The Joys of Vintage Knitting

I was recently the lucky recipient of a pile of old knitting patterns.  When I say old, I mean 1940s to about 1982.  I've had a ball looking through them and imagining how I could adapt some of these patterns to today's modern yarns.

2ply Lace Shawl New Idea Knitting Supplement 1960s

Looking through these patterns got me thinking – what has changed since, say, the 1950s, when hand knitting was a normal household pursuit, rather than the hobby that it is today?  Have mass produced garments replaced the appeal of a hand made individual garment, or have the age old skills died out to the point where making your own garments isn't even considered?

Eve Lyn Baby Set 1949

Let's take baby clothes for an example.  Back in the day (choose your favourite time period), women mostly were stay at home wives and mothers.  They hand washed most of their laundry, and there wasn't the range of fashions changing every season to choose from.  When a new baby was announced, a small army of family members would take up the tools and knit pretty much everything the baby would need for the first few months at least.  These garments would be handed down as heirlooms.  Of course there were always jumpers and cardigans for older children, lovingly knitted by grandma and given as Christmas presents (Thanks Gran!  This is so much better than Lego!)

Ladie's 2 piece suit Patons Baldwin No. 129

The bit that gets me is the time it took to knit back in the day.  Yarns were generally a fine 2 or 3ply and needles were either straight or double pointed.  None of your 2 socks on 2 circulars jiggery-pokery.  Combine this with an often complicated lace pattern and it's a wonder anyone got their dinner on time!  Several of the patterns are for baby shawls – cast on 400 or so stitches then follow a 24 row lace pattern for many repeats, THEN do a border...phew!

Ladie's Swing Jacket Patons No. 696 1960s

Time warp to the new century...shawls for women's general wear are back in vogue.  Complicated lace patterns are again the order of the day and socks?  Does anyone actually knit a plain unpatterned sock these days?  Well yes they do, albeit from handspun and handdyed yarn from a limited one off batch spun by the knitter.  The choice of yarns is huge and you could never even start to have a bit of every yarn currently produced (I know plenty of people who are trying though!).  Knitting has become the pastime of thousands of women and men and we can only hope they are teaching their children this noble art.  After all, now that knitting and sewing is no longer being taught in school, where are the new breed going to learn these valuable life skills?