Retro Knit Friday!

These fashions are from the 1940 Bucilla booklet that we have been discussing for several weeks now. The first dress is knit at 7 1/2 sts/inch for a dress yarn called Tricolaine. The size 16 dress (the pattern is written in only one size) calls for 18 skeins. This classic shirtwaist dress has pattern detail on the bodice yoke and a rib detail on the skirt bottom. The belt is a purchased belt. To attach the bodice to the skirt, the instructions tell you to stitch a gathering thread along the bottom of the bodice to pull it in to a certain measurement before sewing the bodice to the skirt for a slightly bloused look.

The knitted suit echoes the military look of the times. The one-button jacket has four front pockets and ribbing at the waist for a close fit. The skirt features large box pleats. It is knit at 6 1/2 sts/inch on size 3 needles.

The pullover is knit of sock and sweater yarn at 8 1/2 sts/inch on size 1 needles. It has a very high neckline and short puffed sleeves.

"Matinee" has instructions for three pieces: the blouse with bow at neckline, the jacket, and the skirt. The materials list says that the jacket is red and is worn with a sideways knitted belt in red, navy and grey. The blouse has short sleeves, bow neckline, covered buttons, and is waist length. The navy skirt has knitted-in pleats. All three pieces are knitted in Tricolaine at 7 1/2 sts per inch on a size 2 circular needles. I didn't know they had circular needles in 1940, I wonder when they were first invented?

This is the back cover of the booklet with an ad for laundry soap. It talks about the benefits of this product over using bar soap to wash your sweaters, and it explains how to wash and block a wool sweater.

I have finished the first Sockotta sock and have cast on for the second.