Oooh, I do love a spot of serendipity. I was in Oxfam today (that’s a charity shop, for the information of non-UK readers – I think they’re called thrift shops in North America?) And having bought what I’d gone in there to buy, I was just about to round up the toddler twinnage and head off when I noticed a large basket full of vintage knitting/crochet patterns at 29p a piece. There must have been a few hundred of the things in there, mostly 1960s and 1970s. Well what happened next was fairly predictable. The poor twinnage didn’t get to leave the shop very soon, although they inexplicably but enthusiastically immersed themselves in the contents of a stand of second-hand Mills and Boon books. (They’re three – a little too young, one might think, for the intricacies of cheesy romance. But hey, I’ve underestimated them before.)
Actually I only managed the top inch of the delicious pile of patterns before I had to hoik the twinnage away from mischief and abandon ship but my goodness, this pile of old patterns was fascinating. I wish I could have bought them all. I wish I could show you them all. I bought three in the end, a 1973 booklet of crochet patterns, a knitting pattern for a lacy top that I can only guess at circa 1972, and a knitted top and dress that scream circa 1968. All for a grand total of 87 pence. Look!
I might make a few adjustments for modernity. The black and white pattern for the dress, bottom left, could do with slightly shorter sleeves or maybe full-length sleeves, and a deep V-neck, I think, but they’re basically decent patterns. Not sure when I’m going to knit/crochet them as I have so many housey ideas for this blog, but it’s very tempting to get going.
Anyway enthusiasm aside, there were a few duds in that box. And even in the booklet of crochet patterns I bought, some patterns were definitely more appealing than others. I really didn’t like the waistcoat below – it looks absolutely unshaped and so unflattering to the figure. Didn’t people have figures in 1973?!
And whilst we’re on the subject of unflattering, I have some old (1974) craft magazines kicking around at home. They’re fascinating as much for what still looks good as much as what doesn’t. But I can’t resist showing you the gem below. Be very nice to me or I shall knit this for your children. 😉
Yes, here in North America they are called “thrift shops” or ‘second hand stores” and I can’t resist looking at the old magazines either. When I find a knitting magazine in one it usually ends up coming home with me, too.
They’re fascinating, aren’t they?
I chuckled my way rather shame-facedly through this post! The dress you are thinking of making was owned by me in 1965 – except mine was fabric – polyester I believe as we had all just discovered the joys of plastic fabric that required no ironing 😉 The fact that it absorbed body odour which no amount of washing could remove was yet to dawn on us……..
The waistcoat you question so roundly was made like that DELIBERATELY. It was the time of the asexual urchin look. Post Twiggy when all the nice round feminine figures [like mine] were first under attack. You were supposed to look like a cute boy. Today – yikes!!
And finally, to add to my shame, those flare legged pants were once made by me in a blue cotton denim-look fabric with a matching cap and a little red and white polka dot sleeveless tunic top for my toddler girls. I thought they looked gorgeous. They ever forgave me! I am pleased, proud and happy to report I never would have thought to knit such an outfit though 🙂
Ha, ha, ha, thanks for such a brilliant response. And I hadn’t thought of the Twiggy angle.
I guess you had to be there 🙂
Wow! You found a treasure! What fun to browse through them.
I know. Now I need to persuade the stoic spouse to look after the toddler twinnage for long enough that I can browse the rest in peace. There are bound to be more gems.
I have a friend who is from England and her mother will send her fun care packages every so often. The most memorable box contained a good 8 inches of old patterns ranging from the 50s to the 80s, we had a blast going through them. She swears she recognizes a few of the items in the patterns from her closest, her mom denies everything.
Awwww, that sounds brilliant. I bet some of those 50s patterns were amazing…. whereas some of the 80s ones must have been pretty dire?
Man I love a find like that. I love the lacy shell on the cover. The dress looks total 1960s Twiggy and I’d do something to it – definitely the sleeves are wrong. The vest isn’t bad if you could get some shape in there somewhere.
Yes, they’re basically decent, timeless patterns… unlike some of the others I saw.
There is nothing better than finding gems we love at thrift shops/stores. Makes me want to go and browse one.
Yup, it was a complete joy. 🙂
What a nice purchace!Well,all those patterns will look sooooooo beautiful made by the yarn available today…. can’t wait to see what you’ll be able to create !!!! <3 <3 <3
Yes, it’ll be interesting to see what can be done with lovely modern yarn.
Stunning. Waiting to see which ones you are going to make first. They are all just to pretty. 🙂
Thank you. I’d love to make them all. But this blog is supposed to be about mostly housey stuff so I’m torn……..
Fab haul!
Yup. 🙂
Orange flares… what would the twinnage look like in matching sets!?!
No, the question you need to be asking is, How many years of therapy would they need to get over that memory?
Oh, those 70’s… truly the decade that taste forgot! 😀
Yup… although the 80s was arguably worse.
“Orange Trendsetter” – that’s priceless!
Yup. I think we can guarantee that no significant trends were set by that particular article. 🙂
So great! As inspiring as the good patterns are, I think I might like the awful ones (like that baby outfit!!!) better. There are a few menswear booklets that I’ve bought to have on hand just in case my Querido ever forgets dish duty…;)
Ha ha ha. That’s genius – holding these patterns out as a threat…..
TheContentedCrafter already said much of what I was thinking while reading. Having been a young adult in the early 1970s, this stuff looks awfully familiar to me! Won’t it be fun to see how dated today’s fashions look in 10 years or so!
Yes, although I’m possibly too clueless to fully understand what today’s fashions actually are.
You are going to have so much fun making these, old patterns are fab.
Yup, totally agree.
What an amazing find! Lucky you! 🙂
Yup, I felt pretty lucky. Am hoping to go back and look through the rest of the box, twinnage permitting.
I love the hit and miss nature of vintage booklets. I have a few myself. On one page you’ll find this gorgeous fisherman’s sweater. On the next, it’s some hideous t-shirt thing.
Side note: I miss Oxfam and UK charity shops in general. Our thrift stores don’t hold a candle to them here in the US.
Totally agree about the hit-and-miss thing, and that this is half the fun. 🙂
So glad I wasn’t a toddler of the seventies!