I can't resist buying old knitting books when I see them at booksales or used book shops. I started buying knitting books back in college when there were sale book tables at Cal Books in Berkeley and you could pickup old books for a dollar or so. I can't remember when I got this book, though. It was printed in 1940 in Great Britain but also sold in Canada and America. The book is about teaching you to knit and to make useful items. There are patterns for large and small items, but not much emphasis on fashion since this was during the war. There are chapters on baby clothes, men's and women's underwear and swimsuits, socks, gloves, and some garments for men, women, and children.
The blouse pattern is different from any I have seen before with its square neck and lace frill. I don't know exactly what the ration rules were, but it seems like it was easier to get yarn for knitting than to get fabric for sewing. People also knit for the armed services to provide helmets, gloves, sweaters, and scarves for their loved ones in the service.
This cover for a hot water bottle is more attractive than many I have seen. It has patterning on the sides and initials knitted into the bottom front.
This is a workbag. The seed stitch pattern is called 'dice pattern'. I like the way the sides of both this and the hot water bottle cover have a picot trim. Notice the decorative frill around the top edge.
The knitted shawl has a pretty lace pattern and garter stitch borders. It is very large, like a small afghan.
The body belt is for a baby. I have seen references to these in very old books from the early 1800's. It was worn by a baby to either protect the umbilicus or because there was a belief that a baby's abdominal muscles were weak and needed supporting.
Some of the baby clothes are simple like this lace-trimmed dress, but some require more skill like the cap and pram jacket trimmed with pattern stitches and a lace border.
The chapter on women's garments contains patterns for women's undergarments, though there is only a picture of a woman's opera top vest. All the other unmentionables only have charts as if it would be indelicate to show pictures of such garments. These include knickers, combinations and spencers. There are no pictures either of the swimsuits, but the charts look like something from the 1920's and are one-piece suits with boy shorts. Even the men's suit covers from shoulders to mid-thigh.
The weather has been very cold at night here for the last week but is starting to get warmer. My little Starter House is full of baby plants waiting for the garden to be dug up. The spouse plans to finish up the digging this weekend. I am still working on the first Shibui sock but am getting close to the toe.
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