New on ETSY-Crochet Butterflies from 1916

I just got some fabulous needlework magazines from the 1910s. These crocheted butterfly motifs from 1916 are beautiful.

They will make a great small summer project to practice your Irish Crochet techniques.

As the pattern states, the possibilities are endless for the items they can be used to adorn.

Enjoy!

New on ETSY-Knitted Hats, Tea cosies and Crocheted Scroll pot holder

3 New items on ETSY this week:

6 Vintage Knitted Hats-1950s PDF pattern

All hats use DK weight yarn. This is a vintage pattern from England. I will supply a knitting needle conversion chart for non-UK knitters.



English Knitting pattern for Cottage and Lantern tea cosy from 1940s

Vintage Crochet Scroll Potholder PDF pattern 1949

More Online Knitting calculators

Found some more neat online knitting calculators:

Super Simple Circular Hat Calculator

The Incredible, Custom-fit Raglan Sweater  A simple, fill-in-the-blanks method for making the incredible, custom-fit raglan--the sweater that is knit from the neck down in one piece, to fit anybody!

A knitting calculator for set in sleeves

The Arachne Sock Calculator

Elizabeth Bennett's Perl Sock Program- You can choose either Square/Dutch or Round heel

Sweater Wheel pattern calculator

Simple Worked-From-The-Top Raglan Pullover Pattern Calculated by the Percentage Method

Simple Set-in Sleeve Pullover Calculated by the Percentage Method

Simple Drop Sleeve Gansey Pattern Calculated by the Percentage Method

The Triangle Calculator

The Magic Formula-Increasing or decreasing stitches evenly within a set number of rows

Happy Friday-Historic Crochet Free patterns

Crochet edges from 1889 Peterson's Magazine on Google Books

Click on images below for a larger image you can work from.

Happy Friday-Historic Cooking

While you are heating a snack or dinner in the microwave, have a look at some fun cookbooks on GOOGLE BOOKS. This is a peek into Victorian kitchens....boy I do love my modern appliances!

The Illustrated London Cookery Book-1852

The English cookery book, receipts collected by a committee of ladies-1859

Cluny Tatting resouces on Internet

In doing more research on Cluny or Petal tatting, I found this GREAT web page:

Mimi Dillman's Cluny Tatting Bibliography

 

 

New on ETSY-Cluny or Petal Tatting

For all the tatters out there...

New on ETSY-instructions on the technique of Cluny or Petal Tatting and a pattern for a Tulip edge from 1951 and a Petal edging from 1954.

 

 

New on ETSY-Vintage knitted lace sweater EASY summer knitting

Just posted last night, the EASY TO KNIT Lace Sweater will be a great summer knitting project. This sweater calls for 8 oz of worsted wt yarn and size 13 (US) needles so it should knit up fast. Knitted in a nice cotton blend yarn, this would look great over a sun dress or sleeveless shell. Gloves are optional! I am going to start one this week.

More TATTING resources

I was researching something else but came across some more great sites:

1. Ring of Tatters that has a wealth of information and contacts for modern tatters.
2. THE ONLINE TATTING CLASS with a great index page of links to antique tatting pattterns.

Enjoy.

Happy Friday...yummy vintage recipes from 1950

I found some yummy sounding recipes in a Workbasket magazine from 1950. Get ready for some GOOD EATIN'.

• Baked Eggs
• Pork Chop Casserole
• Salad Dressing Cake
• Baked Apples with Crumble Topping
• Stuffed Potatoes with Vienna Sausages

Try them out this weekend. I will be cooking the pork chop casserole for supper Saturday and taking the Salad Dressing Cake to a graduation party on Sunday.

Download here.

New Pattern on ETSY-Victorian Shell Lace Bonnet

I just finished another baby bonnet pattern and it is available now on ETSY.

I have been collecting Victorian lace patterns for some time now and I like to showcase them in a practical item so here is a new baby bonnet. This pattern has an interesting technique: you cast on more stitches in the middle of a row to create the base of the shell....pretty cool once I figured it out!

The pattern has written directions as well as a chart for the lace section.

Hope you like it! It is much easier to knit than it looks. You will get lots of Ooooohs and Ahhhhhs at the next baby shower with this one.

PS....this bonnet is also available on Ravelry

Historic Resources - Tatting

Historic Tatting Resources

Doing some research on tatting resources, I came across some nice booklets.

Here are the links:

Priscilla Tatting Book No. 3 from 1924

DMC Library Th de Dillmont TATTING

From KNIT HEAVEN- Tatting resources

Katharin L. Hoare, The Art of Tatting 1910 Part 1: File size 6.5 MB PDF. Part 2: File size 12.1 MB PDF. Part 3: File size 8.2 MB PDF.

GOLDEN STARS in TATTING AND CROCHET 1861 MLLE. RIEGO DE LA BRANCHARDIÈRE

Greek and Roman Lace 1859 MLLE. RIEGO DE LA BRANCHARDIÈRE

Free Patterns and Recipes on Craftsy!

• Free Embroidery Patterns at Craftsy!
• Free Knitting Patterns at Craftsy!
• Free Sewing Pattern at Craftsy 
• Free Quilting Patterns at Craftsy
• Free Cake Decorating Recipes at Craftsy!

Vintage Recipes from 1953-Happy Friday Freebie

Before there were microwaves and web access to Papa John's, there was your broiler. Here are some great vintage recipes from 1953 that prepare the entire meal in the broiler pan of your oven. I can't wait to try some of these. Should I put on my pearls and fancy apron???

Bon appetit and Happy Friday.

Tatting Pattern Posted-Christening Bonnet

In response to the comments in this post, I have posted a lovely tatting pattern for a christening bonnet.

I would love to see this made up and on a baby!

Easy summer project-Free patterns

Sometimes it is just too hot to have a big knitting or crochet project going but you still want something to work on...

How about trying some simple crocheted or knitted trim and then attaching the trim to a cloth napkin for a little guest hand towel? These make nice little gifts.

Here are some easy laces to try:

Free knitted lace

Free crocheted lace

Dainty Crochet edgings for sale in ETSY Dollar Store 

Knitted Leaf Edging for sale in ETSY Dollar Store

Enjoy

Two Vintage Sweaters 1949

Here are two vintage knitting patterns from an Australian newspaper in 1949. If you are a knitter in USA, remember to use the needle conversion charts introduced in the previous post.

Needle and Hook sizes

There are several knitting needle size systems. Many antique patterns use the imperial UK/Canadian system instead of the metric and US needle sizes that are common today. Here is a conversion chart that lists knitting needles, steel crochet hooks and regular crochet hooks. When in doubt, make a swatch and match your needles to the yarn or thread used.

Vintage Knitting Terms- O's and N's

What do all those O's and N's mean?

Today we have the Craft Yarn Council that provides standardized knitting symbols and terms but in Victorian and Edwardian times, a knitting pattern could have some strange directions. Most patterns assumed that you knew what you were doing and could read the designer's mind!

So what do all those O's and N's mean? Fortunately, these are pretty simple:

O=Yarn Over and N=Knit 2 together.

You may also see O2 which means Yarn over twice. This can be tricky since you have to be careful how you handle that on the next row, usually with a knit and purl stitch in the 'yarn over'.

So let's give it a try. Here is a simple lace trim that I have from 1913. It is full of O's and N's. I haven't tried out this pattern yet either so let's see if our work turns out like the photo with no errors! Please comment if you find an error in the pattern.

Happy Friday...what is a rain garden?

In light of the gully washer rain storms we have had lately, I was very interested in this article that came to my INBOX today in a newsletter from Mother Earth News....yeah, I am an OLD hippie.

The article is about Rain Gardens:

• What are they
• Why they are needed
• How to make one

This Wisconsin rain garden ends at a stormwater culvert. Photo by Jim Lorman  

Here is a further article from Natural Home and Garden:
　To get you started...from the article:

Booming urban growth, and the concrete that comes with it, has pushed storm drainage to its limits. Most cities channel rain overflow to holding ponds via drains and culverts, which then empty into fresh-water supplies. These manmade systems are designed to move water quickly, but several factors make all this drainage a problem. First...
Read more:

Though this has nothing to do with needlecrafts, I think we would all like to see any improvement to our surroundings and environment and this sounds doable on a personal level.

Enjoy and have a Happy Friday.
http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/Health/2007-03-01/singing-in-the-runoff.aspx#ixzz1ODZPdrQG