Vintage Knitting Patterns

I have over time been collecting vintage knitting pattern books. Whenever I find one at thrift store, or at a garage sale, or if I am really lucky in a box of discarded items on the street, I get it, no matter what the era, whether it is for children, men or women or even for the house.

Of course I would be lying if I said I did not have a favorite era. The 40s and 50s are my absolute favorites.

I have never knit quite a few projects these books. What I enjoy the most is looking through them. I study the pictures, and read the patterns often, admiring a line, a shoulder, a lace detail, or a stitch.
They are a constant source of inspiration for me.

It is a shame that I do not come across these books very often. They are becoming harder and harder to find.

But thanks to the internet, you can now get downloadable version of some of them over the internet.
If you are like me and like these vintage knitting patterns here is a list of links to sites that offer free downloadable vintage knitting patterns.

- Free Vintage Knitting offers maybe the largest selection of vintage patterns for the whole family and for the house. You can either print the retyped pattern from the screen or you can purchase a restored version for download.
- Vintage Purls offers a nice selection of free vintage knitting patterns for men women and children and a few items for the home.
- Glamrama has a small but nice selection of free vintage patterns. Check out the Bernat Cape from 1956!
- Yarn Lover's Room offers a selection of free retyped patterns you can print directly from the screen.
- V&A offers a small selection of free vintage patterns from the 1940's in England for download

Have fun browsing! And if you have a favorite site with free vintage patterns not on the list, let me know and I will add it to the list.

Vintage Knitting

I've been reading through The Art of Knitting, published by Butterick in September of 1897 (reproduction sold by Iva Rose).

This book begins with some quotes and this is my fave:

"... a letter or a book distracts a woman more than four pair of stockings
knit by herself."

The oddest knitting information is in the section on washing knitted items.

"For the first cleaning of wool knitted articles in white or light colors, a "dry wash" is recommended. This is done with flour, meal or cornstarch, the article being dipped into either and rubbed gently with the hands until it looks clean and fresh. Then shake out.

When it becomes necessary to use soap and water, select castile for the former and have the latter luke-warm. Make a suds of the soap and add a little ammonia or borax - preferably the latter - to the suds..." Flour??? Ammonia????

I was surprised to see that they had chenille back in 1897 and that they recommend felting your wool underwear. Doesn't sound too comfy to me but what do I know?

The book includes several patterns for knitted suspenders, a pattern for Ladies' Knitted Evening Mittens which are worn to protect your delicate evening gloves and a wool knitted "Over-Shoe" which is intended to be worn over boots in cold or frosty weather.


The pattern for knitted reins for a child states, "There is no amusement that little children are so fond of as that of "playing horse," and for this purpose they are always asking mothers, sisters, etc., to buy or make reins for them.



The book also includes patterns for a simple garter stitch knitted cloth for polishing floors and possibly the most wacky knitting pattern of all time - a knitted coffee strainer.

Vintage Knitting

I love to buy old knitting patterns, the weirder the better, from Laurie at Vintage Knits. My personal fave vintage pattern is one for a tiny knitted golf bag (with clubs!) which I've shown here before.

Often these old booklets have hand-written notes and recipes tucked in them. The front of this one says, "Mildred, I have another like this so keep." Apparently the knitted turban pattern was quite popular in 1962.




This 1961 issue of McCall's Needlework and Crafts shows a living room scene. Do you think many people in 1961 had gravel and ponds in their living rooms?



I love the photo styling for these patterns, don't you?




Check out the wild knitted cottage tea cozy. To the bottom left of the photo is a brown knitted bull. It doesn't really look like a bull but I'm glad I have a pattern for one anyway.