Tag Archives: McCall’s magazine

A TRUE VINTAGE HAND-KNITTED WARDROBE FOR YOUR NEXT SEA CRUISE?

IMG_1476 IMG_1477     Can you imagine making your own travel wardrobe for that ocean voyage overseas?  Well, that’s what some ladies were doing in the early 1960’s!

Springtime, beginning in February, was traditionally the season for international travel – after the Christmas season was all tied up, and before Easter.  Although some North Americans jetted off for ski or beach vacations, the true “Jet-Set” or those planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip headed for Paris & London, East Asia, South America or the Caribbean.

Our grandmothers thought that an ocean cruise was one of the most glamorous ways to travel – and it was, then.  What more elegant attire than a wardrobe of custom-made clothing.  If you weren’t in a position to visit a couturier and had good do-it-yourself skills, a McCall’s Magazine needlework pattern would have been just the thing!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

PRETTY 1960’S SPRING INTO SUMMER DRESS ENSEMBLES OUR GRANDMOTHERS KNIT AT HOME

PRETTY 1960'S SPRING INTO SUMMER DRESS ENSEMBLES OUR GRANDMOTHERS KNIT AT HOME.

OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND THEIR MOMS AND GRANDMAS KNITTED SWEATERS ALL YEAR LONG!!

OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND THEIR MOMS AND GRANDMAS KNITTED SWEATERS ALL YEAR LONG!!.

OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND THEIR MOMS AND GRANDMAS KNITTED SWEATERS ALL YEAR LONG!!

IMG_1461 It’s hard to imagine, but

IMG_1462mid-century and before women wore sweaters of one kind or another all year.  These McCall’s needlework magazine pictures from the 1950’s and early 1960’s prove it!  Not only dresses, cardigans and little boleros, but I’ve seen patterns for shorts and even bathing suits.

If you keep a woman confined with time on her hands, it’s amazing what she will come up with . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

BARBIES AND KENS FROM THE MID -1960’S – VINTAGE McCALL’S PATTERNS FOR HANDMADE ENSEMBLES

IMG_1402Anyone ever see these vintage dolls?  Very different from modern Barbies, and the clothing and accessory outfits made for them were astounding!  Full of details and all kinds of extra pieces.

Of course, handicrafters would get in on the trend, and grandma’s have always made clothing for their little grand-daughters’ dolls. Look at the pattern pieces – kind of like the sarong, which is nothing but a plain rectangle but can be wrapped into the most exotic and shapely dresses.

It’s kind of fun to see the mid-century styles on this fantasy icon – THE BARBIE-DOLL!!

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

BOOK:  HOW TO FIND THE BEST IN VINTAGE FASHION

TIME ON YOUR HANDS? OUR GRANDMOTHERS KNEW WHAT TO DO . . . . .

IMG_1151IMG_1152They always had a basketful of projects, like these from McCalls needlework and crafts magazine from 1956, whenever the weather or the doldrums hit.  Getting ready for Spring  was more than closet-cleaning and ordering from the seed catalog.

True vintage aprons and decorated tote bags are always lots of fun to find and useful, too.

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

BLOG:  MAGICVINTAGESPY.COM

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

McCALL’S NEEDLEWORK SPRING CARDIGANS FROM 1961

McCALL'S NEEDLEWORK SPRING CARDIGANS FROM 1961.

NOW FOR THE TRUE VINTAGE LATE WINTER PARTY DRESSES AND SPRING FROCKS TO HAND-KNIT

NOW FOR THE TRUE VINTAGE LATE WINTER PARTY DRESSES AND SPRING FROCKS TO HAND-KNIT.

McCALL’S NEEDLEWORK MAGAZINE FEATURE FROM 1956 – MAKE YOUR OWN HATS

McCALL'S NEEDLEWORK MAGAZINE FEATURE FROM 1956 – MAKE YOUR OWN HATS.

MID-1950’S FASHION PHOTO FROM MCCALL’S NEEDLECRAFTS MAGAZINE

MID-1950'S FASHION PHOTO FROM MCCALL'S NEEDLECRAFTS MAGAZINE

Can you even imagine being able to knit a dress like that one on the right? And, have it fit like that?! Wow.

Do you have any stories of family members who could make things like this? I’m so amazed by some of the things that the women of our grandmothers’ and great-grandmothers’ generation could do . . . . . . . .

Morgana Martin, the Magicvintagespy
Blog: Magicvintagespy.com
Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Digg, PATH & more . . . . . .
Book: How to Find the Best in Vintage Fashion available on Amazon.com