Saturday, October 24, 2009

Knitting Room Under Siege

Next week and the week afterward, the contruction guys will be replacing the windows in the living room and in the sewing/knitting room. I will be glad when it is done, but I do hate having to empty out a room and then put everything back again. If you could see the sewing room, you would understand. I will have to fortify myself with sock yarn so that I do not run out while everything is in storage. Oh wait, if I run out, I'll be forced to buy some more!

In new product news, I ran across a new type of crochet thread, Aunt Lydia's Bamboo Crochet Thread. It felt nice and soft, and since I was going to use it for a lacy trim around a neckline where softness would be a plus, I decided to give it a try. I found it nice to work with and it performed well:
This is a top I made for my younger daughter so that I could practice free-motion machine embroidery. Only time will tell whether or not the bamboo thread wears well.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Retro Knit Sunday!

Still not much knitting going on here since we are having strange weather for the fall. Usually the days are sometimes warm or sometimes cool, but we very seldom have hot, sticky, humid weather like we are having this month. We are also getting ready for another round of window replacements which means that the sewing/knitting room will have to be packed up and cleared out. I am wondering what long lost treasures will turn up in the upheaval.

Today I am going to give you all a peek into the little pink British magazine shown above, a 1960 Vogue Knitting Book, Volume No. 56. The magazine measures about 7" x 9 1/2 ". In the fashion timeline, England had not yet risen to prominence in the fashion world with the advent of mod fashion, Carnaby Street, and Twiggy. Rather than being cutting edge, the fashions in this magazine are beautifully classic, useful designs.

Can't go wrong with a sheath dress! These fashions fall right in the Mad Men time frame.

The cardigan above is more sporty, a nice heavy cardigan for cold British days.
Another classy sheath dress in ribbed wool.

The sweater set above could certainly still be worn today, so classic is the styling. Interest is added with the choice of a 'Crinkle-Spun' yarn with appealing texture.

How current is the sweater above?! Fitted, gathers at the shoulder yoke, and empire seam styling.....very pretty.

I am still knitting on the languishing blue sock, but at least I am approaching the heel of the second sock. I took a break to mend one of the socks I had given to my daughter several years ago since she somehow broke the thread that grafted the toe stitches, so I had to pick up the dropped stitch and regraft the toe.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Good Day at the Thrift Shop

Three new hardbound knitting books and five vintage pamphlets, including a British Vogue magazine from the late 50's all for under $6 total!