Filet Crochet Apron Pattern No 9666

Some time back I purchased a big lot of loose pattern leaflets on an Ebay auction.   I remember them coming in and oohing and awwing over them as a sorted through the prize and then putting them in the drawer with all the others waiting their turn.   Well, now it the time ... I'm going to concentrate on these loose leaflets and the mail order patterns for the next month or two.

Third down in the stack is this prize.

It is identified only as 9666 Crocheted Apron and written across the top -- This is your Free Gift.  This is a clear sign that it would have been a handout gift, which frequently happened as part of a thread promotion.  But, a quick view of the materials list turned out to be entirely generic.   (Use a No. 4 steel hook and mercerized, fast-color, string weight thread.  You will need about 580 yards of cream thread (the basic color), 100 yards of pink, 22 yards of green, 25 yards of yellow, and 23 yards of blue).   Well, that rules out the thread maker as well as the hook brand.    So, I have no current idea who presented this pattern.    I do know, based on the paper and print, that is will date to the mid/late 1940s.

It's a delightful piece, certainly not written for the beginner as it contains no charts.   It does give a decent basic description of gauge, spaces and blocks that would get one through ... and definitely feel the accomplishment when it comes time to wear.   It is a half apron, with crochet ties, bottom flower band and 4 vertical floral panels.

This pattern is available in the shop.   There are more in the filet crochet category.

If you know more about the No 9666 Crocheted Apron .... please do share.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Sears Roebuck Crochet Pattern in Hearthside Crochet Cotton

This week I'm working on a small stack of pattern leaflets while I learn a new OCR software program.    Second up in the stack was a crochet pattern for a lacy tablecloth.   The real surprise here, for me, was the name on the pattern - SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

Lace Tablecloth 

Of the several thousand patterns that I've handled, this is the first time that I've seen one issued with the Sears name.    I did a quick Google on the materials - Hearthside Crochet Cotton - and learned what I should have suspected; it was a brand marketed under the Sears, Roebuck name.  

Out of curiosity I did a variety of other Google searches looking for Sears, Roebuck knit or crochet patterns.   And, other than a couple references to sold books from Ebay, I found almost nothing.      

Now,  I have a couple hundred loose pattern leaflets stacked up waiting to be worked on.   Perhaps I will find more.   If I do, I'll be sure to come back here and add a note, thus changing the pattern designation for a one-hit wonder, to a growing collection !  

Do you have, or know of these patterns?      Thanks for dropping by.  

Lorrie 

Vintage Crochet Flower Hair Accessories

I was just entering a new pattern into the shop for a set of hair accessories and found myself wondering if I didn't already have these.    Now, these hair accessories are not necessarily big sellers, but shouldn't a design that goes all the way back to the 1940s (and possibly earlier) deserve representation?   Well, of course --- I think so anyway.  

Here's the pattern I'm talking about.   It's 1946 from Anne Cabots Mail Order Album.   I love the loose sketch detail, accompanied by the photography.   I nice combination of four different flowers and two leaves, that could be mixed and matched in any number of ways.

And here's another marvelous set - this one issued as a 1943 Lily Mills Leaflet 112-b.  Not all of the options here are flowers, but all are quite delightful.

This set, a bit later 1940s, is from Coats and Clarks.   It's a nice flower with variation to be used in different ways.

These patterns were specifically issued as hair accessories.  But, one must remember that a flower is a flower is a ..... well, you get the idea.   

The 1960s were well represented with flowers ... those put on a wire stalk and added to vases -- such as this Mail Order Design 524.  These flowers would make marvelous accessories.  

So, back to where I started, yes, I did have several patterns for flower hair accessories.  Don't forget that these are also great for chokers, wrist bands, shoes, label pins, over the top belts, etc. etc. etc.   I have well over 150 vintage books and magazines waiting to be processed, as well as over 500 mail order design patterns, so I have no doubt that more flowers will be appearing soon.

Okay, now I'll go back to my regularly scheduled work!.    Thanks for dropping by, 
Lorrie  

Lily Mills Design Book 76 - Doilies

It seems, of late, I've not been to great at blogging.  I'd recently said I was going start talking a bit more about individual patterns, or perhaps pattern categories and not detail so many of the pattern books themselves.   AND, that did hold for a few minutes, and then I processed another book for the shop that just needed to be shared.    Here is it ....

Daisy Ring Linen Doily, with crocheted wheel edgings and individual flower insertions in pastels 

graces the front cover.   

The pattern booklet itself, is just 15 pages.   It was obviously issued to promote their Mercerized Crochet Cottons, and Lily Mercrochet, which all the patterns call for.    Although the title indicated Doilies, there are a place mats in here, as well as a couple squares that could nicely be made in multiple to form larger cloths.

Ruffled Hairpin Lace Centerpiece -  A delightful combination of circles within circles, all worked 

with a hairpin staple and crochet hook.  The green and white combination just yells Spring. 

Rose Ruffled Centerpiece - This is a most delicate rose doily with a unique interpretation 

of a ruffled edge. 

Square Filet - Four floral diamonds form a larger diamond that is surrounded with plenty lace - 17 inches

Bell Lily - A swirl of bell lilies that's not quite square and not quite round. - 17 inches

Medallion Doily - A charming 15 inch square doily with small flower squares.

Empire Doily No 7 - A bit like a wheel with spoke edges - 14-1/2 inches 

The Square Filet and Medallion Doily, although a bit on the large side, have potential to become cloths and runners if created in multiples and joined. 

Moderne & Eucalyptus Placemats are embroidery (counted sts) on a crochet base. 

Cluny Doily, presumably for an area in Eastern France with a famous Abbey.  It is indeed a lace delight.

And that's it; just 11 patterns in all, but a good assortment of several disciplines .. standard crochet, hairpin lace, filet crochet, as well as some count sts embroidery.  Something for everyone, you might say.   The book carries no dating, however, based on some other Lily Books in this number series, I would place as 1956. 

I'd say that the Daisy Ring is my personal favorite.   Although I can't see using these a luncheon sets, I could employ the edging and these little flowers in so many different ways.  

Well, hope you enjoyed yet another book review.   Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie