I was reading a favourite blog recently – Pransellknit – where the blogger, Emma, mentioned that she had entertained thoughts of knitting exclusively from vintage patterns for 2013. What a great way to make use of collected vintage patterns. They always seem to come home with me from op shops, but I don’t think I’ve EVER knit from one.
So I’ve decided that I really should get cracking and knit from at least one vintage pattern this year. I’m going to be a bit liberal in my definition of vintage and include vintage patterns that have been “renovated” for use with modern yarns and sizes.
I have quite a collection of vintage patterns and I’ve also collected a few new editions of vintage knits. Most notably “A Stitch in Time” by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller.
Until I started this blog entry, I only had the first volume and planned to get the second around Christmas time. A quick Google search told me that I needed to move a bit faster. Volume 1 is out of print for the moment and Volume 2 is hard to get hold of.
The books are self-published by the authors who are currently taking pre-orders for a reprint of Volume 1. If they get enough pre-orders then they can do another print run – so please consider supporting them if you’ve been thinking about buying the book.
As for Volume 2, there is still some stock out there but you need to move quickly. I found a copy at Knit on the Net and spent $85 I didn’t really have. I justified this by comparing it to the current prices for used copies on Amazon. They range from $415.00 to $19,146.30. No, it’s not a typo. Check it out.
The A Stitch in Time books contain original patterns from the 1920s to the late 1950s. They are rewritten using current terminology and the size range is significantly expanded. The original version of the patterns are included which makes these books an interesting historical document as well as a great library of patterns.
I’ve decided to make my first project from Volume 1. This cowl neck top is from the 1930s. I have a stash of Filatura di Crosa “Brilla Print” which is a rayon/cotton blend which I think will work really well.
I’ll start swatching tomorrow because something as drapey as this top could go badly wrong and end up completely shapeless if I get the gauge wrong. It seems wrong to be knitting something so loose and cool in the middle of winter but I think on 5mm needles it will be a quick and satisfying project.
Besides, although I live in the coldest house in one of Victoria’s coldest towns, maybe knitting a summer top will help me remember the warm weather. Because when you can see the vapour in your breath while you are walking around indoors, summer seems impossibly far away.
