I've had this booklet for a while and it has a lot of beautiful projects for babies. Twenty-eight are crochet projects and many of them are sets. Most of these use thread smaller than size 10 though so I haven't made anything out of it yet. Nine patterns use size 10 thread and there's one rug that uses rug yarn. There are also a few knitting patterns tossed in even though the title is "Hand Crochet". Let's look at some of these delicate baby items. This Irish Crochet dress is one of the two patterns done in size 50 thread. The other is a bassinet ruffle.  This Dream Dress and the little jacket are both made in size 30 thread. There is a third pattern with the same size thread; a carriage blanket.
These are made in Perle Cotton which runs in a slightly different sizing structure. The Perle Cotton 8 is smaller than size 10 thread and Perle Cotton 5 is close to the same as size 10 thread. I thought the little romper below was adorable.
Here are some of the projects in size 10 thread that I didn't pick to make next week.
 The adorable rug pattern with a fairy driving a snail has a terrifying Humpty-Dumpty doll in the photo. The doll is made with thread. The rug is made with worsted weight yarn.  For next week, I've made the Petite Pinafore in size 10 thread. Full disclosure; this isn't something I can make in a week so I started it in December and finished in mid-January. 
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I attempted to make all four of the potholders from Scatter Rugs. This booklet specifies Clark's ONT Cotton Rug Yarn for use in their patterns which is a cotton yarn and with a little more research I think it's likely to be a worsted weight yarn. They suggest a size G hook to go with it. I had some vintage rug yarn; Aunt Lydia's cotton/nylon blend. Not only was it too heavy for a G hook, it started shedding a lot. It was pretty old so I had to throw that out and try with some worsted weight cotton. I used Big Twist "Cotton" which is 85% cotton and 15% polyester and 24/7 Cotton and that worked a lot better. Some were bigger "Hits" than others.  Let's start with the "Hits" 9142-A is a waffle stitch. I used a G hook for this with the Big Twist Cotton in Pastel Blue. This went really quickly. It's a pretty simple stitch and they explained it well. The border is one row of single crochet with three stitches in the corners.  9142-A 9142-B is the third one from the top. The pattern says to chain 20 to measure 5.5 inches, maybe to give you a gauge? Then it gives you the instructions for the first shell row, telling you that should have three shells. I did this one with a 4.5mm hook instead of the G Hook (4mm) because the shells were bunching up a lot with the smaller hook. It has three rounds of single crochet to finish it off.  9142-B 9142-E is the fourth one from the top. This is just a square done in single crochet with a two color border. It's very simple but the starting chain directions were a little different. They say, "Starting at one end, with main color make a chain to measure 10 inches. 1st row: sc in 2nd chain from hook and each ch across until row measures 7 inches. Cut off remaining chain." The rest is making single crochet rows until it gets to 7 inches and then doing a single crochet edging in two other colors. That seems a bit exact for a pot holder. You can just make a row of single crochets and then work rows until it's roughly square. Let's not overthink a single crochet pot holder!  9142-E 9142-D is the second one from the top and the only one that was a complete miss for me. This one starts out with the same type of starting row where you do a bunch of stitches then single crochet back until you get the actual length you want and cut off the rest. This pot holder is made in a type of star stitch but the star stitch is done so that it doesn't take up as many stitches going across and the star stitches are kind of bulky. This was giving me a curve that I didn't like so I stopped. I could have gone back and done a really loose chain row or foundation stitch and that would have helped.  9142-D Scoring:
Is the pattern easy to understand? Mostly. I was confused by the varying instructions for cutting off the chain. 0.75 Does it look like the photo or illustration? Yes for the three out of four I finished. 0.75 Would someone use this? These are pretty flimsy for a pot holder. Maybe the rug yarn would have been a little thicker but it was bunching up with the hook size they recommended. They make good washcloths or something to set a pan on to protect a table. I don't think I would use them to pull a pan out of the oven. 0.75 Did I enjoy making them? Yes once I got rid of the vintage Aunt Lydia's yarn that felt super icky. 1.0 Total score = 3.25 We're up to the 1940s. Most patterns I have from that year are either thread or rug yarn. Scatter Rugs is one of the rug yarn booklets. This booklet has three different methods of making a rug; crochet, shaggy and pompon. The shaggy and pompon are made by tying bundles of yarn to a rug base.
This booklet specifies Clark's ONT Cotton Rug Yarn which is probably somewhere between a worsted and super bulky yarn. They suggest a size G hook to go with it which seems a bit small for super bulky. Here are some of the crochet rugs. The first ones are intended to match maple floors. The second is tells you how to make a footstool cover to match.
I'm not sure why the oval one is called a kitten's paw. There's another version of that same pattern with a stripe around the outside. I thought the elephant was kind of cute. The gold one is called Glamour Girl and is made with a lot of puff stitches. Making those stitches with a heavy yarn and a G hook sounds like a recipe for sore hands.
Here are versions of the Shaggy and Pompon rugs. They're cute but sound kind of tedious. First you make the bundles or pompons. Then you tie them to the rug base you can buy. It could be a way to use up scraps though.
There was one set of patterns in the booklet that was not a rug. They suggested that you can use the leftover rug yarn for pot holders. They're titled Hit-and-Miss Potholders. Find out next week if they'll be a hit or a miss.
 By 1936 the issues are down to just seven pages. This issue has 7 patterns; a crocheted tie, an ascot scarf crocheted in knot stitch, a three piece knit suit (cover image) and turnip and carrot crocheted pan holders. I decided to try the pan holders. I think that almost every booklet I have from this era has a crocheted pot or pan holder in it. I could easily do one every week from the 1930s and 1940s and never run out of patterns. Here is the illustration for the potholders. I'm not sure what's going on in the tiny illustration between the two pan holders though. Is the food on fire?  The pattern says to use a mercerized cotton thread such as Lily's Frost-Tone. You need 20 yds of lavender, 90 yds of white and 5 yards of green and a number 3 (2.1mm) steel hook. The pattern starts out at the bottom of the turnip and works in rounds with double crochet stitches. It switches to white and single crochet in rounds for a while and then asks you to start turning the row and leave an opening on the side. The green top is just loops of chains.  This pattern was pretty easy to make but I was a little confused about it's use. The photo below is the finished pan holder. It's 5.5 inches tall (not including the green) and about 4.5 inches across at the widest spot.  I slid it on to the handle through the open side to use it. I'm not sure how effective this is. Using it like this means the fabric is only one layer and using a 2.1 mm hook meant that the stitches aren't super tight. I don't think this would protect from the heat and it doesn't give any extra grip on the pan either. I'd reach for this as a pan holder as a last resort and expect my hand to get a little toasted.
Here's the scoring:
Is the pattern easy to understand? Yes. 1.0 Does it look like the photo or illustration? Sort of. My version seems a bit fatter and if it was done in all purple it could easily pass for an eggplant. 0.5 Would someone use this? I think it's pretty unlikely to be used as a pan holder. Should I sew it up and stuff it to make a weird stuffed vegetable? 0.0 Did I enjoy making it? Yes. It went pretty fast and it had enough different stitches that it wasn't completely boring. 1.0 Total Score = 2.5  The first Aunt Martha's Workbasket was published in October 1935. The first issue was 16 pages and has two crochet projects and two other projects. It was intended to be for "pleasure and profit" so people could make things to sell. There is a lot of text in this first issue explaining what they plan to do with the magazine and why. You can see the whole thing at the Antique Pattern Library. Here's a quick overview of the contents. On page three she says for future issues, "Right now, crochet is the thing, so I'm going to give you directions for a purse, also a beret and scarf". She said someone was selling the purse for $1.50 each. Page 4-5 is text telling where to buy the other collections. Page 6 gives us our first pattern and it's a crocheted pajama bag or pillow and there is no illustration or photo. The following pages are "How and Why to Sell", "Gift and Shower Suggestions", what to crochet for a booth at a Bazaar (coat hangers, collars, cuffs, scarves, berets) and more ads for their own patterns. Page 11 gives us our next actual pattern. This time it's the cover illustration.  The next project is a transfer under the title of "Parade of Nations" intended to be used as embroidery or an applique quilt and illustrates a Hawaiian person picking flowers.
The last project is coasters cut from cardboard. They say you can cover them in paper with paste or rubber cement and then shellacked. She says, "If you wish to make your coasters really "snitzy" you can cut a base just a bit smaller from an old felt hat and glue it to the bottom". I did not make any of the projects from this issue but I did find one to make in the October 1936 issue and I'll share that next week. I made the Baby Sachet out of the Crochet Designs of Anne Orr booklet. I used some scrap fingering weight wool and a size 8 steel hook (1.50 mm) which is a little smaller than I usually use for thread.
This is done in a fairly simple version of a star stitch where you cut the yarn at the end of the row and start over on the same side. That means there were a lot ends. Instead of sewing them in I just tied them together and tucked them inside with the stuffing (which was also yarn). You make two star stitch triangles and sew them together before adding the edging. The edging was supposed to be a triple crochet but I used a double instead and I used a flower I had instead for the ribbon they used. I didn't use any sachet powder. You could add some essentials oils to the stuffing if you really wanted to use it as a sachet.  This was pretty easy to do but I don't know what makes this specifically for a baby.
Here's the scoring: Is the pattern easy to understand? Yes. They did a pretty good job of describing a star stitch. 1.0 Does it look like the photo or illustration? Yes 1.0 Would someone use this? Yes. 1.0 Did I enjoy making it? Yes. It was a fast and easy scrap project. 1.0 Total = 4.0 Another perfect score! Anne Orr was a prolific designer in the early 1900s. She designed not only crochet but also knitting, tatting, quilting and embroidery. She had almost 100 designs published between 1910-1945. Many were done in partnership with thread companies but she often published them herself. She was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in 1980 and they have an excellent summary of her work. The booklet of her designs that I have was published in 1978 by Dover Publications. Most of the patterns included in it are patterns published with J & P Coats Inc from 1917-1923.  Her designs are almost all thread and often size 20-50 thread. The Shamrock Yoke below is made with size 50 thread and the Yoke with Sleeves is size 20.   Most of the patterns in this booklet are also a filet style crochet.
 There were lots of collars, yokes and inserts but I thought this sweater was stunning.  There were some instructions included and the cross-stitch patterns that were stitches onto many of the articles made were very pretty.
I did find one easy project that was not made from thread. I'll be making a baby sachet.
I'm now on BlueSky and I post under aronningen.bsky.social. I've been working my way backwards through all of my projects on Ravelry so if you want to see all the things I make, not just the vintage ones, that's a great place to see it. If you do, I recommend clicking on the pictures and reading the alt text for the more recent posts. This little book was published by Bernhard Ulman Co., Inc in 1916. Bernhard Ulman Co also owned Bucilla Manufacturing Co and this booklet was designed to show people how to use their mercerized thread. I will not be making anything out of this because most things are either inserts or are intended to be attached to part of a kit that Bucilla had available by mail order. I still wanted to share because the illustrations in this booklet are beautiful.  Many of the patterns had photos or detailed illustrations but some also had illustrations of how the embellished item would be used. The first photo is a table cloth with an insertion. The rest are illustrations of inserts in dresses.
The booklet starts you out with instructions on the stitches. Here's just one page of several.  This doily starts out with a purchased medallion that you crochet around. It would definitely make it much faster to finish one.  They also have this view of a bathroom from that era filled with filet adorned towels. In case you're wondering which towels are which; 5169 is a guest towel, 5168 is a show towel, 5171 is a laundry bag, 5170 is a wash cloth. That tub is pretty amazing but those curves might be hard to clean.  Next week I'll share the Annie Orr Booklet I have!
This button pattern is from the Lady's world Fancy Work Book, no. 26, October 1912. This is a very simple pattern. I almost feel a little guilty for picking something that turned out so simple. I used a size 7 steel hook and some scrap fingering weight wool to make this. The button they suggest is only 1/2 inch in diameter so it was a little fiddly to get on. I've included the directions below (remember this is UK terms so their double crochet is our single crochet) if you want to make one.
Scoring:
Is the pattern easy to understand? Yes. 1.0 Does it look like the illustration? It's hard to see and I didn't get as many rounds as they did but it does look like the photo. 1.0 Would someone wear this? Yes. It would work for a button and could be a fun way to dress up a sweater. Did I enjoy making this? Yes. 1.0 Total 4.0 We're starting the year with a perfect score! There were sixteen patterns in the booklet from 1911-1917. For 1911, they pulled three from Weldon's Practical Needlework; a Rose Sachet, a Lady's Sport Cap in Crazy Stitch and the Rose Peter Pan Collar
The fourth was sourced from Lady's World Fancy Work Book and is done in a knot stitch and fine weight yarn or thread. They even added a photo of the what the stitch is supposed to look like.
For the 1912 patterns they went with ornamental projects. The buckles, butterfly and handbag are all from Weldon's and the button is from Lady's World Fancy Work Book.
 Weldon's, Vol 27, No 323, 138th Crochet Series
They had this beautiful shoe from 1914 from Irish Crochet, a Handbook of Practical Instruction. There are two pages of instructions and they attach the motifs to a pair of silk or satin evening shoes.  1917 patterns are flowers, gloves and a hat. The flowers are all from Lady's World Fancy Work Book. The Folkstone Hat is from Fancy Needlework Illustrated and the Gloves are from Weldon's Practical Needlework. (Is the hat "fancy" and are the gloves "practical"?)
I thought about trying one of the flowers but decided on the button since the last one was kind of failure as a button. Next week I'll have the finished button. I'm sure this will be a pretty fast project but I'll have bigger ones coming up the year.
For 2025 I'll use patterns from 1911-1949. I'm going to focus on giving the patterns I have in physical form some love so there will be some big gaps in the 1920s and the early half of the 30s. For 1911-1916, I have the Crochet Designs booklet that also had Victorian era patterns, a Bucilla Blue Book from 1913 and a compilation of Annie Orr patterns. Annie Orr's patterns were published between 1910-1945 and will be the only source for the 1920s-1930s. Workbasket Magazine started publishing in 1935 so I'm going to make an exception to the physical pattern for the first two issues. Since the gift of the Workbasket Magazines from my mother-in-law, Alma, started this whole blog I think that's a fair exception. I have plenty of patterns from the 1940s so most of the year will be spent in that decade. Next week I'll start with the Crochet Designs booklet below. It has nine patterns from 1911-1912 and I have plans to make a pretty simple one.
 It's time for the worst projects from 2024. Here are the eight projects that were given a score of 3.0 or below (out of 5.0). Two projects had a score of 3.0; The Gentleperson's cap and Gentleman's mittens. The cap was the first project I made for this year and it would have come in higher if there had been a photo. I ended up rewriting the pattern and making a second version in gray and white. It's not really a bad project just more confusing than most.
These mittens were a little weird but somehow got a decent score. It's mostly because I kind of enjoyed the odd directions and thumb placement.  Two patterns received a score of 2.75. The Harlequin Ball that I made out of worsted weight instead of fingering weight had a really interesting construction for a ball. The crochet button was more like a small motif than a button.   The Harold Bootie came in at 2.5. I liked the Point Muscovite Stitch but the rest of the bootie was a struggle partially because of the yarn I used with the star stitch.  The Crochet Medallion got a pretty low score but I ended up adjusting it enough that it got a ribbon at the county fair.  The last two patterns are the Wool Dahlia (1.5) and the unscored stitch pattern group from March. The Wool Dahlia had confusing directions which led to it's low score.  The Rice Stitch and the Beehive pattern turned out ok but I couldn't get the Lewis Point Stitch to look like their illustration.
 Beehive Pattern That's the end of the year of Victorian patterns. Did you have a favorite? I'll start 2025 with the year 1911 and hopefully get into the mid 1940s by the end of the year. I made twenty Victorian era projects over the last year. The average score was 3.03 out of 4. Not too bad for patterns written in a different style. Twelve patterns came in above that average. Here they are from best (4.0) to pretty good (3.25). There were three patterns that got a score of 4.0. The Jar for Pence, the Red and White Square and the Crazy Stitch. The Jar for Pence sits on my desk with random coins in it. I haven't done anything with the Crazy Stitch yet but I loved the texture it created. I think the Red and White Square ended up being given away.
 Six patterns had a score of 3.5. The Square in Rib and Shell Pattern, the Polo Edging, the Baby's Crochet Hat, the Josephine Stitch (the only Tunsian project), a Quilt Square and the Three Ring Edging. I like how both of the squares turned out but I really enjoyed doing the Josephine Stitch. The squares are being used like a doily and a coaster and the hat was given away to family.
This Pretty Pattern for Odds and Ends got a score of 3.40 but it's one of my favorite finished projects. I love the color choices I made on this one but took off the edging.
Two patterns came in at 3.25. The Cloud and the Simple Spider Filet. The Cloud was really big but it ultimately found a home.   Next week I'll share the eight below average patterns.
I'm back with part two, the weirder part. Let's start with these Candle Coverups. They are not intended to cover up candles; instead they are covering up and decorating hair spray and toilet paper.  Sticking with the cover up theme; you should really hide that powder box and it has to be with this princess doll. Does the trim look like a bandolier to you? Maybe its not make-up powder she's hiding.  Santa is covering up toilet paper with a tissue box. I guess you could get a Santa mask and hands at your local craft store or Benjamin Franklin's in the 80s. The hands look like AI made them.  As long as we're talking about Santa, how about this cute little change purse. I think Santa's other form is an angry owl.  This stocking is a little confusing to me. Are the different stitch patterns supposed to give it a 3-D look or did they mean for the foot to look that way?  Here are a few clothing items. The helmet isn't terrible - they note that it's also for girls in parentheses. The Pregnancy top purports to be a great gift for your pregnant friends. The pattern is made with two pieces that are exactly the same, so in theory it's reversible. I'm not sure how well that would actually fit.
The Teddy Car Freshener looks a bit scary - I think it's the eyes. The Doll Dress Potholders must be decorative because that bow is a fire risk.
And for the last one I leave you with Gnome Slippers. No copyright issues here! Gnome, Gnomette and Papa Gnome are made with blue worsted weight yarn.  Would you make any of these?
 This two-part holiday special is brought to you by Women's Household Crochet's Christmas Special from 1983. I was paging through this and decided that it had to be shared. If you're looking for things to make the people who annoy you this will have a few options. Before I dive into the 1983 weirdness, I want to show a few things in this magazine that I thought were cute and would make good gifts. There were the usual snowflakes and wreath ornaments and this three bell ornament that was lovely.  These two sweaters also involved knitting but they're cute and are still wearable today.
This blouse is a little frilly in my opinion.  The gumball machine is interesting. I don't think it actually works but still cute. The purse is nice and is probably pretty quick to work up.
Now we're getting a little weirder. These call out Minnesota in the description and might have been good for ice skates or boots that were a little too big. I think these might slip around and be more annoying that helpful.  The title for this stocking says "Pretty Flowers in the Snow". I have to assume that there is a faint flower on that big dark patch.  These pot holders must be purely decorative. They don't say how big they are but the first one is only 5 rounds of worsted weight yarn. For the third, we only have their word that it's Rudolph. Because they used black and white for the photos, we can't see if his nose is red.  Here is Red Riding Hood. It's not terrible, but something seems a little off.  Next week I'll share the really unusual patterns!
The spider in it's simplest form wasn't quite as simple as I thought. The directions are pretty vague and assume you know how they define an open and solid mesh. I looked very closely at the photo to figure it out. It didn't help that they put the photo sideways. I did end up with something that looks pretty similar but I had to work backwards in some spots to figure it out. I tried to write it down but after re-reading what I wrote, I'm not sure it's entirely accurate. Here are the basics. Chain 32 and dc in 9th stitch from hook. An open mesh is a dc, skip 2, dc in next. A closed mesh puts dcs in the skipped stitches. At the beginnings of the rows I chained 5 and did a dc in the next dc. Let me know if you try this!   Scoring: Is the pattern easy to understand? This assumes some basic knowledge. Even with that knowledge this could be a little clearer. 0.5 Does it look like the photo? Yes. 1.0 Would someone use this? Yes. If done with more length this could be an insertion or other lacy type thing. 1.0 Did I enjoy making it? Mostly. I really had to blow up the photo to see it. 0.75 Score =3.25 For the next two weeks, I have very special Holiday posts featuring a 1980s crochet magazine dedicated to Christmas. I'll share the patterns that look ok and those that are, shall we say "interesting". After that I'll do the best and the worst patterns of the year before we move on to the mid 1900s. This week we'll take a quick look at "My Book No. G, The Antique Design or Spider. In many variations-Showing Yokes: Corners, Edges and Insertions". It's by Emma Farnes, published by E.C. Spuehler in 1910. This booklet is viewable on the Antique Pattern Library website. This is Book G in a series of 10 booklets. The Antique Pattern Library has several of the booklets available but not the entire series. This website links to a Catalog of Copywrite that says that Emma Farnes was a pseudonym for E.C. (Edwin Christopher) Spuehler.  The booklet is formatted with a sample of the finished pattern shown and the instructions in text near the sample.  These range from the simple versions above all the way to a few yoke patterns   For next week, I'll try the one at the top called, "In it's simplest form".
 I made this 1910 pattern for buttons in size 10 cotton thread and my trusty size 7 steel hook. I planned to make more than one because they're small and they looked easy. I only made one. The pattern needs to be adjusted for US standard so all dc stitches are single crochets and I used a half double crochet stitch for the short treble. The roll stitch aka the bullion stitch is described well even if it was the stitch that made me give up after the first button. I tried it with fewer yarn/thread overs and I just couldn't pull it off (or through) consistently with thread. I think their suggested thread is smaller and silkier than the thread I used. I'm not sure if that would make it easier or harder. I also had trouble following the repeats and it doesn't look quite right in my first attempt. To be fair, the ones they have in the photo don't look like they have a consistent picot pattern either.  My finished button is about 1.75 inches across. It's pretty soft so I don't think it could be substituted for an actual button. It seems more decorative.
Here's the rating: Is the pattern easy to understand? Mostly. The repeats could be better written.0.75 Does it look like the photo? Yes 1.0 Would someone use this? Maybe? 0.5 Did I enjoy making it? Eh... Not super fond of the bullion stitch with thread. I could have tried this with a heavier yarn and made a coaster. 0.5 Total 2.75 Next week it's spiders! There are eight patterns in the Crochet Designs booklet from the year 1904 through 1910. One of these might look familiar. I'll share them in order of publication. First, we have a yoke pattern from Weldon's Practical Needlework, Vol 19, no 224, 75th Series, (August 1904) is worked in No 36 size crochet cotton and uses a paper pattern that they want you to make and fit the strips to make the size you need.  There are two patterns from 1907. A pretty hair-pin lace shawl from Lady's World Fancy Work Book, no. 3 (Jan 1907). The pattern is pretty detailed on how to make a hair pin and attach the pieces together. The second is a "Crocheted Blouse for a Lady". It's from Weldon's Practical Needlework, Vol 22, no 257, 93rd Crochet series (May 1907). The model appears to be holding some kind of sports equipment and the pattern says that it is for "wearing at sports such as hockey, golf, etc". This pattern also requires knitting needles.
We have two patterns from 1909. The Wool Jacket is from Weldon's Practical Needlework, Vol 24, no 280, 109th Crochet Series (April 1909). The Ladies' Ribbed Crochet Tie is from Needlecraft Practical Journal, Vol 6, no 79 (1909) and should look familiar. I made it in March of 2023.
There are three patterns from 1910. The Star Stitch Camisole is from Weldon's Practical Needlework, Vol 25, no. 294, 119th Crochet Series (June 1910). It's hard to see the detail in the photo below but they do include a close up of the stitch in the pattern.  This belt is also from Weldon's Practical Needlework. This time it's Vol 25, No 300, 123rd Series (December 1910). It looks like a very simple pattern with only two rows.  I'll be attempting the Crochet Buttons for next week. This pattern is from Lady's World Fancy Work Book, no 16, (April 1910). The pattern uses DMC Coton Perle or Sylko No 16. Sylko was a thread made in the UK for sewing in this time frame. They must have made a heavier cotton for other purposes too. Coats uses the name Sylko now for embroidery thread used in manufacturing and it's all polyester. I may end up just using size 10 thread.  The pattern is in the photo. Let me know if you try it!
Time to finish up the Victorian era. have one more booklet that has a few early 1900 patterns and then I'll move on to later decades. The Crochet Designs Fashion & Accessories Reprinted from Victorian & Edwardian Sources was compiled by Gertrude Kuehl for the Knitting and Crochet Guild in London. This booklet was printed in 1990. It has 29 patterns from 1855-1917.  It has a hook comparison chart along with a Bell Gauge and a list of yarn categories to tell you what "modern" yarn could be used in place of the older description. The introduction goes through a little history and explanation of terminology. It says one of the things I've discovered over the last year, "Generally speaking 19th century crochet patterns provide either a fest or famine in written details." They go on to say that one of the reasons that Victorian and Edwardian patterns often didn't give you the hook size or gauge is so the would be more open-ended. Most people that did needlework then could draft clothing patterns and would use patterns and stitches to make a fabric that they would then create to fit their hand drafted pattern. They would put in their own increases and decreases to fit that pattern. The patterns were much more adaptable even if they seemed vague to us. I'll share the three from the Victorian era this week and then next week I'll move on to 1904-1910. This collar is from 1848. The index says its from The Crochet Book by Mdlle Riego de La Branchardiere, 4th ed,. London. This pattern uses the word "plain" in place of single crochet (I think).  This purse is from Treasures in Needlework, by Mrs. Warren and Mrs. Pullan, London, 1855  The last pattern from the Victorian era in this booklet is this wrap. It's from Mrs. Leach's Fancy Work Basket Vol. 12, no. 137 February 1897. It's described as useful for an invalid or an evening wrap. While this is a long and detailed pattern it does say that you can change the size by, "varying the number of stitches and rows".  Next week I'll share the eight patterns from 1904-1910 and tell which one I'll attempt to make. |
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