Category Archives: knit

I CREATED A VERY COOL VINTAGE SKIRT

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Look what I did to my dress!   You had seen this late 1960’s wool dress before, and I loved the red knit top of it, BUT,  the years had not been kind before it came to me and some moths had had a banquet.  Just couldn’t live with the little holes here and there, and no good way to fix them.

SO – why not snip it off at the waist and fashion a dirndl/pencil skirt instead?  So easy!  All I did was finish (by hand) around the waist with a piece of grosgrain ribbon, sew a few hooks and eyes in the placket left where the zipper used to be et voila’!  Just for extra fun, I threaded a black tie belt through the crochet so that it ties off in back.  Wouldn’t have had to, but it allows me to fit the waist a little more snugly and adds a cute touch.

Brainstorm!  Maybe I can wear it with that neat green sweater found recently – and black boots – must check it out . . . . .. … .. . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NOW FOR THE TRUE VINTAGE LATE SUMMER PARTY DRESSES AND FALL FROCKS TO HAND-KNIT

IMG_1028 IMG_1043From the early 1960’s, frocks just perfect for weddings, parties or just being pretty.  Like my others, these patterns come from a McCalls Needlework Magazine of that era.

IMG_1025This was the type of project our grandmothers might have busied themselves with over the  early winter months.  I know that my friend who gave me these did!

Women who loved to knit, crochet and sew looked forward to the new patterns just like  women look forward to fashion magazines and runway shows now.

Simple pleasures, but stunningly pretty and very true vintage . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

TRUE VINTAGE LATE ’60’S – EARLY ’70’S CALIFORNIA NOUVEAUX HIPPIE DRESS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE '60'S - EARLY '70'S CALIFORNIA NOUVEAUX HIPPIE DRESS

Mod, psychedelic, polyester knit dress – was made just a little past the time of the hey-day of the hippie/back-to-the-land movement.  About the time that popular fashions were beginning to turn back toward mainstream, but still liking the counter-culture vibe in a more modest way.

Prairie-style was also becoming a big thing around this time – leaning more toward Jessica (McLintock) designs than Janice Joplin’s Salvation Army finds.  Also,  polyester was beginning to replace cotton in a big way.

Not quite your pure Love-In roll-a-joint party outfit, but you could still get by with it . . . . . try doing it at a patio party  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SPRING SHOULDER SEASON SIXTIES SKIRT SUIT – TRY SAYING THAT TWICE!

SPRING SHOULDER SEASON SIXTIES SKIRT SUIT - TRY SAYING THAT TWICE!

For Spring or Fall – or any time the temps are in that mid cool-ish range – a lightweight 3-season wool knit skirt suit by Butte Knits.  I LOVE the olive drab color and the flattering fit.

This is one of a few examples I’ve found of mid-60’s suits like this, or similar.  The high-end knits are so comfortable and easy to wear, but ready for just about any setting.  It’s also two separates that can easily be paired with other skirts or pants for a different look.

I think my Aussie friends down under would love a garment like it at this time of year . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

TRUE VINTAGE LATE ’60’S CLASSIC SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS – POLY AND PLEATS

TRUE VINTAGE LATE '60'S CLASSIC SHIRTWAIST DAY DRESS - POLY AND PLEATS

Classic styling in the fave material of the late ’60’s and early ’70’s.  Poly synthetic that holds color and pleats so well (like forever).  Often called a “secretary dress” today, it’s a conservative style that goes everywhere in a normal day.  Sadly, as you can probably see, by the late 1960’s the quality is beginning to slide – but, it looks much better on a model and has some interesting vintage features making it a worthwhile buy.

I’d put a black belt on to wear and that will give it a really nice shape, as the skirt is fairly full and flippy.  Buxom Madge would put the Va-Voom in this style, but I haven’t taken a new picture with her yet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

NEW FIND! FUN SLINKY KNIT MOD 1960’s PATIO DAY DRESS BY ALLEGRO

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Came across this one yesterday and it’s the first I’ve had with this kind of T-back neckline.  Time to dig out the specialty bra.

The things I love best about it are the sunny-fun art print and that wonderful heavy, slinky fabric that was available for a few years.  It’s so delicious on the body and drapes so beautifully.  No, it can’t compare to the gorgeous jersey-knit fabrics from the 1940’s but it is identifiable as part of the family.

So, although it’s kind of a poor cousin, it’s also a very fun find.   This is because its pedigree out-ranks the quality of most all the casual poly clothing that has drowned us in the marketplace since the early 1960’s, with the value and workmanship moving farther down the scale every year.  There’s an embroidered cloth tag from a recognized maker, elegant styling and beautiful material – clues that come to light when you snoop carefully. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

AGAIN, FUN AND RARE TO FIND – ANOTHER HAND-KNIT BABY JACKET

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It is just incredible that these things survive!  Although this cute little coat could have been made more recently by a master needle-worker, I’m betting that it’s a mid-century creation.  Much prettier in person, the yoke is composed of very intricate-looking sculptural stitches and the yarn feels like angora.

Similar to the one I showed several weeks ago, it’s pink – probably made for a girl back in the day since pink for girls and blue for boys was pretty much what everybody did when it came to babies.  There are still some women around who can knit well and a few who have taught themselves in order to revive these old skills.  But, they are a rare breed.  A classic garment like this is worth collecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

 

ANOTHER RARE FIND – MEN’S MID-CENTURY LEISURE CARDIGAN SWEATER IN WOOL AND SUEDE LEATHER

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Fabulous condition, too!  It needs a button, but I can do that.  I may even have a matching one in my stash.  So fun to find one of these in great shape.

This type of sweater was such a common and vital part of a man’s wardrobe before 1965. After that, styles changed and these weren’t seen as often.  The classic golf sweater carried on the design, but is of a completely different genre.

College boys, Dad and Grandpa used to sport around in these cardigans during Happy Days and Mad Men times.  Sometimes they’d be worn with a casual shirt and tie.  Great- and great-great granddads had their versions, too.  I don’t find one very often but, when you’re sleuthing, you just never know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

McCALL’S NEEDLEWORK SPRING CARDIGANS FROM 1961

IMG_1086IMG_1087IMG_1088IMG_1089     Dig the hairstyles, too.  Now that Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were over, women in 1961 turned their attention to Spring and travel styles, as well as Prom & Easter.

With the crazy weather, we’re also thinking of flowers and sunny colors.  Although our grandmothers and great-grandmothers thought about new needlework projects  in their spare time, it’s still FASHION, and we continue to think about it now, but in different ways (what’s on my favorite Internet site?).

in 1961, the subscribers to McCall’s Needlework and Crafts magazine looked forward to these styles.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

RARE ONCE AGAIN – 1950’S – EARLY 1960’S MEN’S KNIT POLO SHIRT

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Just LOVE finding these knitwear items that have been so well-preserved for 50 – 60 years!!  Unusual finds are always tons of fun.

This shirt was made by a Sears, Roebuck & Co. brand that quit producing in the early 1960’s.  Very nicely tailored, with a longer tail (prevents embarrassing views that are all too common today).  Hard-to-see in this photo, but the sleeves are a ribbed knit contrast to the flat knit of the body.

These older things all have features and stories to tell that keep revealing themselves.  The star item of my recent adventures is coming up tomorrow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM