Saturday, 6 August 2011

A little learning is dangerous............

    I love the Australian Home Journals that my husband's grandmother gave to me last month.  Every time I look at them, I find something new and interesting.  Dramatic housewife fiction, fascinating ads for Nylex toothbrushes and Youth-o-Form corsets, and loads of knitting patterns.  Some of them still have the original gift with purchase sewing patterns tucked between the pages.  How cool is that?

     All of the issues before 1951 have a quote across the top of the cover page.  One says: Going back to the dark ages? Another one says: Absence of occupation is not a rest.  And my favorite: A little learning is dangerous.
 I can only imagine what the rest of them might have said.  And what kind of message were they sending to the housewives of Oz?
 
     So, to make up for missing last week, (sick child, sick mommy, no daycare day off, etc, etc...), here are two things for you to make and do as we head towards the last weeks of winter, (and my US friends start to think about Autumn leaves).............


     Let's start with something to wear with your cardigan on those days that you don't want to wear tight knit sleeves over a blouse....... Oh, and don't forget to note the gargle recipe at the very end.  It is cold season, after all!



See, you didn't even have to knit that and with a good pair of pinking shears you don't need to hem it either.  For the metric system devotees, 1" is 2.5 cms.  Please measure your goods accordingly.

Now for the knitting portion of our program:
(read the pattern in columns for the first two pictures - the third column is on it's own at the end)


How fabulous is that?  A snappy jerkin for chilly transitional days.  Imagine it over a long sleeve T with wide leg pants and some great jewelry.  Not that I'd wear it like that, (I'd find a vintage puff sleeve 1950's blouse pattern and do it up old school) but you have to admit it is "snappy".

Just a reminder that I don't share my collection for profit, only inspiration.  I don't hold the copyright to any of these images.

Have fun!




1 comment: