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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

kitty: A Stitch in Time... reprint just got here and it is perfection

A Stitch in Time
Knitting & Crochet Patterns of the 20's, 30's & 40's
(Out of Print)

100 Reprints of Historical Patterns

A Stitch in Time
Vintage Knitting and Crochet Patterns 1920 - 1949 Vol.1
Available Knitonthenet Shop

60 Patterns Reprints and Modern adaptations

Over the years you have probably figured out that I am a book addict. It was funny when I was in college friends would actually come over to my apartment to research there term papers or projects because my textile library was better on most subjects than OSU's at the time. I was also open latter than 5 and on the weekends. Budget cuts were not pretty even back then. And well Textile History wasn't going to gain the university lots of grants, so thus not a popular major.

I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of A Stitch in Time a long time ago. Many textile historians consider it one of the best books written recording the patterns of the 20's, 30's, and 40's.

Over the years there has been a huge call to have the book reprinted by the publisher, but the original files and plates were destroyed in a fire. Then finally with the work of lots of volunteers the book has been recompiled and reprinted. The original printing in the 70's mainly consisted of just reprinting the original patterns. The new reprint has taken reprints of the original patterns followed by modernized patterns, and colour photos of the modern garments.

To me this is truly the perfect combination for a historical book. The old and the modern adaptation combined in a beautiful colour and black and white book.

MG and I have talked about this a lot but most historical inspired books really bother me, bottom line for the most part they just don't cut it. A woman in the Victorian age would have never knit a sweater in a bulky weight for example. When most people write historical inspired books they gloss over most of the details and the true craft. They look at the designs more from a mass production simplification. It is just one of those things that erk me.

So to me this book is perfect. You can check out some of the patterns on ravelry that they have posted from the book. I just wish I was a much thinner woman to be able to wear the styles.

4 comments:

  1. I can't wait to get a copy! Thanks for the review.

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  2. so gorgeous! thanks for the heads up. I love the styling, it looks like they definitely kept the spirit of the original. Im not thin enough to wear any of these, but it looks like a book I would love to read through

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  3. It's a fact of life that women nowadays are bigger than they were 50 to 80 years ago. I don't think you should be limited by your size, because some of those patterns flatter any body size or shape!

    Maybe this book needs a supplement on sizing up...

    Happy New Year!!!

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  4. Many of patterns in this book have an enormous amount of positive ease. Unless you have a bust size of over 60 inches, you should be able to find something.

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