Knitted Afghan Patterns with Leaf Motif

Most everyone loves an afghan on the couch and or bed. It's a piece of comfort just waiting to be called upon. Wrapped around our shoulders, or feet; it is warm and soothing. I have a fair number of knitted afghans in the shop, but I think of all of them, I like the ones with the leaf motif the best. Whether plain or complex, there is just something so organic about the leaf that calls to me. Let me share a couple of my favorites with you.

Nantucket Afghan from Spinnerin: This design is also one of the shops favorite. The thick texture and diamond blocks are such a pleasing combination.

Leaf Afghan from Columbia Minerva: This design has an understated beauty, knit in contrasting shades with leaf and cable panels.

Laurel Leaf Afghan from Bertrand: This design is a colorful bit of simplicity, knit in three colors in an almost geometric way.

Lattice Leaf Afghan from Coats & Clark's: This beauty is panels of leaves worked in rows that give a lattice type effect. The design is knit in one color and has full lush fringe.

There are a few others, of course, but these are four definitely my favorite.

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Mans Crochet Cardigan Pullover, Mail Order Patterns

I've said this a number of times, and I'm here saying it yet again.  Many of the mail order crochet (and knit) patterns are simple variations of each other.  You know, have a base pattern and make a slight change, and now you have another pattern to market.    Here's the most recent example; this one in the 'mans' category.

Design 901, Mans Crocheted Sweater:  Mans Raglan Sleeved Pullover with Color Band Stripes and raised rib type pattern stitch; size 36 to 42. 

Design 7140, Mans Cardigan:  Dito, dito, dito with the exception of the front button band, converting the attractive pullover into a mans cardigan.  

The pullover Design fell into the original Laura Wheeler series, and the cardigan in the Alice Brooks number series.  They are both, of course, the same company.   

Since there are two, I have no doubt there may be more.   I have several hundred more Design patterns to work my way through and will add to this post when/should I come across.  

Okay, that's all .... I'm back to work. 

Thanks for dropping by, 

Crochet Basket Planter Patterns, Mail Order Designs

I've been processing vintage patterns for the last 5 years and have recently realized that all of the Crochet Planter Baskets patterns are Mail Order Designs. I've not yet had occasion to come across one in the standard pattern leaflet books, or magazines. There are a variety of the Mail Order variety, vintage 1960's and 1970's. The only guess I can think up is Macrame, which become very popular in this same time period. Perhaps these Mail Order Designs were to compete with that market. Again, that is just a guess.

Here are a few examples of the Mail Order Basket Designs.

Design 653, Parasol Crochet Planter. A nice design at 12 wide and 15 inches deep will be more interesting than standard shapes .... assuming however you can find some kind of put to your plant with the rod down the middle !  

Swan Centerpiece Crochet Pattern Design 530 Motif that is suggested as both a Table Centerpiece as well as a plant hanger.

Pineapple Basket Crochet Pattern featuring the always popular pineapples. This pattern goes a step further and gives directions for small and large daisy flowers to add to your basket.

Design 7068; Crocheted Dog and Cat planters: These may be more appropriate on a windowsill; just 3-1/2 inches wide and tall, but quite cute.

There are, of course, more basket in the shop, if you'd like to browse.

Thanks for dropping by, 

Crochet Square Pattern, Mail Order Design 7215

It's quite frequent that Mail Order Design patterns re-use the same numbers.   Very seldom, however, have I found the same number used on similar patterns.  For example, a single number might be used for a crocheted doily and a knitted pullover, but unusual for two knitted pullovers.

And then today, I came across a three-fer, which I'll just call highly unusual.    It revolves around Mail Order Design 7215.

Alice Brooks 7215, Crochet Medallion

Alice Brooks 7215, Crocheted Squares

Design 7215, Crochet Square

These had me by surprise and I had to go through the listings a couple times to make sure I had the correct patterns attached to the pictures.

And that's it ... my first Mail Order discovered three-fer.   Oh, take this back to 'somewhat' typical, there is a fourth Design 7215 as well .... but for a doily.

Design 7215, Crochet Pineapple Doilies in six sizes.  

Ok, now that I've got this one figured out, I'll head back to work.   Thanks for dropping by.

Vintage Stuffed Cat Crochet Patterns

Did you know that stuffed cat crochet patterns existed before Amigurumi became popular. Well, of course they did. Fiber artists have been making stuffed toys ... cats included ... since ... well, I don't really know, but I'm betting hundreds (perhaps thousands) of years.

I found myself thinking about this today as I was entering the latest Mail Order Cat pattern into the shop. A quick look showed that I had a number of stuffed cat or kitten patterns, all from the 1950's and 1960's time period.

Design 5686 gives us a kitten crocheted in Angora Yarn. This particular design was also issued under No 102, by Anne Cabot.

Another Mail Order pattern, Design 919, is  a looped stitch kitty that stands 8 1/2 inches tall.

These dancing duo party cats pattern appeared as National Needlecraft Bureau No 2521 in the early 1950's

This black cat (paired up with a bunny) was also issued by National Needlecraft Bureau - No PC 5281. I assume this pamphlet was a reproduction from a Spool Cotton Co. pattern, as they typically used the P.C. number series in the 1940's.

And, one more pattern from National Needlecraft Bureau - P.C. 4976 gives us a pouncing black cat paired up with a sweet puppy.

And one more selection from Columbia Minerva. This gives us a cat (one the far left), paired up with a barn yard of other animals, and a rug as well.

And that's it .... in the shop for now. I have no doubt there will be many more to come, however, as I must have another 100 books or more to get processed. If you are looking for a crocheted kitty project, hope you find just what you are looking for !

Thanks for dropping by. 

A Very Popular Crochet Rug Pattern

Most days I randomly pull two of the 'pending' mail order patterns to process for the shop. One of the two today was .....

The American Weekly 3142. Well, I immediately knew that I've processed this pattern before. In fact 'a couple times before'.

Why does this happen? Well, I'd venture to say ... because it was a popular pattern with many sales. Laura Wheeler and Alice Brooks were owned by the same company -- Needlecraft Services. Now, I'm not sure which came first, but the company issued the rug pattern as Laura Wheeler 579, and then again as Alice Brooks 7323. It was then again issued simply as Design 7329 .... also the same company. The American Weekly did not create any original patterns; they purchased their patterns from Needlework Services. And, as this pattern was apparently quite popular, it makes sense they would want to market it as well.

And there you have it .... the same pattern marketed under four different names and numbers. I have (purchased and) entered all four of these patterns individually in my shop. At first, when I started finding pattern repeats in the Design series patterns I though about just listing one. But then, I realized that customers searching for a specific pattern by number would not know all the options. And thus ... this pattern is in my shop four times.

And there you go .... tonight's trivia. Thanks for dropping by,

Lorrie