You are wearing the first sweater I ever knit. My mom had the book from the forties, and she had made it and the males reindeer sweater for my dad. I still have it, and the one my mom knit. Thanks for all you do.
This was the second sweater I knit, in 1974, I found the book in a knitting store. I made a second version for my college boyfriend (who became my husband). I plan to make it again.
My grandma was a knitter so I have been wearing her “vintage “ knits for over 50 years. The washing is exactly the same as the care instructions for a new item made with nonsuperwash wool. There are many videos on how exactly to do this on UA-cam already. It helps to have some knowledge of blocking but that is only 100% necessary with stranded colorwork and some lace work. The best advice I have is remember wool is like hair so be gentle.
Great info! I can add that Susan Crawford is another resource for adapted vintage knitting patterns. Her "A Stitch In Time" series of books are excellent. Tasha of Tasha Could Make That does some lovely vintage inspired patterns for those like the look, but prefer modern techniques.
One last point to remember: old wool can disintegrate if stored improperly or cleaned with harsh chemicals so always check the condition of any vintage item before buying and make sure the yarn doesn’t fall to bits.
My mother taught me to hand wash sweaters in Woolite and then block them, just like you do after finishing a knitting project. She was very keen on taking good care of her clothes and her sweaters always looked great!
I work in book conservation however there is a bit of a standard, vintage is up to 100 years ago, antique is more than 100 and antiquity is over 1000. I do think pop culture somehow created an idea that vintage is the 40’s to 60’s and retro is the 70’s to 90’s, anything pre-war was the medieval and the Byzantine era was basically the Flintstones. When I tell people I have 14th century manuscripts they low key expect I dug them out of a pyramid.
For the question 'where to get vintage needles etc' - elderly women! Those who're giving up knitting and don't have any relatives who want their stash will be very happy to pass it on to you. Also on a more morbid side, families of women who've passed away could be looking for a new home for things like needles, patterns, yarn even. It could be a good idea to ask around locally or even place a wanted ad in a newspaper or at the library, or to look on facebook.
I started knitting about a year ago and bought my first pattern in may I think. The designer also used measurements instead of rows and I found it to be SO useful. I could take measurements of my own body while knitting and check that I knit the right size. The top came out lovely and fits like a glove. Which I guess is pretty good for the first piece of clothing that I ever knit myself. I find it much harder having to count because I have to do it again and again. With measurements I write mine down and simpy measure with tape instead of having to go through the tedious work of counting rows.
I finished my first ever garment on Saturday, and it's also a vintage knit (1959). I saw it on ravelry via free vintage knitting, and I couldn't get it out of my mind as being a gift for my dad. It worked up beautifully, and although I'm a novice knitter, like picking up the stitches on the wrong side, it still came together quite well. I say all this because I actually found as a novice knitter that the vintage pattern books I have are very clear in their instructions. It also helped that they are usually intended to be worked flat, even the ones that do mention using circular needles. So I got to see the construction of a garment more readily than I would working in the round.
Having been born in the 1950s, and having not knitted anything from a pattern since my teens, all I know are vintage patterns! I might well have trouble with a modern pattern 🤣😂 The best way to wash vintage knits is gently by hand in warm water with real soap flakes or something like Dreft (I don’t know how available that is in other countries). Squeeze dry and or spin dry; do *NOT* tumble dry; or dry flat on a clean towel, correcting any shape distortion created by washing. Dry cleaning was also an option.
You are my "go to" for vintage knit chat, maybe you can tell me when SSK became a "thing". When I learned to knit (England circa 1955) if you wanted a left leaning decrease you did Slip One, Knit One, PSSO. When did that go and SSK arrive????
I’m in Australia. A lot of knitting patterns here in craft / wool shops are exactly like this still. Knitted flat. Knitting in the round top down, is not something I knew about till a couple of years ago from UA-cam.
i knitted a vintage lion/tiger toy once. took some figuring out since the stitch amount was not mentioned at the ends of the row with increases or decreases, it looked like a pink and purple striped baguette until I sewed it together lolr XD
Love hearing your time definitions, UNTIL hearing the actual years. I hate thinking of myself as vintage-VBG. We all lose track of how fast things move by. I’m now kicking myself for discarding patterns I bought new.
That was way mire infirmative than I thought. Wish for a second part, allthough I do not knit vintage patterns. Just the titke was a little too long - I would place 'vintage' closer to the beginning, because that word would have catched me. But as a subscriber, I clicked anyway :)
I learnt to knit in the 60s and learnt to read patterns in the 70s. I have noticed that patterns have changed 'recently' and put it down to the UK vs US styles. Until 10 minutes ago I hadn't put it down to being old!!!@@
I would say English/ scandi difference is exactly this. There is so much more description in English translations of scandinavian patterns! And I find this descriptive style more confusing than the old "figure it out".
When i learned to knit ~25 years ago, pretty much all sweater patterns were knit bottom up in pieces that were "made up" as sewn garments. While the current standard is knitting in the round, i have found seamed sweaters to be more stable and hold their shape better. The Rowan patterns were notorious for instructions to reverse shaping on the other side. The reason was the limited space in the 2-coluumn print format in knitting magazines and pattern leaflets. With the advent of downloadable PDFs, designers are no longer constrained, and we have to put up with pages upon pages of bloat, unhelpful "artsy" photographs, and the ever present instruction to avoid twisting when joining in the round. Im old and cranky and it makes me want to stab myself in the throat with a steel dpn.
Re age of particular things, I've indeed heard that vintage is considered for pieces about 20 years old. That said, I was always told that retro was reserved for pieces about 50 years old. And then antiques at about 100 years old. It sort of seems like everyone has a different view on this.
Weird. I would call 20 year old retro (in the early 2000s the 80s were considered retro and that is the meaning I grew up with) and vintage is 50 years and up (so 50s when I was young and I guess 70s now)
As a European knitter I often find that even modern patterns here in the UK are still very often knit flat in panels and seemed. Knitting in the round is definitely common though.
You are wearing the first sweater I ever knit. My mom had the book from the forties, and she had made it and the males reindeer sweater for my dad. I still have it, and the one my mom knit. Thanks for all you do.
This was the second sweater I knit, in 1974, I found the book in a knitting store. I made a second version for my college boyfriend (who became my husband). I plan to make it again.
❤
My grandma was a knitter so I have been wearing her “vintage “ knits for over 50 years. The washing is exactly the same as the care instructions for a new item made with nonsuperwash wool. There are many videos on how exactly to do this on UA-cam already. It helps to have some knowledge of blocking but that is only 100% necessary with stranded colorwork and some lace work. The best advice I have is remember wool is like hair so be gentle.
Great info! I can add that Susan Crawford is another resource for adapted vintage knitting patterns. Her "A Stitch In Time" series of books are excellent. Tasha of Tasha Could Make That does some lovely vintage inspired patterns for those like the look, but prefer modern techniques.
One last point to remember: old wool can disintegrate if stored improperly or cleaned with harsh chemicals so always check the condition of any vintage item before buying and make sure the yarn doesn’t fall to bits.
My mother taught me to hand wash sweaters in Woolite and then block them, just like you do after finishing a knitting project. She was very keen on taking good care of her clothes and her sweaters always looked great!
I'm glad that you can make this full time work. We appreciate your thoroughness.
I work in book conservation however there is a bit of a standard, vintage is up to 100 years ago, antique is more than 100 and antiquity is over 1000. I do think pop culture somehow created an idea that vintage is the 40’s to 60’s and retro is the 70’s to 90’s, anything pre-war was the medieval and the Byzantine era was basically the Flintstones. When I tell people I have 14th century manuscripts they low key expect I dug them out of a pyramid.
That is such an insightful thought! You’re exactly right. Modern culture does cultivate a very specific sense of old.
For the question 'where to get vintage needles etc' - elderly women! Those who're giving up knitting and don't have any relatives who want their stash will be very happy to pass it on to you. Also on a more morbid side, families of women who've passed away could be looking for a new home for things like needles, patterns, yarn even.
It could be a good idea to ask around locally or even place a wanted ad in a newspaper or at the library, or to look on facebook.
I started knitting about a year ago and bought my first pattern in may I think. The designer also used measurements instead of rows and I found it to be SO useful. I could take measurements of my own body while knitting and check that I knit the right size. The top came out lovely and fits like a glove. Which I guess is pretty good for the first piece of clothing that I ever knit myself. I find it much harder having to count because I have to do it again and again. With measurements I write mine down and simpy measure with tape instead of having to go through the tedious work of counting rows.
I finished my first ever garment on Saturday, and it's also a vintage knit (1959). I saw it on ravelry via free vintage knitting, and I couldn't get it out of my mind as being a gift for my dad. It worked up beautifully, and although I'm a novice knitter, like picking up the stitches on the wrong side, it still came together quite well.
I say all this because I actually found as a novice knitter that the vintage pattern books I have are very clear in their instructions. It also helped that they are usually intended to be worked flat, even the ones that do mention using circular needles. So I got to see the construction of a garment more readily than I would working in the round.
Hahaha 1974 is when I was born, I am vintage. Love that. Reason to buy some wool and get cracking.
Having been born in the 1950s, and having not knitted anything from a pattern since my teens, all I know are vintage patterns! I might well have trouble with a modern pattern 🤣😂
The best way to wash vintage knits is gently by hand in warm water with real soap flakes or something like Dreft (I don’t know how available that is in other countries). Squeeze dry and or spin dry; do *NOT* tumble dry; or dry flat on a clean towel, correcting any shape distortion created by washing. Dry cleaning was also an option.
I love watching you flex your expertise ;) You are definitely someone I go to to understand vintage knitting, and it's a pleasure to watch you learn!
As someone who can’t knit but loves your videos- if you sold the sweaters made from the vintage patterns, I would buy them in a second!
You are my "go to" for vintage knit chat, maybe you can tell me when SSK became a "thing". When I learned to knit (England circa 1955) if you wanted a left leaning decrease you did Slip One, Knit One, PSSO. When did that go and SSK arrive????
I’m in Australia. A lot of knitting patterns here in craft / wool shops are exactly like this still. Knitted flat. Knitting in the round top down, is not something I knew about till a couple of years ago from UA-cam.
i knitted a vintage lion/tiger toy once. took some figuring out since the stitch amount was not mentioned at the ends of the row with increases or decreases, it looked like a pink and purple striped baguette until I sewed it together lolr XD
I am vintage!❤😂 I enjoy your videos.
Love the Reindeer and Pines sweater! I've had that pattern for ages, hope to make it soon.
Oooh, I love those 50s sweaters images. Maybe I should look into 50s patterns for my next sweater 🤔
Love hearing your time definitions, UNTIL hearing the actual years. I hate thinking of myself as vintage-VBG. We all lose track of how fast things move by. I’m now kicking myself for discarding patterns I bought new.
"Row gauge is aspirational"
I AM SO READY FOR THIS🤭🤭
That was way mire infirmative than I thought. Wish for a second part, allthough I do not knit vintage patterns. Just the titke was a little too long - I would place 'vintage' closer to the beginning, because that word would have catched me. But as a subscriber, I clicked anyway :)
Thank you for this very informative episode.
Great video! ♥️♥️♥️
Love the sweater you’re wearing! Did you make it ? I’m sure you did! Where can I get the pattern? THanks!
Great presentation! Is there a pattern available for the sweater you are wearing?
I dry clean some sweaters in a bag in the dryer with dry cleaning cloths.
I'm guessing that string of lights is red poppies for Armistice Day. You're too much!
YarnSupport? 😅 WIRED, eat your heart out 😂
Can you explain the twist of a yarn and why or if it matters?
I learnt to knit in the 60s and learnt to read patterns in the 70s. I have noticed that patterns have changed 'recently' and put it down to the UK vs US styles. Until 10 minutes ago I hadn't put it down to being old!!!@@
I would say English/ scandi difference is exactly this. There is so much more description in English translations of scandinavian patterns! And I find this descriptive style more confusing than the old "figure it out".
When i learned to knit ~25 years ago, pretty much all sweater patterns were knit bottom up in pieces that were "made up" as sewn garments. While the current standard is knitting in the round, i have found seamed sweaters to be more stable and hold their shape better. The Rowan patterns were notorious for instructions to reverse shaping on the other side. The reason was the limited space in the 2-coluumn print format in knitting magazines and pattern leaflets. With the advent of downloadable PDFs, designers are no longer constrained, and we have to put up with pages upon pages of bloat, unhelpful "artsy" photographs, and the ever present instruction to avoid twisting when joining in the round. Im old and cranky and it makes me want to stab myself in the throat with a steel dpn.
I hope a copy of this sweater is on the cards ❤
Have you connected with Just Vintage Crochet on YT? She crochets mostly from free antique patterns and it’s wild to see the instructions!
Cool 😀
Re age of particular things, I've indeed heard that vintage is considered for pieces about 20 years old. That said, I was always told that retro was reserved for pieces about 50 years old. And then antiques at about 100 years old.
It sort of seems like everyone has a different view on this.
Retro is often used for things that are not old, but copying or imitating old things. Like 1930s-1970s style.
Weird. I would call 20 year old retro (in the early 2000s the 80s were considered retro and that is the meaning I grew up with) and vintage is 50 years and up (so 50s when I was young and I guess 70s now)
How do you tell vintage knitting needles from modern ones?
As a European knitter I often find that even modern patterns here in the UK are still very often knit flat in panels and seemed. Knitting in the round is definitely common though.
Vintage knitting goes all the way back into before the 1800s but I guess that would be considered antique
Based on vintage = 50ish years ago... I'm vintage!
❤❤❤
Someone in another video mentioned using vodka in a spray bottle for her vintage garments.
🥰