New-to-me midcentury knitting patterns

A pile of vintage knitting patterns
Look what arrived in the post from Veronica! A set of lovely midcentury knitting patterns. I’m always amazed the ones that came as pullouts from magazines or newspapers, like the ones at the back-left and back-centre here, have survived as the paper wasn’t the strongest to start with, so I take good care of them.
I'd be most likely to wear the feather-stitch twin set, but the one that really intrigued me was the most Best Selling Knitting Designs Of 1960. Now, I’m not convinced it does contain the most popular designs, simply because I’ve worked on a knitting magazine and I know the odds of one or two things from every category from baby clothes to menswear turning up in the premier handful is pretty much nonexistent. Menswear's never in the 'most popular' category, though I do accept more women were knitting for cheapness back then – there's a reason my nannie Mac knitted all her children's socks – so probably more people did knit for men in general. However, I definitely struggle to imagine a knitted party dress being more popular than the many women’s jumper and cardi patterns that would have been available. It’s possible that the ones featured were the most popular designs within their individual categories, and that’s interesting as it gives a look at what people were choosing to make, rather than what shops were selling.
A photo of a knitted party dress from 1960
I cannot believe this was massively popular.
I can believe it was incredibly sweaty.
One thing that struck me was how many of the designs have raglan sleeves – in case you’re not sure what that is, it’s where the sleeve and shoulder are all made in one piece, so you get the strong diagonal seams at the front and back of the shoulder. Set-in sleeves, where the front of the shoulder is knitted with the front piece, the back with the back, and the outer part with the sleeve, are very common in patterns I’ve seen and made from the 1930s and 1940s, but I know part of Dior’s New Look was introducing a more sloping shoulder. Did raglans become more popular with knitters off the back of that? It has inspired me to dig through my patterns to see if I can identify when the trend took hold. Another possibility is that is came over as fashion got more casual and sporty; when I have seen raglan knits from the 1930s and 1940s they’ve usually been on more laidback styles, and often worked in thicker wool.

A blonde woman in a chunky red cardigan from 1960
Good ol' raglan sleeves!
The pattern goodness doesn't end there. Gisela also gave me some sewing magazines and patterns when I met up with her recently, and one is for a simple unlined jacket. I was on the verge of making it with some emerald green linen I’ve got, when it struck me that I have a vintage Peggy Page jacket in green and it doesn’t get nearly enough wearings as I don’t have much to pair it with, so really I should use the linen for something to team with that. I’m tempted to make the jacket using the Indian silk I had left over from making cushion covers – but red or gold? Hmmm...

Comments

  1. Even as a non-knitter or sewer, I appreciate the historical value of patterns such as these. I've even got some French sewing magazines from the 1950s, which I find fascinating to browse through. That knitted party dress looks amazing, but I'm with you, I don't think it was the most popular design. xxx

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    1. There is something lovely about old patterns... all the people they must have inspired over the years. I like looking at all the props and background bits too, especially in old Stitchcrafts where they've arranged a rug or cushion as part of a whole room.

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  2. I loate the look of raglan sleeves on me. Nothing draws attention to a hunched back and big boobs like a raglan.

    I would however wear that dress! Can't imagine it being popular though, except perhaps as a dress for a day wedding.

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    1. Yeah, I'm really careful with knits. I'd possibly give a raglan a go, but there's no way I'd wear anything with a yoke - too much risk of my most obvious feature sitting noticeably under the design!

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  3. im a sad human being who has squirrelled knitting and sewing patterns for years , the oldest date back into the 1800s but its mainly 50s and 60s , now im concentrating on dolls and toys...lol

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    1. It's not sad, it's fantastic! You're preserving women's history there.

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  4. What a fantastic bundle. That party dress is so pretty, love that lavender shade (matches my Docs!)
    Isn't it great to procrastinate over sewing patterns? When I come up with a plan it always ends up that there isn't enough of the fabric. Grrr! xxx

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    1. I like just flicking through my patterns. Though Pete's keen for me to make him a shirt so I can't procrastinate on that one.

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  5. A knitted dress does sound really hot, but it is really pretty, especially in that colour. I love raglan sleeves - they can be very flattering on.

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    1. I really like raglan handknits where a cable or other decorative feature is worked along the seam, making a feature of the construction.

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  6. I think the knitted dress is fab! Maybe it was most popular because it was aspirational rather than practical? I had two crocheted dresses in the late 1960s and they were lovely. I have a picture of me wearing one in the Old GPO Tower restaurant. It was made of pink fluffy wool which kept catching my eyelashes...!

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    1. Oh I bet that photo is ACE! I do love those late 60s crocheted dresses; I've got a few patterns for knitted and crocheted ones from that era and am often tempted to have a go at one.

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  7. Hmmm...thatraglan sleezed sweater looks almost 80's. I'm with you - I'd find the feather stitch twinset most functional.

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    1. Yes, it's uncharacteristically baggy for the 40s/50s, isn't it?

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