This week’s Retro Monday looks like the late 60’s or early 70’s to me. As is usual with vintage patterns there is no publication date so have to take queues from the fashion and styling. The patterns combine traditional Icelandic colourwork with some of the worst crimes of fashion. Fringed vests, ponchos and…
Retro Monday – Twinprufe Children’s Wear
Today’s patterns are from the mid-1950’s – when children’s wear for the over-tens looked a lot like small versions of adult clothing. There might be novelty buttons or a cute pocket applique, but generally speaking, once children were out of nursery school their clothes didn’t look especially childish. The jumpers below are quite typical…
Katie Fair Isle Beanie
My latest pattern is finally ready to publish. After a second test knit and some dithering about what to name it I’m pleased to present the Katie Fair Isle Beanie. You may remember back in November 2013, I asked readers to suggest a name for this pattern and offered a free copy…
How to say “no” when someone wants you to knit for them.
I had an uncomfortable experience a few days ago. Somebody asked me to knit for them and I didn’t handle it particularly well. It started a week ago when a friend admired my socks. I told her I had knitted them and she immediately asked if I’d be prepared to make a…
Retro Monday – Knitted Bed Jackets
A bed jacket used to be a very handy thing to have. If there was chance that a member of your own family might see you sitting up in bed drinking tea, you could pop on your bed jacket and avoid some form of terrible, unspecified embarrassment. These days being seen wearing…
Stuffing around at the Mill Markets in Daylesford
I’ve been back at work for two weeks now and my holiday had definitely worn off. We went on a few day trips during our time off including a drive up to Daylesford to visit the Mill Markets. There are Mill Markets in Geelong, Daylesford and Ballarat and they are very similar to…