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Product Description
This lavish book celebrates the patterns and designs of 1940s knitwear. Drawings and photographs from the original pattern magazines accompany modern colour photographs of the garments knitted up for today's wear. In addition, it provides a history of wartime Britain and America, often using the actual words of the knitters and designers used by the fashion magazines.
From the Inside Flap
In the first half of the 1940s, the wartime scarcity of wools
and dyes produced innovative, figure-hugging lacy designs and creative
stitch techniques of bobbles, cables and ribs. In the post-war period there
was an even more acute shortage of materials, which meant that imaginative
Fair Isle designs and embroidery techniques became the only solution. As
the 1950s approached, however, a greater availability of materials led to
the voluptuous batwing look and looser garments.
and dyes produced innovative, figure-hugging lacy designs and creative
stitch techniques of bobbles, cables and ribs. In the post-war period there
was an even more acute shortage of materials, which meant that imaginative
Fair Isle designs and embroidery techniques became the only solution. As
the 1950s approached, however, a greater availability of materials led to
the voluptuous batwing look and looser garments.
This lavish book celebrates the patterns and designs of 1940s knitwear.
Drawings and photographs from the original patterns magazines accompany
modern colour photographs of the garments knitted up for today's wear. In
addition, it provides a history of wartime Britain and America, often using
the actual words of the knitters and designers used by the fashion
magazines.
Patterns appear chronologically, reflecting what was happening at the time,
and progress from the very simple (snood, balaclava or WAAF doll) to the
more intricate blackberry stitch and lacy designs as the knitter becomes
more fluent with the needles. Many of the designs are unusual, and there
are sequins, beads knitted into the fabric, and knitted buttons. American,
British and continental needles sizes are included, as is American
terminology; and measurements are given in both imperial and metric. The
material comes from a collection of over 2,000 historic knitting patterns.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
When they went out to dine on an August evening in 1939, women were wearing richly-textured floor-length gowns in soft black morocain, patterned in silver or red and green lame stripes, showing a good deal of glamorous decolletage. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
When they went out to dine on an August evening in 1939, women were wearing richly-textured floor-length gowns in soft black morocain, patterned in silver or red and green lame stripes, showing a good deal of glamorous decolletage. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Starting with the positives, this book has accurate patterning instructions, lots of pictures and puts each piece into its historical context.
What really lets it down for me is that the garments modelled in the book clearly do not fit in the way a 1940s garment would. Saggy and baggy is an unflattering yet far more modern knitting pattern trend, but seems to have crept into nearly every pattern in this book.
But on balance, it depends what you are looking for. If you want authentic 1940s stitch patterns and techniques and are not too concerned about fit then this is the book for you. If, like me, you want authentic 1940s styling and fit as well, then you're either going to have to resize the patterns or find an original. (To the authors credit there are some excellent references in the book).
What really lets it down for me is that the garments modelled in the book clearly do not fit in the way a 1940s garment would. Saggy and baggy is an unflattering yet far more modern knitting pattern trend, but seems to have crept into nearly every pattern in this book.
But on balance, it depends what you are looking for. If you want authentic 1940s stitch patterns and techniques and are not too concerned about fit then this is the book for you. If, like me, you want authentic 1940s styling and fit as well, then you're either going to have to resize the patterns or find an original. (To the authors credit there are some excellent references in the book).
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I would echo the other writer,s comments that the sizing has spoilt this book for me.As an avid collector of both knitting books and WW2 memorabilia,I enjoyed reading but thought that the modern versions were frankly unattractive and "lumpy" looking.I know women were a lot slimmer then but I would prefer to have had the patterns faithfully re/produced rather than adapted.
It is fairly easy to buy vintage knitting patterns and if a tension square is done,it is possible to use the original instructions.
It is fairly easy to buy vintage knitting patterns and if a tension square is done,it is possible to use the original instructions.
31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a beautifully produced book. Well-researched, intelligently structured and engagingly written. The patterns are laid out well, the photography and use of archive materials is well-balanced and I am glad to own it. The one, very significant, problem for me is that nearly all the patterns have been re-sized to a chest size of 36-40" and are pictured with a great deal more ease than the original vintage patterns. If you're any smaller than a 12-14 then none of the patterns will fit. I'll be keeping this book as a fascinating historical record but am bitterly disappointed not to be able to wear any of the designs myself.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very disappointing
The front cover should have told me that this was a no-go...and I should have read the reviews. This book is NOT for anyone interested in authentic patterns, the sizing is very... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bryony Walker
Buy A Stitch in Time instead!
What a disappointment!
1. Some of the vintage patterns have been given a modern makeover, making them look boxy and awful.
2. Read more
1. Some of the vintage patterns have been given a modern makeover, making them look boxy and awful.
2. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RustyJames
Interesting but not very useful
This book has some interesting patterns, but as other reviewers have stated the sizing is very odd. Every pattern was for a size which would be far too big for me. Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by E. Caine
Not a 38" chest size ? Move on, nothing for you here...
This is the oddest knitting book I've ever seen. The vast majority of items are designed for a 38" chest - that's for men and women ! Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2010 by Ponytail
Amazing
I love this book.
Each section tells atale and the original photos used are very inspiring.
I loved the history in this book and it is one of those knitting books... Read more
Each section tells atale and the original photos used are very inspiring.
I loved the history in this book and it is one of those knitting books... Read more
Published on 19 April 2008 by flickchick6
Fantastic Book Love it
This book is fantastic, I have already knit 3 of the patterns and they have turned out really lovely, I have just finished knitting the top on the front of the book and I love it. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2008 by Fran
I love this book
I have already made three of the garments in this book and intend to do more!
Published on 21 Dec 2007 by G. Hanhart
Superb Book
This is a wonderful book, well researched and superbly produced. The patterns are great and original. Thank you
Published on 1 Oct 2007 by Yvonne Kettler
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