Measurement Chart from 1942

We have a measurement chart from 1942. It's a fun (possibly horrifying) way to keep track of your measurements when getting ready to start a knitting or crochet project.

 

Click here to download the pdf of the chart.

Happy knitting & crocheting!

Our New Needle Conversion Chart

Alison worked her butt off tracking down all of the different sizes of needles (knitting & crochet) over the last few months. She put all of this information together to make life a little easier when we are posting patterns and trying to figure out the modern needle/hook equivalents.

This chart (in pdf format) can be downloaded by clicking this link, or by visiting the Vintage Needle Sizing Charts page.

As we were going over the list, we realized that there is no info listed from the 1940s. That means Alison has a lot more digging to do.

Free Monthly Pattern Download for September (crochet)

Alison was going through her vast, enormous, gargantuan vintage pattern collection and found these two Edwardian era aprons. If you are looking for a challenging crochet project, these may be it.

Pattern Info/Materials:
The apron pictured on top takes 4 balls of size 30 Cordichet, and a size 11 steel crochet hook
The apron on the bottom takes 2 balls of size 15 Cordichet, and a size 12 steel crochet hook.

Vintage Yarn Info:
Cordichet, size 30: 100% cotton, 6-ply, mercerized crochet thread. Small balls were put up in 80 yds, Large balls were 400 yds.

Click on the pattern link or check out the "Free Monthly Pattern Downloads" page to be taken to the free pattern compliments of eStitched.

Needle Sizings

If you have looked at any vintage pattern, especially those from the turn of the century (last one, not this one), you know what a pain it can be to determine what needle size the pattern is asking for.

We have had conversations with people asking about needle sizes required by some of our patterns and often comes down to determining when the pattern was written and the researching the type of yarn called for in the pattern. Generally, the yarn is pretty small and the needle sizes are a blindingly small size as well.

Alison ran across these cool charts from the early 1900's that show needle sizes called for in some of our really old patterns. We have put them in pdf file so you can download these little nuggets of vintage-ness.

Click here to download the pdf.

From a Patons & Baldwin's pattern book, early 1900s.

Taken from a Fleisher's pattern book. circa 1917. 

Taken from a Fleisher's pattern book. circa 1917. 

1930's Vintage Sizing Chart for Knitting and Crochet

Alison found a sizing chart from the late 1930's. We don't usually see these, so we had to post this one. Garment sizing has changed dramatically in the past 80 years, so having a point of reference for vintage pattern sizes makes life a little easier when working with vintage patterns. 

The drawings for the Simple Crochet Stitches were also pretty cool. These show up in patterns quite often, but normally they've seen some wear and tear. The drawings on this page were great. It is so amazing that the drawings from way back when were as clear and detailed as today's photographs. The drawings often looked like artwork they were so precise and spot on.

Follow this link to download the chart in .pdf format.

1939 booklet.

"Knit to Fit" Sizing Chart - Free download

As you may or may not know, vintage pattern sizing was quite a bit different from the current sizing system. Vintage sizes ran smaller (often much smaller) than modern standards. This guide will help you modify a vintage pattern.

The "Knit to Fit" Chart - A Simple and Practical Guide to Changing Sizes to Fit for Your Own Measurements is available on our Craftsy store as a free download.

The chart contains 6 pages of information to help you modify your vintage patterns. Measurements for sizes 14-16-18-20-40-42. This chart and guide will help you create custom-fitted sweaters and skirts direct from the small sizes of vintage patterns

The chart goes over the basics of extending from size 16 direct to 18, 20, 40 and 42 in knitting or crochet.

The file can be downloaded from Google docs, just click here:  Take to the "Knit to Fit Guide"