I wish I could knit

I recently entered a competition on the Crinoline Robot blog which is written by the lovely Mim who actually is one of the very few vintage blog writers that is vaguely in my neck of the woods. Every year she gives away of Box of Robotness which is full of stuff she really likes, things she’s gathered over the year.  This year she was giving away this fabulous box of goodies and I won!

Crinoline Robot's Competition Stash

So what did I get? An enormous bag of Professor Elemental Russian Caravan and Earl Grey blended tea (I haven’t tried it yet), three lots of very cute vintage buttons which I already have ideas for, a pair of Moffat Maid burnt coffee coloured vintage tights, a pair of Cindy chocolate 100% nylon stockings, a gorgeous Vintage Fashion Knitwear book and a beautifully hand knitted fair isle beret made by Mim’s own fair hands.

Both the tights and stockings fit me perfectly so I will definitely be wearing them. I’m one of those people who believes if you buy something vintage you should wear it. I hate the idea of something really special wasting away in my wardrobe and never being used. The whole point of vintage for me is to always show it off. Of course, I would love a delicately beaded silk gown from the 1920s but I don’t think I’d ever buy one because I wouldn’t want it to just decorate a mannequin or be wrapped up away from admiring eyes.

I absolutely adore the beret and will definitely be sporting it once the winter sets in. It has already had much admiration, especially from my mum who tried to steal it for herself. I wanted to have a photo of me in it to show you but what with everything still being utter chaos I haven’t managed to get around to it, sorry.

Vintage Fashion Knitwear Book

My favourite thing, though, has to be the knitwear book which I have added a few shots of. It covers every era from the 1900s up to the 2000s and has so many beautiful garments in it. It has certainly rekindled my longing to be able to knit. I mean, just look at that 1920s knitted robe!

Vintage Fashion Knitwear Book

It’s strange because I am a craft person at heart and am a dab hand at most things, including baking, painting, sewing, interior design, even crochet, yet knitting has always eluded me. My mum has tried teaching me in the past and I have managed to knit a scarf (and it was straight), yet anything else just seems like a monumental mountain to climb. I keep buying vintage knitting pattern books in the hope that one day something will click in my brain but I won’t hold my breathe!

Vintage Fashion Knitwear Book

I’d love to be able to knit 1940s and 50s jumpers and cardigans because you just can’t find anything similar today. I have searched and searched for ones that are close fitting, sit just on the waist and have exquisite detail but no, there’s nothing modern like this. Everything is long, baggy and really boring!

Vintage Fashion Knitwear Book

And look at these! How amazing would it be to knit a whole dress or even dungarees? Okay, maybe not dungarees, but the options are endless and every era leading up to nineties seems to have such creative designs.

Vintage Fashion Knitwear Book

I remember having the most amazing jumper during the 80s that my great aunt knitted for me. It was baby blue with huge bright pink lips all over it. A little girl came up to me in our high street and said “You’ve got kisses all over you!” I loved that jumper and I think knitwear just went downhill after that for me.

Are you a knitter or are you, like me, utterly clueless?

Cate

Just a vintage gal suffering from the Golden Age syndrome. A lover of all things old, especially the 1930s, seamstress, crocheter, maker of hats and enjoys rummaging at flea markets.

7 Comments

  1. I’m so glad you liked your parcel! Wanting to make my own vintage clothing was what was got me into knitting in the first place. It took a couple of years to get to a standard I was happy with, but I suppose that’s true of any craft. I meant to tighten the central hole in the beret before posting – if you want to close it off, just run a thread through all the stitches round the hole on the wrong side, draw it tight and knot it off.

    Getting over the ‘scarf hurdle’ seems to be the point where people either go on to be knitters, or stop completely. It can be hard to find a pattern that’s simple enough, yet nice enough, to encourage people to make the jump. I shall see if I can find some easy free patterns to point you at.

    I do need to use up some of my crates of yarn, so am planning to give away knitted things at some point. However, i’m such a low knitter I have no idea when that will be.

    • Oh, that would be amazing if you could find something easy but lovely enough that I’d actually want to make it. Perhaps with winter rolling in it could be a new project for the darker evenings. Thanks again for my fab haul!

  2. What a lovely post! I’m like you, I can do all sorts of crafts, and I can knit – but not well. I tend to knit vicariously through the many fantastic knitters I follow on twitter. Not quite the same though!

    That’s a fab haul, I think I like the hat and the buttons best. I was lucky enough to have Mim knit me a stunning 1950s cardigan for my wedding – it’s one of my most treasured possessions, and I love to wear it.

    • Oh wow, I can only imagine how lovely your cardigan is! And it’s so good that you can still wear it.

      I too love to drool over knitwear others have done online. It amazes me just how creative some people are.

  3. Hello. Mim is right about getting over that scarf hurdle, if you have the patience for other crafts, you’ll get so much satisfaction from finishing and wearing a vintage jumper. There are lots of simple ones out there. Your blog is really great.

    • Aw, thank you! I’m so envious of all your lovely knits. I would so love to be able to produce the things you do but it all seems like a huge hill to climb. I have found a local knitting group, though, so may impose on their wisdom for help!

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