Tag Archives: knitting

TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THOSE WINTER SWEATERS – MORE MID-CENTURY NEEDLEWORK PATTERNS FROM MCCALLS

IMG_1024 IMG_1020“My gosh – look at the time!   It’s coming up Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and I must think about winter sweaters – many of them may be Christmas gifts.”   Our grandmothers were likely saying things like this to themselves right about now, if they hadn’t been knitting since last July!

Such cute and sophisticated handmade beauties – no comparison to what’s in the stores (especially now).  Even if your family didn’t take an annual ski-trip to Vail, Colorado or the Swiss Alps, sweaters like these were popular wardrobe items.

If you love old movies and sit-coms, like I do, you’ll see plenty of them along with “stretch pants” and stirrup pants for everyday as well as being ski-wear.  If you can do this kind of needlework, Bravo!   I just have to keep my antennae alert for the real thing . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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HALLOWEEN’S IN THE BAG – TIME FOR ALL 1950’S HOMEMAKERS TO THINK ABOUT THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS . . .

IMG_0935 IMG_0936Although we do Christmas marketing almost year-round, back in the mid-century time no one thought seriously about Christmas stuff until after the American Thanksgiving in late November.  But, if you’re making lots of your gifts . . . . .

McCalls needlework magazine promoted doing just that – to economize as well as adding a personal touch.  Can you imagine getting all that done ?!

For many of our grandmothers, that was just part of the day-to-day.  And, they did produce beautiful things – from hats, gloves, sweaters, socks and scarves to dolls & their clothing, tablecloths & bedspreads, just to name a few.

I love discovering some special true vintage handmade item that was probably made as a gift or a table decoration for a special family holiday. . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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EARLY 1960’S FUN AND GAMES – WHAT A DIFFERENT LIFE OUR GRANDMOTHERS LED!

IMG_1039IMG_1040These McCalls magazine needlework ads would make you think that our grandmas’ lives were all about simple fun in the kitchen and scheming to get their husbands to give in to their wishes.

That’s the stereotype, isn’t it?  I wonder how much of that is true?  Don’t think I want to go back there, but the sweater is gorgeous!

Hand-knits from that era are really special, sweet and innocent styles . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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BEAUTIFUL HAND-MADE DRESSES FOR FALL

IMG_1046 IMG_1026 Yes, a lot of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers knitted dresses like these at home!  So hard to imagine.

IMG_1035 IMG_1027These photos from the Fifties and early Sixties come from McCall’s Needlework magazine – a popular and easy-to-find magazine that could be bought the way we might buy Vogue or Glamor now, on a newsstand somewhere.  Of course, knitted dresses were made commercially, too, and I’ve found several.  But, the custom-made one-of-a-kind is always the most special.

P.S. Please vote in the Presidential election if you are a U.S. citizen.  Get registered if you need to or check your registration status.  This is a very important one – not one to sit out. . . . . . . ..

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

SPEAKING OF FIFTIES & SIXTIES SWEATERS – SOME FUN EXAMPLES TO KNIT AT HOME!

IMG_1041IMG_1042IMG_1044IMG_1045IMG_1032      McCalls needlework magazine from 1961 has patterns and instructions for these neat tops.  It was one of those times when the fashion gets really playful.  My most recent finds on this trip are ’60’s!

Not quite so intimidating as trying to make some of the dresses and coats, but challenging enough!  There’s no mistaking the styles from that time and I’ll be showing more . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1950’S DRESSY SHAWLS & TOPS TO MAKE AT HOME

IMG_1021IMG_1022     It’s the time of year when we start thinking about dressy events, dances and holidays again.  I’ll be showing more true vintage formal, semi-formal and dressy looks.

These tops would look great with the velveteen skirt from yesterday.  And, I’ve got some formal and dressy frocks that need a special wrap to go with them.  Often what you already have in the closet just doesn’t work.  That’s the time when our grandmothers would get out their knitting needles and crochet hooks . . . .

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MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE HAND-KNIT FALL STYLES FROM THE FIFTIES – SO SPORTY AND ELEGANT

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It’s the details and the fit that make these things so wonderful!  That’s what I love about true vintage and hand-constructed clothing.  Check out these photos from a 1950’s needlework magazine, given to me by a woman who did this every year.

For a woman who had the skills to make these, it must have been so much fun to look through the new knitting magazines.  These weren’t runway styles that were out of her reach!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BACK TO SCHOOL TIME! 1950’S/1960’S SWEATERS THAT MOM & GRANDMA WERE BUSY KNITTING . . . . .

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Yes, it’s that time of year again.  I don’t know how many of you had mothers or grandmas who made most of your wardrobe, all year long – BUT, it was not at all unusual back in the day.   And, aren’t these cute and good-looking!    I’ll bet no one else would have had one like it.

These kinds of needlework magazines with patterns were really popular and there used to be little knitting shops around that sold all the necessary supplies.   When I was cleaning out some of the OLD family stuff recently, I found a lot of knitting needles of every size and configuration you can imagine.   I couldn’t begin to understand how they were used . . . . .

In these old magazines that were given to me, I’ve seen ads for knitting machines, too – something small that you could set up and use at home.   Although I can’t imagine devoting the time it would take to make these garments really well, they are SO beautiful that it seems it was well worth it.

I’d love to hear about your own family stories . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

A TRUE VINTAGE DO-IT-YOURSELF WARDROBE PLAN FOR YOUR 1956 OCEAN CRUISE

IMG_0970 IMG_0971 IMG_0969 IMG_0968 IMG_0967 IMG_0965 IMG_0964Can you imagine?!   You’re planning to set sail in a few weeks.  Why not spend that time knitting and crocheting your entire wardrobe for the trip?   Sound like a good idea?   Think of the money you’ll save!   Imagine the compliments and envious looks when other women see your gorgeous, custom-made outfits.  Just pull out the instructions in your latest issue of the McCall’s needlework magazine.

Such ambition those mid-century women had!  My pillbox is off to them . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

TRUE VINTAGE 1960’S – MOHAIR CARDIGAN SWEATER

IMG_1732Red, red, red!  I’ve found several outstanding red items in the past little while – getting me in a Christmas mood a little early.  This beautiful sweater was hand-knitted at a time when lots of women were still doing needlework on a regular basis.

In the favorite yarn of the time  – mohair – maybe with some angora blended in. Every girl had to have a mohair sweater, usually knitted by herself, mom or grandmother.  In this case the knitter put her own name at the neckline.  I think that a few were commercially made, but I’ve rarely seen that.

The buttons are even cute – red plastic, with sailboats stamped on the front.  The nautical theme has always been classic and popular for Spring and maybe says something about the person who wore this.

Anyway, I know I’ll be snuggling in it when I’m in the December holiday mood and right on through February . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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