Crocheted Tablecloths, Book 179 from Spool Cotton

There are a whole array for crochet pattern books that were issued by The Spool Cotton Company during the 1940s.    Times were (financially) tight with World War II in progress and many a woman spent a fair number of the evening hours creating beautiful laces to adorn their homes.     This particular book, No 179, Crocheted Tablecloths and Luncheon Sets, was issued in 1942.  Here, let me share it with you, page by page.

The official write-up :  "Friendship and the warmth of hospitality, which have become of great importance to us all, find their perfect expression in home entertaining.  You;ll want to open your house, dress up your table and share its loveliness with your guests.  A crocheted lace cloth will add a very personal charm to your luncheon or dinner and make of it a glamorous and memorable occasion".
No 7468 Maywood : Pretty flowers awash in a sea of lace graces the front cover 

No 7464 - Raleigh : All the world loves the sparkle of stars .. so capture their beauty for your table with this exquisite cloth.

No 7463 Monterey :  With the Stylized Charm of Old Tiles.

No 7407 El Dorado : Filet roses in the modern manner.

No 7467 Winthrop - For a flowery lacy look.

No 7462 Hampshire - Plumes make a pageant of filet.

No 7466 - Ardmore :  If your dinner's keyed to a more formal note this radiant motif cloth will bring your table charm and distinction.

No 7484 Worcester - A luncheon set with a crispy air.

No 7469 Fairfax - A nosegay of flowers.

No 7471 Aurora - Another Star from our Galaxy

No 7465 Arlington - A very special beauty.

No 7470 Cambridge - Yours for everyday loveliness

And the back cover is a repeating image of Crochet Cottons

And that's it.   Cover to cover.    There are certainly some lovely designs here, all of heirloom quality.   Yes, a cloth can be a large project, but consider that most of these motifs are quick to turn out.   The patterns are listed individually in my shop should you be interested.   

Hope you enjoyed the photo journal. 

Lorrie  

Crochet Hats Bags and Accessories

The year was 1943, World War II was underway and financially times were tight.   It was also a time of high fashion, and many a woman spent the evening hours knitting and crocheting both items to donate to the war effort, but items of fashion for themselves.

Spool Cotton Company, one of the major thread and pattern publishing companies, at this time, published their book 200 -

 Hats, Bags and Accessories 

" Heady Stuff:  Hats to turn heads, and warm hearts ... Hats to bring a glow to your cheek, a sparkle in his eye ... Hats to make your personal history memorable.  There's nothing like a pretty hat to make a pretty girl prettier, to give her a head star on chic, to captivate the man in her life.  Here are 21 out and out flatterers designed to make the most of you at a fraction of expense.  Lofty ideas that deal softly with your purse, keep your feet on the ground ... but let your head soar in the clouds. "

PC1350 -  Baby Hat and Bag Set

PC1317 - Mother Daughter Scotch Caps - Contrast the ribbon to compliment your outfits.

PC1340 Black Hat and Bag - The buttons certainly add intrigue to this bag.  The hat is a simple calot.

PC1323 Liberty Hat - This is an adorable highlight, with or without the flower.   

PC1336 - Square Brimmed Bonnet - This is certainly the 'glow to the cheeks' reference.

PC1331 - Beret with a small bridge where a ribbon is threaded at the top. 

PC1352 - Baby Cap is a close fitting affair with three small tassels at the left edge.

PC1251 - Pink and Maroon Hat and Bag Set.   Enticing and easy to boot.

PC1351 - Black Out Hat and Gloves

PC1346 Cherry Mittens - Easy to make mittens with a delightful raised cherry motif.

PC1312 High Hat with Tassels is a breezy affair that would add a touch of fun to almost any outfit.

PC1329 Paillette Trimmed Hat and Muff.  The hat has just enough veiling to be romantic

PC1329 Roll Back Pompadour hat finishes in the back with a large stylish bow.

PC1326 Open Crown Hat and Bag Set.

PC1316 Classic Sailor Hat is high, wide and handsome.

So, what do you think?    Did Spool Cotton nail the essence with the description ... hats to make a girl prettier and captivate the man in her life?   I am particularly fond of the square brimmed hat and the roll back pompadour.  These two would mesh well with my style.   

So many of the modern crochet hat patterns are similar, squashy and touting ears.   I think it would be marvelous to see a return to variety.  

I hope you enjoy the book preview.   I've listed most of the patterns in my shop; links are below the pictures. 

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie 

Crochet a Vintage Sailor Hat

Between the wide 30 year time period of the 1930s through the 1950s, pattern publishers had a tendency to partially name their patterns after current events.    Many times the design style may have something in common with the subject, and sometimes, no real commonality at all.

A good example of this is the Crochet Sailor Hat, which started cropping up in the early 1930s in pattern books and magazines and albeit disappearing in title mid 1950's.   The correlation here?   Well, World War II of course.    Times were frugal, the populations were supportive and pattern companies, wanting to sell patterns, certainly played on the symbolism.  After all, who wouldn't want to crochet a hat so named in honor of a loved father, brother, son, etc.   Here are a few examples from my current pattern listings. 

Palm Beach Sailor - This design from 1934 and ties in both the sailor design (which it obviously is), and Palm Beach.   I'm not sure what, but apparently Palm Beach was either in the news, or perhaps, just the place to be. 

Wide Brim Cartwheel - Resemblance to a Sailor high is, well, NONE.   But, it was 1939 when Spool Cotton Company released this, and they had to a reference in.  And, how did they do that you might ask.  Well, in their official description.  " Look like a picture of fragile femininity in this luscious lace creation - a wafer thin sailor which you can wash just the way you do a lamp-shade"

Classic Sailor Hat - brought to us from the Spool Cotton Company in 1943. 

Sailor Beware - A design hat from Jeanette Styles, released in 1942.   The pattern has several variations, which could have led to a variety of names. 

Nylon Sailor Hat  - American Thread also get in the name game with this entry in nylon cord, in the early 1950s.  

Sailor Boy - Just a bit late for the Sailor Name Game, didn't stop Dritz from putting the name on this Beret in 1956. 

Now, that's not to say each of these designs don't have some merit.   They are all crocheted and they all have some commonality ... even if it's in name (or description) alone.  I have several thousand more patterns standing by to be processed and I've no doubt there will be more.    If you want to check to see if I have more, try a search of "Sailor" in my shop  (this will bring up other sailor-ish items as well).

Thanks for dropping by. 

Lorrie  

Crocheted Doilies, Lily Design Book 79

​In 1956, Lily Mills issued their pattern Design Book 79, which they simply titled Doilies.    The selling price was a whole 10 cents.  Only somewhat true to the theme of doilies, the booklet, also include a couple nice place mats as well as a chair set.   If you'd like to see more, just get yourself into a comfortable spot and settle in for the photo journal that is about to follow. 

As typical in these pattern booklets, the front page shows a number of the patterns included in the booklet.  In this particular case, all nine designs

Swirls Doily - Round upon round of intricate lace all in 12-1/2 inches. 

Pointed Harmony Doily -  I see here a hint of floral, a hint of hearts and wonderful lacy effects. 

Embossed Daisy Place Mat - This lovely piece, worked in filet crochet, has a scroll daisy motif. 

Grape Mat - a round variation of the Place Mat, this one features a nice grape spay in each quarter. 

Peacock Fillet Buffet Scarf - Two peacocks surrounded by a leaf scroll motif; a filet crochet beauty measuring 16-1/2 x 26 inches. 

Pineapple Centerpiece - Pineapples in a contrast color add pop and 
appeal to this 17 inch centerpiece. 

Coin Dots - Polka Dots add a fun appeal to this basic mat. 

Chair Set - The back cover gives us a simple chair set made of square motifs that could easily be extended to becomes scarves or cloths size of your choice. 

And that's it; all eight patterns featured in the booklet.  I do have to say it is a nice collection of different design and stitch techniques.   Several pieces are of framing quality, and I could easily see the chair set becoming a quite attractive bedspread.  And, the Grape Mats should certainly be used in entertaining with a Wine bottle right in the middle.  

Should you be interested, these patterns are in my shop individually; there are links below the pictures.   Either way, I hope you enjoyed the photo journal.  

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie  

Lily Doilies Patterns, Design Book 67

The year was 1952 when Lily Mills released their Design Book No 67.   It's not a large book, or leaflet; just 15 pages, and not really jam packed with patterns; just 8, but 8 quite nice patterns they are.   The official name is Lily Doilies.   And, as indicated, there are a couple doilies, but there are far more place mats.  There are also a couple attractive filet crochet designs here, as you might expect with it being a 1950s issue.   Here, let me know you in this photo journal.

 Lily Doilies Design Book No 67

Starting right off on the front page :

Forget Me Not Doily set includes a large mat, a bread and butter doily, as well as a glass mat.   Use them, or not, as a luncheon set. 

Zinnia Centerpiece No 2 :  A combination of filet and regular crochet results in this lovely 

ruffled zinnia doily.

Ruffled Hexagon Centerpiece No 3 - Small motifs create a large hexagon doily with a most

interesting ruffled edge.

Rose Filet Centerpiece No. 4 :  Filet Crochet in a lovely rose motif can be 

created at 17, 19 or 20 inches. 

Filet Centerpiece No 5 :  Floral filet crochet border surrounds a linen center to measure 

14-1/2 x 19-1/2 inches.  

Evening Stars Place Mat No 6 is made up of 2-1/2 inch floral motifs to 

form a mat of 12 x 18 inches. 

Cherry Roll and Garden Party Place Mats give two summery options for Summer display and use. 

And, on the back page is :

Buffet Set No 1 in Crocheted Cluny:   Make this round mat at either 16 or 18 inches, along with 

smaller pieces (size of your choice), to complete a set. 

So what do you think?    In particular, I think the Zinnia doily is spectacular and the Cherry Roll Place Mat would be so fun on a picnic.   And, that Hexagon doily has one of the most intriguing borders I've seen.   

These patterns are in my shop; just click the link below the pictures, should you be interested.   Either way, hope you enjoyed the photo journal.  

Thanks for dropping by,