Slowly Catching Up With 1932!

 

This jumper is definitely taking longer than I was expecting!

But I am now nearly finished the first sleeve and as long as the weather continues to cooperate (ie.stays cool!), I am hoping to be finished it this week and well on the way with the second sleeve.

I will be choosing a faster knit for the next Stitchcraft issue, that's for sure!

At least now we are in the same month as the issue was published, just 88 years later. 

I have not been able to source either a print or online version of December 1932 Stitchcraft, which is a shame. If anyone has access to one, I would greatly appreciate some photos. So I will plan to move onto January 1933 - hopefully in January 2021! That would please my organisational brain, if I could make a pattern a month in the same month as publication.

Anyway, here is the sleeve I am currently working on.

As I have not much to share (again!), I will share some free knitting patterns from 1932 that I have found online.

Starting with - the Scarlet and White Jumper from Stitchcraft November 1932! Maybe you would like to make your own. I am still the only person making this jumper on Ravelry, so come and join me!

A few of these patterns will send you to Trove, which is an Australian collabaration between the National Library of Australia and various contributors. 

Trove is an absolute treasure trove of delights, as there are hundreds of complete magazines and newspapers from the past. I just love searching through here for hours, so much history to read. 

Here is a blouse in lacy stripes, from the Australian Woman's Mirror, August 23rd 1932.

 

I have included this one, even though it is a little earlier. 

A Tennis Jumper from The Catholic Press, 12 November 1931.

A Lace Jumper for Summer, from Table Talk, 6 ctober 1932. This jumper actually has the same lace pattern as the jumper I made from Stitchcraft ctober 1932.  Maybe this Australian publication picked up the pattern from Stitchcraft? r it was just popular at the time. 

Table Talk: A Journal for Men and Women was a weekly magazine published in Melbourne, Australia, from 1885 to 1939. It was a racy mix of gossip, scandal, politics and, apparently, knitting patterns! Maurice Brodzky, who started the magazine, has been coined as Victoria's first muckraker. 

Women vied to be included in the fashion pages - if you made it into Table Talk, you were one of the 'it girls' of Melbourne! 

They also published special editions on various topics, such as this jumper pattern collection frm 1935. 

I would love to find one of these publications! 

Another Table Talk publication was Matrons'  Knitwear.

You can access the full copy of Matrons' Knitwear, published by Table Talk in 1932, here at the State Library of Victoria archives. 

The final pattern is from the early thirties - there are no specific dates.

A lovely short sleeved diamond patterned jumper from the Harlequin Knit At Home Series.

See you next week with more progress, I promise! 

My Favourite Free Baby Knitting Patterns

 

Looking for the perfect knitting pattern to create as a gift for a new baby? Look no further! 

I love knitting for babies as the patterns are so cute and it is the ultimate satisfaction to create a handmade gift fairly quickly. 

I have chosen patterns that are for newborn or 0-3 months. As these free patterns can almost be called a series now, I will aim to do a childrens' post as well soon.

Leaf Love Dress by Taiga Hilliard Designs

This sweet little dress is very versatile as it is knitted as a dress for 0-3 months but will continue to fit as a tunic for quite a while longer.

Be sure to take a look at the other patterns by this designer - there are many more free patterns available.

Ode To Doris by Kelly van Niekerk.

I can personally testify to the ease of knitting for this one. This is my go to pattern for a quick baby gift. It is knitted in DK/8ply so knits up very quickly and there is virtually no finishing as it is knitted in one piece and the sleeves are picked up in the round. 

Again, check out the designer's page on Ravelry as there are many other patterns to drool over.

Baby Uggs by Autumn Street

Such cute boots! These would be perfect if you need a little boy gift. And they would be super quick to knit up.

Baby Kimono by Elizabeth Jarvis.

A lovely basic newborn knit that you can customise. Some of the examples from other knitters on Ravelry including adding stripes or a lacy pattern, adding knitted flowers, embroidery (including one with a toadstool!) or using ribbon as a closure rather than buttons.

You could make this as a gift for every new baby and just change it up!

Baby Wood Nymph Hat by Faith A D

I do love a hat with a little top knot! I don't know why but they just look too adorable. A very quick and simple rib design.

This pattern link is just for the hat. But with any hat pattern, you can always make bootees to match and vice versa. 

Baby Brioche by Jen Hurley

As brioche is super stretchy, this garment says it will fit from infant to 12 months. This looks like the perfect knit if you want to try some brioche but do not feel up to committing to a huge garment. It also uses something called a Channel Island cast on which I have never heard of - has anyone used this technique before?

Probably a more challenging garment but it looks super cute and would be very comfy.

Intarsia Baby Sweater by Phildar Design Team

Now let's practice intarsia! This is so cute! I think it would also make a super adorable Christmas sweater - maybe you could even make the reindeer's nose red! 

You do have to sign up for free to LoveKnitting to download this pattern. 

Perfect Newborn Socks by Tabitha Gandee

Tiny socks are just the cutest! A pretty box of three, five or seven pairs of these in various colours would make a lovely gift. 

Danika Baby Jacket by Marianna Mel

For those of us (looking at myself here!) who like traditional styles, this is a cute little star stitch baby jacket. You can knit it either with or without a collar. At the end of the blog post for this pattern, you can find the link to the matching hat and mittens. 

Marianna is another blogger who is extremely generous and provides lots of free patterns, so do take a look at her blog at Marianna's Lazy Daisy Days.

Poppy Penguin Hat and Cocoon Set by Melody Rogers

I just had to leave the pattern with the most adorable photo for last! I cannot stand how cute this is!

It is showing as a paid pattern on Ravelry but if you scroll down the pattern page, you will see where Melody has kindly added a link to a free version on her blog. 

I hope you enjoyed visiting some adorable baby knits with me. 

Let me know in the comments if you have knitted any of these patterns or if you have any plans to make any.

Also let me know what you would like to explore next in the free knitting patterns series!

My Favourite Free Christmas Ornament Knitting Patterns

 

Can you tell I love browsing through Ravelry for free knitting patterns? I am sensing a theme here!

For a few years now, I have wanted to have a knitted ornament Christmas tree, even if it is just a little tabletop version.

So this year sees me once again scrolling through Ravelry to see what I will put on my list to make (and probably not get time to actually make!)

Mini Christmas Stocking Ornaments by Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits. Don't you love all the cute designs on these?

Balls Up! by General Hogbuffer. Every tree needs some baubles! These would be pretty knitted in sparkle yarn or with some metallic thread embroidered on afterwards.

Fair Isle Mice by Janet McMahon. While not strictly Christmas, some little mice peeping through the branches would be sweet. 

Holiday Cheer Ornaments by Kate Gagnon Osborn. This pattern includes three mini ornaments - mittens, hat and bauble. 

Minikins by Woolly Wormhead. You most definitely need some miniature Santa or elf hats.

Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry. Can you believe that I am the only person in my entire family who likes Christmas pudding?! This, combined with the fact that it is usually stinking hot here in Australia, means that I have not made a pudding for the last few years. I just end up having to eat the whole thing! Maybe I should make some of these instead.

Advent Garland by Frankie Brown. This link takes you to the pattern for the advent garland itself. Each of the 24 ornaments are listed separately in Frankie's Ravelry page. But I am telling you, Frankie's page is the treasure trove for the cutest patterns you have ever seen. There are 530 on there - yes, 530! And they are ALL free! This page will keep you looking and oohing and aahing for ages. 

You could also use the decorations from Frankie's knitted Gingerbread House as ornaments.

Pine Cone Gnome by Mary Claire Goodwin. These are very sweet, if you can find some small pine cones.

WIP Ornament by Allison Griffith. A knitted knitting ornament! I would love a whole little tree of these for my craft desk! 

Knitted Miniature House by Sangmi Lee. You could add snow to the roof and other embellishments. 

Christmas Toadstools by Merrin Curley. Obviously yes!

Which ornament is your favourite? Are you planning any Christmas knitting yet? Or any other type of crafting?

I hope I will begin on some soon (but I have so many WIPs calling me already!)

Let me know in the comments what you are up to - and share any other wonderful free patterns you have discovered. 

My Favourite Free Sock Knitting Patterns

 

It is that time of year again - the time when our thoughts start to veer towards all things Christmas!

And for handcrafters, our thoughts tend to head towards the making of gifts. 

I personally enjoy receiving practical gifts that are beautiful or cute as well as useful. 

And if you are a knitter, there will be a sock design to suit every member of your family and circle of friends. 

So I thought I would collect some of my favourites here. All of the patterns are available for free through Ravelry. I will add that I have not knit all the patterns personally but they are certainly all in my queue in the hope that I wil get to them one day! 

Winter's Frost by This Handmade Life

A lovely, delicate lace pattern for a ladies' sock.

This Handmade Life has quite a few free sock patterns so definitely take a look at them all.

Oma's Sokken by The Kitchen Sink Shop

This pattern comes in adult sizes small, medium and large, so would be perfect for the men in your life.

Margaritaville by Adrienne Fong

This pattern makes me think of mermaids! 

Coffee Cantata by Caoua Coffee

I think this pattern is not for the fainthearted! But if you love texture and are up for a challenge, give it a try.

Call Them Cherry Blossoms by Tiina Kuu

Such pretty stranded colourwork!

Baby Mitten Socks by Barbara Prime

What can we say except adorable?! Newborn knits are just the cutest. Make some in Christmas colours for the new baby in the family.

Epresso Shot Shortie Socks by Cheryl Ham

Shortie socks always come in handy. With the added bonus that they make for quick gift knitting! 

Fox Isle Socks by Life Is Cozy 

How cute are these foxy socks?! 

Craggy Shore by The Blue Mouse

A fairly simple pattern with enough extra for interest. 

My Own Personal Flurry by Anna Lange

I have always loved snowmen so these are perfect for winter/Christmas! 

I have only shared ten patterns with you - believe me there are literally hundreds and thousands more to discover on Ravelry! I have searched for some of the less knitted patterns - let's get them circulating so these lovely patterns wll be knitted more!  

I am always astounded by the amazing talent on Ravelry. And more patterns are added every day! Enough patterns to keep us all knitting 24 hours a day for years! 

Comment below with your favurite free sock pattern. I can always do with some more for my Rav queue! Have you knitted any of these patterns? Let me know if you do - I'd love to see! 

Happy knitting! 

Diamonds Really Are Forever!

 

Literally forever! 

Although I am enjoying working on this jumper, I;m sure we would all like to see a new Stitchcraft project soon! 

But there is progress to report. The front and back are completed. I will block them while I knit the sleeves and hopefully there will be at least one sleeve next week as well.

And look at this! I picked up Bestway Fair Isle Designs on eBay, a pattern book from the 1940s. 

I will have plenty of yarn left over so I can match a whole matchy matchy set, if I feel so inclined! 

I have knitted exactly one pair of gloves before, many years ago. I wouldn't mind giving them another go. 

Have a lovely week!

Books In 1932

The Diamonds are moving along so slowly that I thought I would cover another subject from 1932. 

So what was happening in the book world in 1932?

The Cheney Report was published in the US in 1932. This report was commissioned by the National Association of Book Publishers to examine the overall structure of the book publishing industry and suggest possible improvements.

Cheney recommended standardising the physical size of books. He was also the first to suggest a machine based coding system for the organisation of books. It was not until several decades later that the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) was introduced.

Albatross Books, a German publishing house was established in 1932. They produced the first modern mass-market paperbacks. The first list included ten books with authors such as James Joyce (Albatross Number 1 was Dubliners), Virginia Woolf and Aldous Huxley and was called the Albatross Modern Continental Library.

A possible forerunner to the orange Penguin Classics?

The Royal Shakespeare Company's new theatre was opened on April 23 (Shakespeare's birthday) by the Prince of Wales, after the original theatre was destroyed by fire in 1926. Designed by architect Elisabeth Scott, it was the first major building designed by a woman in Britain.

The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to John Galsworthy for The Forsyte Saga. It is a collection containing three novels and two interludes. 

The Pulitzer Prize for a Novel was awarded to Pearl Buck's The Good Earth. I remember reading this in high school and being absolutely blown away. 

I did not know until recently that this is the first book in the House of Earth trilogy. Sons and A House Divided are the second and third books, both of which are currently out of print. 

Other books published in 1932 include:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Little House In The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons

Tobacco Road by Erskine Caldwell

Save Me The Waltz by Zelda Fitzgerald - the first and only novel by the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Peril At End House by Agatha Christie, the eighth Hercule Poirot book

And of course, many more! 

This is a really interesting website that is featuring the top selling books of the last 100 years. 

Top Selling Books of 1932

The books I have mentioned are the ones that have remained in print but most of the books that were top sellers in 1932 are no longer in print.

I found it most fascinating to see the books that everyone was reading in 1932. 

As you can tell, I do love a book list! 

Have you read any of these books? Do you have another favourite book published in 1932?