Today’s Retro Monday features a pattern booklet from the 1950s. This is probably my favourite booklet of menswear in my collection – every pattern is just beautiful.
I think this one is from the early to mid 50s based on the fonts used on the front cover, the slightly quiffy haircuts on the man in the red jumper and the fact that the jumpers finish just below the waist. As the 50s continued, men’s jumpers became boxier and less form fitting – so I’m fairly sure there are from the early half of the decade.
The jumpers on the front and back covers (below) are both simple, but so stylish. The neckline on the red jumper where the rib extends to the shoulder is such a simple detail but it looks so effective. It hints as a boat neckline, but the ribbing is shaped over the top of the shoulder.
The white jumper with the skiers on the front is again very simple, but shaped beautifully. The turned over turtle neck is balanced by the deeper rib along the bottom band. I think just a single intarsia motif would be more effective, but they are nicely balanced and not overdone.
As was common in Australian knitting pattern booklets (as well as those from the UK and Canada), there is the obligatory half-page ad for Lux soap flakes.
This one has a great tip for getting your woolens back into their original shape after washing.
Tracing around the dry garment before you wash it gives you a template to work with when you ease it back into shape after washing.
This would mean that your jumper would have to dry flat on a piece of paper and I’m not sure if that would slow down the drying time a lot, but I think it’s worth trying.
The two patterns below are probably my favourites. Again, they are very simple but there is something so stylish about them. I think it’s a combination of the shorter length and closer fit than most men’s jumpers I’m used to seeing. A lot of modern men’s jumpers look like knitted bin liners – which is probably a reflection of the shape of modern men. The models below are quite slim (and I might actually be in love with the guy on the left).
As a plus, the beret the model on the right is wearing might find it’s way into my knitting queue. I don’t often see beret patterns for men and this one is in 4ply which is even rarer. So many men’s knitted hats are chunky beanies.
It could be a solution to my own beret problem – I swear I have the biggest head in Australia.
I think it’s pretty clear to me that my preference for men’s jumpers is for simple styles that finish just below the waist. I might have to lust after these without ever making them though. If I made one, I’d expect the wearer to stand around inspecting golf clubs and looking elegant for me. I don’t think anyone will volunteer for that.
