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I still haven't finished the November project so there won't be any voting for a December project. Instead I'm going to share some photos of the 1968 Gifts Galore book by Coats & Clark. The cover says "Accessories to Crochet or Knit" but it's mostly crochet. The front and back cover are in color and the inside is all black and white. Here's the cover in all of it glory.  There a a few potholders, a sewing kit (that's the guy with the spool legs, three pin cushions, a handbag, a knitted belt and slippers in chartreuse. I'm kind of intrigued by the mouse pincushion - it has a little pocket for a tape measure! Next weekend I'll be spending time with family so there won't be a post then. The following weekend I"ll share the back of the cover with you - there are even more pot holders and one of my favorite and very practical crocheted items. Hopefully I'll have the crocheted bed jacket done in late December. Here's how far I am now: 
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Ah, the 1960s. A time before car seats and bike helmets. Riding in the back of a station wagon or sleeping on the floor of a car was considered safe. Smoking was encouraged and lead and arsenic were still being used in toys. Here are the crafts in the November 1967 Workbasket Magazine that would probably not show up in a modern magazine. The Kitchen Angel This one isn't so much questionable as I would say in my most Minnesota voice, "interesting". Maybe it would come out better than it sounds or the picture looks. This is described a special decoration for your kitchen and it uses kitchen items to create it.
 Mincemeat Cookery This issue had three recipe sections; soup, casseroles and mincemeat cookery. The lead in to the mincemeat section touts it as a “very wholesome and easily digested food” and gives some “new and novel” recipes. I don't have a problem with mincemeat in general but they have a recipe that combines it with that other classic staple of the era - gelatin. Behold, Coffee Mincemeat Relish, "a good accompaniment for the Thanksgiving turkey".  Joy Logs Joy logs are a diy version of artificial firelogs that give off colorful sparks when burned. How do you get to give off colorful sparks? You burn add chemicals. To make Joy Logs, you roll up old magazines, phone books or newspapers and tape them together. Then soak them in a solution of salt and coloring chemical for 10 – 14 days. Let dry for about 6 weeks. The article lists the chemicals you can use to get specific colors:
This can be done safely and many of the chemicals can be found at fireworks supply stores but you should avoid the lead and arsenic versions. My dad told me that his parents used to throw a small piece of garden hose into the fire. It must have had copper or other chemicals but burning the plastic and rubber would have given off some toxic fumes.  Apple Head Dolls This seems like it would make a doll more suitable for Halloween. Basically you’re carving an apple, pickling them for 36 hours and drying them for 2-3 weeks. After they’re dry you can soften them up with steam so you can reshape the face and put in sequins for eyes, white beads for teeth and decorate them with other colors. Coat with floor wax. Add a wig of hair or yarn and attach to a muslin sawdust body. And you get something like this:  Next week:
If I don't have the bed jacket done by next week you may be voting early for the December pattern. I did decided to do the opaline and grey stripes and it looks really pretty so far.  The Crochet Bed Jacket won with 72% of the vote. This one might take a little longer than the two weeks I usually give myself but should be done by the last weekend of the month. The Pattern: There is no sizing on this pattern so they must assume one-size fits all on this. It’s worked in a ripple stitch from side to side then cuffs are added, the side seams are sewed together and a loop stitch trim is worked around the neck and waist. I’m not sure about the loopy trim so I may skip that or substitute something else. The Materials – the pattern suggest that you use:
Dawn Kitting Worsted was a 100% wool yarn that yarn has been discontinued since 1972 (go here if you want more history on this yarn). Right now I’m torn between using Lion Brand ZZ Twist (acrylic) in Periwinkle and Navy or using this combination of Berocco Vintage DK in an acrylic wool blend and MadelineTosh DK in Opaline. The DK weight might not match the gauge so it could come out a bit smaller than the pattern but I think the stripe of gray and opaline would be really pretty. Since this is one size it might be risky to go with the lighter weight yarn.
Next week: There are some questionable craft suggestions in the 1967 issue and there’s a little section on mincemeat cookery. I’ll tell you about those – I won’t be trying them out though. Instead, I'll leave you with this ad for cat paintings.  |
