row 2: dc to last st, 2dc in last st. (8 st)
Row 3: 3dc in first st, dc to end. (10 st)
Row 4: dc to last st, 2dc in last st. (11 st)
Row 5: trc to end, then work 4 trc in a foundationless treble crochet chain
Row 6: dc to end.
Repeat last two rows twice. On the last dc row, continue in dc around the top edge of the wing to give a neat edge. Fasten off, leaving a tail.

Arms (make 2):

Work 6 dc in a magic ring.
Dc in each st for 10 rounds. Next, shape the elbows: turn, 3dc, turn, 3dc. Continue working even as before for another 10 rounds. The number of rounds for the arms is approximate: check their size aganst your body piece to choose the best size.

Making Up:

Stuff the head and body. Using the yarn tails, sew the base into the the body. You can add in a circle of card to give a flatter base if you like. Sew the head to the top of the body, and attach the wings to the back of the body. Next, make the hair using the DK yarn. First sew the flat back area of the hair. Take long stitches, starting at the third round from the top down to a central point at the bottom of the head at the back. The stitches should cover about two thirds of the circumference at the top. Next, make loopy stitches to cover the top of the head. For the bun at the back, make a ring of loopy stitches.

Using the embroidery floss, embroider the face. I just did eyes and a toothy mouth (badly, I admit!).

To attach the arms, first pass the wire through the body at the level where the arms will go, like this:

I used a pipe cleaner bent in half and twisted slightly. The overall length should allow for slightly less than the length of both arms plus the width of the body. Thread the arms onto the wire, then stitch to the body all around the arm edge.

Bend the arms into position, and done! The Ravelry page for this pattern is here. I haven't tested this pattern as I wrote it mostly from memory after completing the make, so do let me know if you come across any errors!

Haslam System of Dresscutting: Two Books of Draftings

These two treasures are my recent covetous eBay win. As much as I am meant to be saving for Christmas buys, these come up so rarely I just couldn't hold back. There were a good twenty plus books listed as separate lots, something for which I am very grateful, and I allowed myself two. I bid on a few of them, but these were the two I came away with: books number 9 and 21. Though they have no dates they will most likely be late '40s.

If you haven't come across the Haslam systems before, it was designed as a three part drafting system, requiring a chart of your measurements, a special drafting curve/template, and a set of draftings like these. Having finally got to see the draftings for myself, however, you could easily draft these pattern up without the chart or the template, as they are very thorough with the measurements on the diagrams. The original curve templates do come up on eBay occasionally, though they can be hard to find amongst listings as people so rarely know what they are if they are found out of context. Alternatively, I came across this blog post, where you can download a PDF version to print at home! I love the generosity of the blogging community.

Book number 9 is for "Lingerie: with blouses, skirts, overalls and maternity wear".

There are several dressing gowns and house robes

Nightdresses...

Pyjamas...

And lots of lingerie, including slips, bras and different styles of knickers.

I love the pockets of this skirt, and the blouse is a classic 1940s style:

There are also some maternity styles including dresses and smock tops. This lovely swing jacket would be beautiful for non-maternity wear too- it looks so comfy!

 

Book number 21 is for "Spring and Summer" wear, and has pages of full colour illustrations in addition to the black and white sketches.

The ruffled peasant dress is so feminine and sweet.

Beautiful scalloped details. I'm also in love with the simple shawl collar and clean silhouette of the pink dress below: I'll be on the hunt for some winter fabric to make this one up soon I think.

Suits and coats. My favourite is the ruffled peplum design on the pink jacket.

Le Petit Echo de la Mode, June 1951

Today I have images from the 24th June 1951 issue of Le Petit Echo de la Mode. A bit out of season at the moment, so perhaps one for my southern hemisphere readers!

This one is a bit tatty, mostly due to the fact that it has no staples so the pages have slipped out of line, but it still has some lovely pages. Hopefully some of you may have use for French knitting patterns, because this issue has lots!

All images should open up full size if you right click > view image.

Crazy collar anyone?