Bygone Knits

Reviewed

2009-10-20T18:18:00.002-04:00

BK gets a nice review in this magazine!

Where, Oh, Where...

2009-10-10T10:08:00.005-04:00

Basketweave Gloves, Vogue, 1950

...have my lovely gloves gone? I started these gloves (my first pair!) this summer in a lovely bottle green Jaeger merino wool, and completed one in no time. I was so proud, it turned out so well. However, typically, I set it aside in order to work on another project, and now, I can't find it anywhere, and the yarn seems to have vanished as well, although the hat I began to wear with them is still in my knitting bag. As wool glove season rapidly approaches, how very vexing! Where could it possibly be? I've started another pair, but now they don't match my hat, and both yarns have been discontinued, so I'm unable to acquire more yarn. Arugh. I could just cry out of frustration. I suppose they'll turn up two summers from now, or some such. But this is little consolation right now.

The Blankie

2009-10-07T11:56:00.005-04:00

Well, I finished the promised baby blanket a week or so ago, and it should have had time to arrive at its destination, so it's time for The Big Reveal! I'm very pleased with how it turned out! I made it a bit smaller than the directions called for as it's to be used as a blankie to sleep with and drag around, not a full-sized blanket. However, I made it a fairly good size, so Baby can pull it over herself if she gets a bit chilly, about 25" x 25." The only problem was that it didn't block very well -- I'm not sure if it was due to the yarn, the garter stitch border, or the crocheted trim, or a combination of all three. Still, considering after a couple of uses, the edges will probably get stretched out, I'm not really overly worried, although the perfectionist is me was a bit disappointed, for the sake of presentation.

Completed Blankie

Detail, front (in progress -- for some reason, I didn't get a close-up of the completed front)

Detail, back

I hope Mummy, Daddy, and most of all, Baby like it!

Shhhh...

2009-09-16T14:55:00.004-04:00

Since my baby sweater didn't turn out quite right (although I plan to fix/finish it one day), I've been working on my first baby blanket at the suggestion of Baby's Mummy, using that lovely Plymouth Baby Bunny yarn I discovered, and mentioned in a previous post.

No photos until it's done and mailed though, in case Mummy checks in on the blog!

A hint, though...I found the pattern in a booklet from Lacey's, a company I've never used before, and although the copyright date is 1966, all of the patterns and photos look very '50s. Perhaps it was re-issued? Does anyone know anything about Lacey's?

Meanwhile, my Vogue seed stitch cowl-neck sweater is on hold, while I knit away, trying to get the snuggly blankie done ASAP.

Vintage Wear Daily

2009-08-22T16:04:00.002-04:00

Why not go visit Vintage Wear Daily, where my Dear Friends and I muse on our favorite vintage clothing?

Splish, Splash!

2009-08-21T13:19:00.005-04:00

Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 1950

As everyone heads off to The Pool or The Beach during this unbearable heat wave, it's time to talk bathing suits. First of all, were I you, Dear Reader, I would look into vintage, or vintage reproduction suits -- contrary to what's commonly available today, the coverage and cut of vintage suits is extremely flattering. Legs openings cut up to your navel do NOT make you look slimmer, or like you have longer legs, no matter what "fashion experts" say. They make you look like a tramp. And, most likely, a funny-shaped one at that, to say the least. (I could say something more unkind.) Look how elegant the model above looks. And the cut of her suit is, er, suitable (completely unintentional pun) for any body shape or size. Remember that 1950s models were not twigs like they are today.

What you may not know is that woolen bathing suits were the standard through the '30s and '40s, and even common through the '60s. But aren't they hot, you say? Not at all! They may not dry as quickly modern nylon and spandex, but, honestly, isn't it irritating when you're dry and hot again five minutes after emerging from the pool? Really, be honest. You hate it.

I hope to make the above swimsuit one day -- and I also happen to have the same pattern from Vogue sewing. Perhaps both a woolen and cotton one are in order, I love the cut so much.

Trading Tips

2009-08-15T10:16:00.004-04:00

"Radcliffe" and "Barnard" sweaters, Beehive, 1938

I see from many of our "followers" that we have many readers with fascinating blogs. If you would like to exchange links, please let me know, and I'd be happy to add you to our "Places to Visit" section -- please post your URL, and I'll add you!

Incidentally, as you may have noticed, I had to take down the direct e-mail link, as I was overwhelmed with impossible questions like "I found some blue yarn. There's no label. What is it?" (I'll take guessing games, for $500, Alex.") I'm sorry to cut of direct communication, but I'm sure you all understand how loads of these kinds of requests -- and often being pestered incessantly by such queries -- is overly vexing. Not that it's not flattering in a way, but the anxiety of not being able to come to the aid of readers is overwhelming.

Pass the Pimms, Please!

2009-08-10T13:42:00.005-04:00

With temperatures here in New England inexplicably soaring to over 90 degrees, with 97% humidity, today is no day to even look at knitting -- not even anything cotton. Pity, because I'm rather in the mood to work on something. Right now, my mother is busily knitting away with wool -- how does she do it?

The sun keeps going in and out, but perhaps it's time to hop over to the pool for a quick swim in my vintage Jantzen bathing suit. I wish I lived near the beach -- some cooling ocean breezes are in order, I think.

In anycase, all else has been set aside to work on this seed stitch beach sweater (which may be done in time for Christmas, if I'm lucky), found in the Spring/Summer 1959 issue of Vogue Knitting. I'm using GGH Soft Merino (sadly, discontinued) in the palest of blues. It's also a new venture or me -- it's worked partially on a circular. I'm not sure I understand the directions entirely (see previous post), but I'm hoping All Will Become Clear, because it looks simple enough.

Knit & Purl-fusion

2009-07-24T16:20:00.005-04:00

Vogue Knitting, Spring/Summer 1961

Something is terribly, terribly wrong. In an attempt to finish up some nearly-done projects, I picked up this perfectly simple cardigan last night, located the directions, found my place (I think), and grasped my needles, untangled the yarn, and stared blankly at the directions. They could have been in Greek, for all I understood. How could I understand the most complex of instructions from when I picked up my needles Back In The Day, and suddenly not understand some simple stripes, increases and decreases? I've been on a Knitting Hiatus, as many of you know, but this is ridiculous.

I'm on a number of medications -- could it be that they've suddenly caused an entire lack of reading comprehension? Am I just plain stupid? Why don't the needles work for me anymore? I can't tell you, Dear Reader, how frustrating this all has been. I'm speechless, so all I can say is :'(

Pettiness?

2009-07-16T11:17:00.005-04:00

Since my post about social networking and my departure from facebook, I haven't heard a peep from any of my oldest real-life friends. Coincidence? Are they truly offended? Or too lazy to write anything more than a silly status update or tweet these days? One wonders.

Has anyone experienced the same thing?

It's a lousy, crummy world.

Drats!

2009-07-15T12:38:00.003-04:00

Oh dear.

I had my "Betsy Brooks" sweater all done except for the sleeves, when I noticed a mistake right across the chest (a misplaced row of garter stitch). It probably wouldn't be noticeable to anyone but me, but there is No Way In Hell I would give my worst enemy something with a mistake in it, no matter how minor, so back to the knitting bag it went until I decide what to do. I also think it would be too small for Baby. So what to do? Frog it entirely and save the yarn for something else? Frog to the mistake, re-knit from there, and chalk it up to an Exercise? Leave it be, do the sleeves, and let Teddy have a jaunty new jumper? I'll have to think on it.

Meanwhile, is it worth working on a new project for Baby?

Incidently, I found some lovely baby yarn in a Pima Cotton/Modal/Angora blend at Webbs, "Baby Bunny" by Plymouth Yarn -- I think it would work up nicely for adult garments, too, especially as the colour range wasn't limited to baby pastels. In fact, there are a number of neutrals. Take a look at the colour chart at Plymouth's website.

Back In The Saddle Again (Let's Hope)

2009-06-25T15:41:00.005-04:00

"Besty Brooks," (top) Minerva 1943

I've started a wee jumper for a Baby with whom I'm acquainted, in my beloved Velveen (the family is bi-coastal, so I thought it would be ideal for Los Angeles Winters, and New York Springs -- or chilly summers.) I'm working it in a pale yellow. I'm very nearly done with the back, and it has worked up quite quickly.

It appears to be cable-knit in the photo, but is actually a series of little squares, given depth by using a combination of garter and stockingknit stitches. I'm quite pleased with the overall effect.

Let's hope it will be appreciated a bit more than the wee argyle socks I made for a friend's new baby!

Anti-social Networking

2009-06-06T17:14:00.012-04:00

Mademoiselle, March 1953

Photograph: Mark Shaw

This has nothing to do with knitting, but it's been preying on my mind lately. I hate blogs where the author goes on and on about the minutia of their lives, airs the dirty laundry, babbles on about too many personal details, etc, etc. And I'm not going to do that. I'm just not going to talk about knitting right now.

I've noticed that recently, my e-mail inbox has been, well, pretty empty, except for offers to try new lipgloss at Sephora, and the like, all of which I keep trying to unsubscribe to, unsuccessfully. But real e-mails -- those daily/weekly/monthly e-mails from my dearest friends? They're not there anymore. Not even annoying mass e-mails with links to things I've already read. (Because, you know, I'm literate too, and read the New York Times/The New Yorker/Salon/Vanity Fair/etc., just like you do.)

So, what's with The Mystery of the Missing Missives? I'm going to chalk it up to Facebook/Twitter/Myspace, where, apparently, chatting with your best friend is the same as sending out a one sentence status update to all 9,000 of your acquaintances at once. The ultimate mass e-mail, reduced to 134 characters. I may know what one of my friends is currently watching on the telly, but do I know how they are? No. Do I even know where they are these days? No. Because my attempts at real e-mail go unanswered. Do they know what I've been up to? It seems highly doubtful. I could drop dead the second this posts, and not a soul would know. Unless, of course, someone wondered why my Facebook status update hadn't been updated in a few months.

This bothers me. I don't like people much, so I can deal with not socializing in person. (Plus, being a shut-in, that's sort of out of the question, anyway.) I miss the joy of getting a Real Letter in my box at boarding school and college, but I can cope with e-mail. What I can't cope with is "Watching Real Housewives of East Podunk!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!" ("26 people like this"), and there it stops.

I don't believe that social networking sites are The Work of The Devil, but I do believe that, ironically, that despite the overload of ways in which to communicate with others we have these days, our society is perilously close to a breakdown of actual communication -- "What we have here is a failure to communicate," to quote the scary sunglassed guy in Cool Hand Luke. (Insert menacing southern intonation.)

I doubt I'll ever hear anything more from my friends ever again, other than a daily Facebook status update. So, I'll know what sports team they're rooting for. That they baked a loaf of bread. A-tisket, a-tasket, they're off to Kroger's with a red and yellow basket. But I won't know how they are, really, nor they I. And I think that's a rather sad thing. Maybe even worse than going AWOL entirely. (Which, as we all know, is THOR.)

But I guess while I'm not writing to friends, I'll have more time to knit.

So this post is about knitting after all.

Attention!

2009-06-03T15:34:00.004-04:00

Design by megg87

Paging all Twi-Ravelers...

Startitis

2009-05-13T09:11:00.004-04:00

(vintage Beehive advertisement found on e-bay)

Oh dear -- I always feel so incompetent that I can't seem to actually finish so many items that I'm working on (which are MANY). What's wrong with me? Why can't I finish those sleeves? That one glove? That seaming? It can't be that I get bored, as I love all my projects so much. Does anyone else have the same problem, or is it just me? I belong to the "Hopelessly Over-commited" group on Ravelry, but it doesn't seem to help. (Probably mostly because although I've found many interesting groups, I never participate in any. At least not anymore, as they result in "major time suckage," as my dear college roommate used to say. Le sigh.

Photos of the latest non-completed project to follow soon. (a lacy blouse from 1934 in my beloved Velveen!)

It's All about Going Green...

2009-04-27T07:22:00.004-04:00

Westover, Facade, c. 1914

Westover, Red Hall, c. 1914

...but, I just learned from photos of, Westover, My Beloved Prep School's Centennial Celebration this past weekend, that all the original lighting fixtures have been replaced. The fixtures throughout the school, even on corridor (the dormitory), were original to the school, built in 1909, and have remained unchanged (as had all of of the decor, even down to the furniture) for all these years. Surely they could have adapted the original fixtures, perhaps with those special lightbulbs? And they were put on motion detectors whilst I was still there, so they weren't on all the time. It truly infuriates me when fixtures of architectural gems are "improved" in historical buildings. I could just cry. Behold photos taken by a student shortly after the opening of the school, from a fascinating album I found on e-bay a number of years ago. I'm just heartbroken.

So Much For "Minima" Layouts...

2009-04-23T15:13:00.002-04:00

...which seem to create the homepage problem. Are they bug-laden?

Oh well, "Scribe" is nice too. How odd that it works.

Musing on Moving

2009-04-23T12:52:00.002-04:00

Since nothing seems to fix this bizarre and annoying homepage layout here (And, from what I've seen, only blogger blog with the problem), perhaps it's time to move. Does anyone have any opinions on Wordpress? LiveJournal? Or other free blog services? (Preferably something which will allow importing existing material from here.) Perhaps it's time to pitch the whole project altogether?

Any and all thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated -- thanks!

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

2009-04-19T12:02:00.000-04:00

Does a fresh post restore my settings?

Hmmm...

2009-04-14T15:17:00.002-04:00

Why on earth has all of my sidebar information suddenly moved itself to the bottom of the screen? Have any other blogspot users had this problem, and how do you fix it?

Progress Report

2009-02-23T12:46:00.006-05:00

After a Long Knitting Hiatus, and a General Slump, I picked up one of my complex '30s projects started well-over a year ago. Remember this one? (worked in yellow, in Velveen, on #1s) I have one and a half sleeves, the neck (the mock turtle part -- it's a raglan pattern), and quite a lot of skirt left to go. I've been suffering from bad headaches lately, and thus, have only been able to work a couple of rows at a time, so it'll probably take me another year to complete. Alas. (Plus, I'm also taking a Distance Learning class from the University of Exeter in England on The English Country House, and will probably try to finish up my MA starting this Autumn. All of this means little or no free time.)

I did also recently finish up a bulky cable cardigan, which I think turned out nicely -- photos to follow someday soon.

I may also leave myspace and facebook soon, leaving only a Ravelry account (which I've been neglecting terribly). Speaking of An Internet Presence, thanks to our dear friend Krystle for starting a vintage needlework social networking site -- a good idea, to be sure!

PS: Many apologies for any lapses in communication, both through this blog, e-mail, and any internet site. It's nothing personal; BK has just been feeling blue for a very long time, and not up to Taking Care of Things.

Knitting for the War Effort

2009-01-26T13:10:00.003-05:00

Although I do not consider BK a Q&A site, nor do I wish for it to become one, I recently received the following e-mail:

Hi there, I am a war artist with the infantry, and am working on a project that involves knitting pieces for soldiers. I'm interested in WWI and WWII patterns. Can you help?I'm particularly interested in find a neck warmer that has little slots through which you may thread one end of the warmer... very easy to do up and undo while wearing a helmet and flak vest.If you or your readers could help, I'd be extremely appreciative.
sms

Whilst Homefront Knitting for Servicemen is an interesting topic to explore, I'm afraid I am unable to provide an answer to this reader's query; perhaps another BK reader knows more about the topic than I. Good luck!

On another topic, I'm sorry for being AWOL -- I haven't been feeling too well lately, and simply haven't felt up to posting, or doing anything else for that matter. I hope all of BK's readers had a lovely holiday season, and are staying warm in your cozy knits!

Bygone Knits Sells!

2009-01-07T17:33:00.005-05:00

After much thought (over a year of it), I've decided to go ahead and try to sell a few items on etsy.com, a marketplace for crafters.

Herewith, my first item offered for sale: Perfect for zipping around in your snazzy little convertible in the manner of Grace Kelly, or just to stay warm in the Freezing Temperatures, we have Vogue's 1956 Sports Car Hood.

Visit the brand-new Bygone Knits store at bygoneknits.etsy.com!

Places to Visit

2008-12-30T10:59:00.003-05:00

Does anyone belong to The Vintage Style Network? I can be found there as Bygone Knits (naturally).

Have Yourself A Wooly Little Christmas

2008-12-22T12:05:00.002-05:00

I wish everyone best wishes for a happy and blessed Christmas and New Year!

I thank each and everyone for your tremendous support of and enthusiasm for BK.