Crochet Pineapple Dress; What a beauty

I found the newspaper clipping in a stack of pattern leaflets I'd purchased off of Ebay.

It's quite an elegant design, and obviously a fair amount of work in Mercerized Crochet Cotton.  But, what a beauty!.  

I've searched Google-land and can't find anything that matches to this pattern.   The pattern is PC 1021.  Now, I've seen this prefix series many times (PC), and it's typically a designation for 1940's/1950's from Spool Cotton Company.   On many occasions, SPC allowed the National Needlecraft Bureau to market their patterns as well.   Since this is obviously a mail ordered pattern, I'd assume it would be National Needlecraft.   

Of particular fun is the caption of unknown writer -- "Isn't this a pretty dress. I'd love to have one like this.  Wished I could crochet".  

Hope you enjoy the vintage advertisement.   Thanks for dropping by. 

Lorrie  

Long Plus Size Crocheted Vest Pattern

Here's another example where the mail order pattern appears the same, but ends up 'not quite'.

I saw a post this morning over at Crochet Talk that prompted a look through my ladies crocheted vest patterns.   I was scrolling, when that 'wait a minute' thought occurred .... are these two Mail Order Designs the same, just under different numbers?    A second look as immediately called for.   ( Apparently, I am easily sidetracked and this is an excellent example of why I get so little accomplished in a day).

Let's see, Mail Order Design 7403, gives us a womans vest, generously sized for busts 38 to 48, worked in V-stitch, with big patch pockets in the front, slightly extended shoulders, below hip length and edging.

Whereas, Mail Order Design 7569, also sized 38 to 48, with extended shoulders,  front patch pockets, edging and below hip length.  But, it's worked in shell stitch and open stitch.

I knew there was something else here different as well, but had to look a couple times to catch it.   It's the edging of course.   The edging on Design 7569 is scalloped (as all shell stitched garments will be), and is included at the bottom hem area.

As I go through more and more of these Design patterns, I'm frequently finding close similarities, and I'm sure, before I finish processing all the Mail Order Designs I have pending, there will be more examples of this vest.

Okay, that's it, back to work now.  Thanks for dropping by.

Columbia Minerva 756 Crochet Collection Pattern Book

Here's a marvelous book from Columbia Minerva  - Book 756, Crochet Collection.   Just like the title implies, there is not a single knitting pattern to be had.   The book, early 1960s, features tops, jackets, dresses, and a couple coats.   And don't let me forget the suits ... very Jackie O in styling.  Now, I've carefully worked through each pattern and have to save that most are all on easy side; with only a couple being more moderate.

There are 25 separate patterns in the book.  

756-1 Two Tone Suit is worked with two closely contrasted color tones, giving it that tone on tone look.

And, for Columbia-Minerva, a rather short introduction. 

756-2 Princess Suit - an attractive two piece set with straight skirt and jacket.

756-3 Double Breasted Suit - Similar in style, but is double breasted with the marvelous double notch collar. 

756-4 Long Shell in a pretty shell stitch, with scalloped edging.

756-5 Shell gives us a light and airy pattern stitch; so perfect for summer

756-6 Suit Pattern - Straight Skirt paired with nicely trimmed open front jacket.

756-7 Afghan Suit in afghan stitch, of course, includes a comfortable waist length jacket and skirt.

756-8 V-Neck Pullover with striped bands is rated E (for easy, of course)
756-9 Raglan Sleeve Sweater also has striped color bands at hemline and sleeves.

CM756-10 Crochet Sweater is a simple pullover with checkerboard trim.
CM756-11 Crochet Sweater with low V-Neck with contrast band at openings.

CM756-12 Walking Suit is made in a Shell Stitch Motif and includes both a long skirt and overcoat.
CM756-13 Crochet Sleeveless Dress with Matching Jacket and tie belt

A collection of easy to crochet, easy to wear dresses grace the center fold.   With a change of accessories, these all have potential of going from casual to dressy.
CM756-14 (far left) - Simple sleeveless dress in allover shell motif with scalloped edges.
CM756-15 - (2nd from left) - Star stitch straight dress with extended shoulders and boat neck.
CM756-16 (bottom center) - Lovely crocheted dress with square neckline and collar,
and raglan sleeve cap.
CM756-17 (right back row) - Easy straight dress with extended shoulders and a lovely round collar.
CM756-18 - (Far Right) - Columbia are referring to this beauty as an Ivory Macrame.

CM756-19 Shell Jacket with adorable faux pockets and scalloped edges.
CM756-20 Shell Pullover Sweater with allover motif and long sleeves.

CM756-21 Crocheted Coachman Coat has shoulder has the finishing touch of epaulettes and is
 lined in taffeta.
CM756-22 Long Coat, side buttoned with dolman sleeves and a roll collar.

CM756-23 Evening Skirt and Top, employing both a harlequin design and
lacy shell stitch top.

CM756-24 - Three piece suit with lined jacket and skirt is easy enough for beginners.
CM756-25 Three Piece Suit is a stop more to the intermediate to advanced artist.  The detachable collar and cuffs are delightful.

So there you go.   A fair number of upscale designs to update your wardrobe, as well as some classics that are both easy to make and easy to wear.    The styles of jackets and pullovers are a bit on the short side, just as you'd expect for the early 60's, but add a few rounds here and there if that's not your current style.   I am particularly fond of the double page spread of dresses.  But, that's to be expected, as I always love a dress.   You, what do you favor?  

Hope you enjoyed the photo journal, and thanks for dropping by. 

Lorrie 

Knitted Crocheted Pattern Book WF1, New York World's Fair

This booklet, Knitted and Crocheted designs, as featured at the Better Living Center at the New York World's Fair was a special edition pattern booklet by American Threads (WF1) to commemorate ... yep, you guessed it .. the New York World's Fair.  This booklet, Original Dawn Yarn Designs was a promotion for that specific brand of their yarn. 

 This pattern book came out in the 1964/1965 time frame.  These are quite subdued to other American Thread books around this same time line.   There is truly not a pattern here that would not be desirable.

Let me show you. 

Irish Crochet Dress : "I went to the World's Fair and I saw - Cover Girl in White Evening Sheath.  The skirt is divided, the attention is not !"  The shell is sized S-M-L; the skirt is one size.   Iridescent sequins and small crystal beads further highlight the Irish crochet.  

  Gold and White :  "I went to the World's Fair and I saw - Striking pair with Midas Touch ... bold gold stripes mated with white call attention ... to his ... to hers".  Knitting pattern sized for were at 32, 34, 36 and for him at 40, 42, 44.

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- Forecast of Things to Come .. a Chevron Knit Dress that scoops fashion with an impish neckline, hemline ... a debonair striped shell, with basic skirt, to whip up in the briefest of time capsules"  Both patterns are knitting and are sized S-M-L.

Motif Sweater : "I went to the World's Fair and I saw - The Box .. crochet the motifs as you go.  Perfect for flights of fancy"  This Box Motif Sweater pattern is crochet and sized S-M-L.  

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw ... The pullover Authority .. newest pullovers made good travellers ... on helicopters or World's Fair Express".  The Opal and Antique Gold Sweater is knitted and sized 32, 34, 36.  The Coral and White Sweater is also knitted, but sized 34. 36, 38.

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw  -- Drop-Shouldered Coachman .. this perfect spectator gets the play of attention too for its classic beauty of line and color".   This Coachman Sweater calls for both knitting needles and a crochet hook.   It is sized S-M-L.    

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- A Shell and Popovers .. pomponed, looped, and squared away to steal the show and make your day".   The Buff Shell, Looped Topper and the Square Topper are crochet, The Pom-Pon Popover requires both knitting and crochet.

Shell Patterns

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- Traveling Companions .. Big, bold stripes in her comfortable shift dress and cables in his casual pullover".  The Bold Stripe Sheath is knitted and sized 10, 12, 14 and 16.  The Man's Cable Raglan is also knitted and sized 40, 42 and 44.

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- The Stop-Light Sheath ... Red on Red on Red".  This dress is crochet and sized S-M-L.  

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- Two Fashion Noteworthies .. button-free and easy shaped cardigan ... smashingly striped drop-shouldered pullover".  The Cocoa and Tangerine Trimmed Cardigan is crochet.  The Striped Sweater is knitted.   Both are sized S-M-L.

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- Capricious Cardigan .. turn the sleeves on or off -- it's a fashion coup either way you crochet it.  Why not have both?"  This bulky cardigan is crochet and sized S-M-L.

"I went to the World's Fair and I Saw -- Turn About .. knit-easy, wear easy shift with decollete worn front or back, unbuttoned as low as you dare".  This dress is knitted and sized S, M, L.  Note:  If desired, dress may be worn with opening at back.

"I went to the World's Fair and I saw -- A Pink Lady ... with deepening interest, from the palest to the most forthright declaration of Star-bright color".   This Tri-Tone Cable Sweater is knitted and sized S-M-L.

This is the back cover and a replay of the marvelous Red "Stop-Light' Sheath.

This book was issued as a promotion to American Thread Brand Yarns.  This delightful lead-in was included on the first pages. 

One of the back pages gave us a handy reference to the different Dawn Yarns that are used in this book.

Hope you enjoyed this Fashion Show of the 1964 -  Latest in Knit and Crochet Wear.     In this particular time period, American Thread put out a number of pattern books that were, well, on the funky side.   This book, however, makes up for that with several quite elegant pieces.    

I have restored and reformatted these patterns to crisp, easy to follow, documents which are available in my shop - just follow the links below the pictures - should you be interested.

 Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Dawn Mohspun to Knit and Crochet

Tonight, I'm reviewing Book 196 from American Thread Company.    This book, not dated but somewhere 1960s, was apparently issued as a promotion to the then new DAWN MOHSPUN yarn.   For those of you familiar with the American Thread books .... how they are seried Star, Dawn or Aunt Lydia books ... this one has an interesting twist.   This is Star Book 196, and is a Dawn promotion.

It's a nice leaflet, the patterns are quite simply and I'd think easily accomplished by the beginner to intermediate fiber artist.

 Flower Blouse is made up with bi-color 4 or 4 1/2 inch motifs.  

Mens Cable Sweater, with a casual amount of cables. 

Crochet Shell or Dress ... one pattern at whatever length you might like to take it.  Made up with cluster and shell stitches.

This cute Long Sleeves with Ruffles sweater has just a touch of the girly girl going on.

Knitted Bubbles is a soft and feminine feature to wear either with a blouse or warmth, 

or as a blouse on its own. 

Loop Trimmed Shell or Sweater for a touch of fun. 

This puff stitch pullover sweater, look close, has scalloped edges. 

The 'Band' New Cardigan, easy-to-wear, is trimmed in braid or ribbon of your choice.

Crochet pattern to stitch a bauble necklace, bracelet and earrings.  This pattern is offered as 

a free download. 

And, gracing the back cover is a  lovely Straight Dress with a cowl - perfect for summer events or evenings out.  

So, to recap our photo journal, mostly casual designs in the easy to make realm.   A little something for everyone.  Perhaps the most remenescent of the 1960s is the Angel Dress.  My favorite is the puff stitch pullover.  It wouldn't do much to disguise my hips, but I like it anyway!

These patterns are listed in my shop, follow the links under each picture, should you be interested. 

Hope you enjoyed the review.   Thanks for looking. 

Lorrie 

Crochet a Pineapple Jacket

I recently purchased a whole lot of Design Mail Order patterns and had a great time going through them.  They came from an estate and although I did not know the owner, I quickly learned one thing about her -- she loved to crochet, and in particular, items with the Pineapple motif.    There are doilies and cloths, of course, but there are also some more unusual finds.   Like these two - pineapple jackets.

Mail Order Design 538 - Here we have hip length, gently scalloped edges, single button/loop closure at the neck and then .... lovely pineapples sloping all the way across the raglan shoulders, down the sleeves to the wrists.  

Mail Order Design 974 - This one gives us a stand-up collar, the button/loop neck closure, the gentle scallops at the sleeve ends and bottom, again raglan sleeves, and then .... dual panels of pineapples down the front, across the shoulders and around the bottom of the sleeves. 

Mail Order Design 892 - This is a three quarter sleeve delight with an implied pineapple yoke and band down the front - quite elegant.

These are design patterns, which were mail ordered through newspapers (Laura Wheeler and Alice Brooks) fom the 1930s into the 1970s.   One of the selling features of the design patterns were their range of sizes.   Both of these patterns are misses / womens sized from a bust of 32 to 46.  

These patterns are intermediate; but, if you have the skills, and the love of pineapples, they are designs that you'd wear for years.   

I'm hoping to get one of two of these Design patterns done each day, and will be sharing more with you soon. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Lorrie  

Simple Crochet Jacket Pattern with Trim Options

You know how old magazines patterns are ... it starts on page 27, another bit on 32, then back to 87 and on to 114.   Well, this is one of those patterns.   It took a fair amount of time to reformat and put together, but I think it has enough fun potential to make it well worth the effort.

It starts with a simple crochet jacket, with below elbow sleeves, in an easy pattern stitch alternating between single and double crochets.

All by itself, it is a great cover-up, worn as a jacket or a cardigan.    A pattern that one might just want to crochet to become a wardrobe staple.   But, I've heard, there are those that like to add a bit of whimsy to their wardrobe.   And this pattern offers several suggestions ... 6 to be exact.

And, of course, pattern instructions to create each of the individual embellishments are included.   (Versus some patterns that show you some interesting ideas and then leave you unattended to figure it out !).    I particularly like the tassels around the neckline for an interesting collar effect.

I've listed this one in my shop.   There are of course, dozens and dozens of other crochet jacket patterns in my shop as well.

Thanks for dropping by,

Let's Crochet, Star Pattern Book 209, American Thread

This book from American Thread Co., Star Book 209, along with a bit of whimsy, gives us some good how-to crochet lessons and a few quite desirable patterns ... all perfect for the beginner crocheter.   The stitches are primarily single and double crochet, with a bit of afghan and popcorn stitch tossed in.    This book contains no date information, however, I'd say late 1960s.   The cover starts us right off with a bit of whimsy ...

Mens Stripe Pullover:  The pattern is sized for men 38 to 52 and does not include those extra long arms ... just the boring, but perfect, standard sleeves.  

His and His:  This combo pattern includes both the V-Neck Pullover, as well as the Cardigan.  The title implies it's Father and Son, however, the size range is 38 to 52 ... which leaves out many boys, as well as teens, for that matter.  It is a nice duo for him and a fairly easy crochet.

Looks Hard, Crochets Easy:   A nice 5 colorful afghan made up of strips of single and double crochet, along with popcorn stitch.  It measures 50 x 64 inches. 

Beginners Potholders - Always a great 'learn-how' project to give you a sense of accomplishment as well as something that you'll be able to use.  This pattern is offered as a free download in my shop. 

Tiger-Tiger (on left):  An attractive tiger stripped sweater; sized small, medium and large.. 

Mini-Square (on right):  A Geometric, sleeveless mini dress; sized small to medium and
medium to large.   Here's a great pattern to date this book to the 1960s.    This mini will still
make a fun and whimsical tunic for today.  

Bangle Jacket:  The picture does not do this simple pattern justice.  a nice jacket in single stitch with a bangle strip down the sleeves and front bands.  Sized Small, Medium and Large.

Loop Stitch Slippers:  These slippers are so easy, they almost crochet themselves.  

Baby Baby:  A sweet layette set sized for little ones 6 to 12 months. 

Bangle Loop Triangle:  I'm not sure women still wear this style of scarf, but those bangles and simplicity are sure to make a younger girls' heart sing.  Should you like to give it a go, it's available as a FREE Download in the shop. 

And, the last cover is the same as the front.    I like the book.   Every pattern is on the easy side.  The man on the cover always brings a smile and I always picture the woman thinking 'woops, sleeves are a bit long'.   I also like the Tiger-Tiger sweater, but mine would have to be Purple and Gold for the LSU Tigers Team.

I've listed  the patterns separately, as noted with links under the pictures; two are available as free downloads.     Or, if you just stopped by to enjoy this whimsical book ..... 

Thanks for dropping by (and come again soon), 

Lorrie