Today’s Retro Monday is nothing more than an opportunity to drool over the front cover of the February 1958 edition of Australian Home Journal.
I only have a handful of these magazines, and I’m lucky enough to have copies with the original paper dress patterns intact.
This means that I have patterns for all of the dresses featured below. I know I’ll never use the patterns unless I trace them onto fresh paper though – I couldn’t bear to stick pins in the originals.
Although Australian Home Journal is very much aimed at the home dressmaker, there are a few knitting patterns in each edition.
This issue has a baby layette, two bunny rugs and the short-sleeved jumper pictured above.
While it looks good on the model, I don’t particularly like the design. The keyhole neckline with the bow is a bit too fussy for my liking. Also it really is a bit too short. I know short tops were very much in vogue in the late 50s, but I get the feeling that the ribbed band would roll up with very little encouragement.
But this post isn’t really about knitting patterns – it’s just a chance to take a moment and enjoy the beautiful illustrations on from the front cover of Australian Home Journal and wish that magazines still looked so good.
(Please note that I do not own the copyright to any patterns featured in Retro Monday. Unfortunately this means I can’t make or send out copies).
Thanks for the care package. 🙂 beautiful yarn. And amusing gifts!
I doubt I’ll make anything as fabulous as the owl jumper though!
The owl jumper is all finished and off the needles – so I’ll have to update the blog with pictures.
I was almost tempted to put one of my copies of Australian Home Journal in your care package…. nah, not really!
I have some jumpers knitted from 50s patterns, and the ribbing doesn’t roll, but I do find they end up being very short on me once they’re stretched over my chest. I’ve resolved to work the body an inch or two longer next time I make one.
That blouse in view B – love it! It’s just perfect.
Even with modern patterns I end up under-estimating how much a jumper will shrink in length once it stretches over my ridiculously enormous knockers! I should always add three inches ON TOP OF what I think I should add.