Tuesday 18 January 2011

Reeling In The Years (With Knitting and Knotting)

Alright, I'll admit it. I really shouldn't have started the felt farm when I'm deep in the middle of another Little E project. I'm knittting him a new sweater, bigger than the last, in time for next winter.


I hope when that blue is worked in, it will brighten it up because, with all those cables, I think it looks less like a sweater for a small boy, and more like the kind of thing my Dad wore in the 60's. It's sort of retro, don't you think? Like you would find it in one of these?


That's an original 1960's pattern book of my Mum's. She knitted a lot of sweaters in the 60's and 70's. Seems being a Headmaster was a very cold business in those days. I said as much to my brother before Christmas:
"Bro," I said, "you've got the whole teacher thing going on: fancy a cardi?"

His reply was to send me this for Christmas:


It's very cool, part history, part pattern book. And when I'm finished working through it we will all look like we are starring in The Thunderbirds.

Then, while we sit back and get used to our new 60's selves, we can have a go at our other retro project:


Remember latch hook rugs? Back in the day, my Dad was a big fan of these too (I still have the one he made for my baby room) - and I think they are due for a revival. We have bought a book (of course), looked out the old latch hooks and made a start. Yup, that's us. "Just Reeling In The Years, Stowin' away The Time..."

All photos given a 60's tinge in Picnik. Background papers from Basic Grey Marjolaine

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, that brought back lots of memories. I think we must have a hooked rug somewhere in the attic. And that geometric dress---I so remember when these were popular. The cable pattern in Little E's sweater is beautiful. For someone who's never gone beyond a simple knit and purl I'm always in awe of the more complicated patterns.

Cheryl said...

more retro! looking forward to seeing the finished article. also love genuine period collections of patterns/fashion items x

Sandra said...

ok, it's not fair .. no way can you be this talented! :) I'm ssoooo impressed Sian, really I am - is there nothing you haven't done.

Susanne said...

I guess hooked rugs and such are not completely dead. Actually on Monday a friend of mine had a snowman brooch that was made like a hooked rug, but trimmed very close. It was actually quite cute.

helena said...

oh yes what a trip back to my early crafting days.

I miss my nephews being small enough for knitted jumpers

Cheri said...

JMHO, but I think cable knit sweaters are pretty timeless. As evidenced by the current collection in my closet, all purchased in the last few years. But the other stuff... yes, takes me back to my crafting days as a young girl! (although I never did knit - I learned to crochet)

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

What a fun little trip down memory lane, Sian. :o) Love the sweaters and photos you posted...and I love that song too. I'll think of you today as it will be stuck in my head for the duration... ;o)

Anonymous said...

LOL Sian - yes I admit to remembering latch hook rugs & even admit to making one...... Oh dear!

The sweater looks great already btw, do show us a photo of it when it's finished :)

Maria Ontiveros said...

As a sibling of a sewing sister, I must admit to being a bit like your brother. I occasionally send her patterns with a note that it would make a fabulous Christmas present!
Rinda

scrappyjacky said...

I certainly remember those rugs....and going by the number of books on them that I've seen lately.....they must be due a comeback.
Fraid I also have to admit remembering when those geometric dresses were the height of fashion....and Twiggy and Mary Quant looked perfect in them!!

Jennifer Shaw said...

What a fun post to read!! First off I love that old 70's tune! Your knitting is amazing!! I am working on some scarfs for charity. Then I'll be onto some hats and mittens. Never got brave enough to venture into a sweater project. I used to LOVE latch hooking. DH even helped me do a wall hanging for our first apartment in the early 80's. I would love to see this craft come back with some beautiful real wool and updated patterns!! They are so much fun to work on. My girls made small ones in their preteen years. You just inspire me to want to craft all day long!! :)

Ruth said...

That song is stuck in my head now! I am in awe of your wide and varied crafting/creative talent.

Alana said...

Now I wouldn't mind looking like a Thunderbird puppet. Just call me M'lady....

Anonymous said...

lol, Was just thinking of rug hooking the other day. Used to do a lot back in grade school days, learned through 4H. Love the knitting books and the sweater looks great!

alexa said...

I do indeed remember both cable sweaters and hooked rugs! We had a semi-circular one which sat in front of the fire for years, and which she made in the first months of her and Dad's marriage. A comeback would be great and you are just the person to start one!

Anonymous said...

I can remember how exciting it always looked when my grandma made latch hook rugs and how much I wanted a go but was never allowed.

Loving the look of Little E's jumper.

Melissa said...

I have a latch hook rug that I started in the early 80s and carried around with me for years. In 2007, I finished it to use as a visual for a Bible study I was teaching (it says "God Is Love" on the rug) and it now hangs framed in our front room. BTW Did you hear last week's Paperclipping Roundtable where Izzy thought someone called them Hook Drugs instead of Hook-a-Rugs. LOL

debs14 said...

Now I have visions of Little E sitting in a rocking chair like Val Doonigan! They do say that what goes around comes around don't they!

Denise said...

Yep,I remember those rugs and I also remember those patterns! I've got a vision of you and yours walking around with strings from your hands now (thinderbirds)! Oh and I remember that song too xx great post.

Lou said...

lol!! A trip down memory lane, every photo from the 70's has my dad wearing the same cable jumper my mum knitted him!! latch hooking is something i've never done, i'll be interested to see what you create.

Amy said...

I love retro knits and my MIL has pulled out several of her vintage knitting patterns especially for the children - they are fantastic! So, I am sure Little E will look very snazzy is his jumper from Auntie S :-)

Ladkyis said...

Um, does that mean that people stopped making latch-hook rugs at some point? no one told me. I made one three years ago for my granddaughter's bedroom. Oh and I have not stopped knitting cable sweaters either - that's me, still stuck in the sixties.
OH oh I have loads of pattern books from the 60s, 70s, and 80s too. I am that sad person aren't I?

Cal said...

Knitting is something I'm really keen to try! This post reminded me of that :0)

laurie said...

i'd forgotten all about rug hooking! mine never looked as plush or as cool as i had imagined - it was definitely more about the process.

Sian said...

Melissa, no I didn't hear that - but that's funny!
Ladkyis, I have a big collection of Prima magazines from the 80's and used a pattern from one not long ago. I'll never get rid of them!

Scrappi Sandi said...

The sweater is looking good & retro is very cool right now, so no problem! I've never actually latch-hooked but I do remember the rugs! Thanks for the reminiscences!!

Carmen said...

I'm sat here tonight in my big baggy Sylvester the Cat jumper myt Mum knitted me - it's the last thing she did knit me and she despaired because I demanded it in chocolate brown and that the neckline be altered to a slash neck and yes I was SURE it had to have Sylvester the Cat on the front and yes I was well aware that people my age don't generally still go around in jumpers with Sylvester the Cat on knittted by their Mum :P

I love it though and it's getting baggier and more stretched with each wash but I refuse to stop wearing it. Because she'll never make me another one and that makes me so sad.

Go you for the revival I say :)

Sue Althouse said...

I do think adding the blue will look great. And I remember latch hook rugs, but are they making the comeback that knitting is enjoying right now?

humel said...

But which character from the Thunderbirds? I'd rather not be Parker, personally....

Ginger said...

I did try the hook rug thing when i was a kid but never quite finished, likewise I have tried my hand at knitting but never quite made anything (just a nice way of saying I never finished the knitting projects either) LOL! Come to think of it I did cross stitching too and have a few of those unfinished as well... I might revisit these though... ;)

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