Designs for Outdoors
On the weekend, I found this booklet of knitting patterns by Reynolds. I have lots of black-and-white pattern booklets from the 1940s, but the vivid colours in this (early 1960s?) booklet make me swoon.
The photographs are amazing, the colours are jumping off the pages, and the models all look like beautifully robotic Stepford Wives. I'm definitely getting 49 cents' worth of happiness from this purchase.
Some of the sweaters are pretty great, too. I love that most of the designs have a woman's name. Above are Avril (left) and Alix (right). And below, we have Sandra (left) and Emile (right):
I think it's time to bring back the headscarf, don't you? So stylish -- carefree and glamorous at the same time. I'm also partial to big plastic bracelets. The ascot, I'm not so sure about. On the left, below, is my favorite page: Julie and John. 
I'm fond of the cardigan on the right, below (called Helaine) -- it has a big cable down just one side of the front, a fold-over cabled collar, and big buttons. (On the left is Odette.)
All of these images can be made bigger with a click. Enjoy!
12 comments:
Well, look at all these posts I missed because of bloglines... Those models are so, well, plastic! Crazy scary. Hope that paper is coming along and thanks for your nice comment on my 180 prints ('cause that's what I'm calling them now!).
Odette just made my heart skip a little.
Those models! Such natural poses. My guess is that Helaine dislocated her shoulder in a polo accident.
Looove Avril and Odette! Knit on size 2s, no doubt?
I can help you put a JPG in the header if you were seriously wondering.
i love wearing a headscarf with huge earrings (the same size as the bracelets) sticking out. that was my look during several years and bad hair periods of college! :)
cardigans are fun to wear. Helaine is very pretty but I would be inclined to go with Sandra because it is and probably faster to knit.
I'm in awe of all you knitters, who turn things out faster than workers in a sweat shop and, who still have lives.
I think Julie might have just caught a whiff of John's enbalming fluid but the sweaters are quite smart looking.
The Jackie O flip and head scarves are good clues to the era. I remember receiving a chunky blue bracelet in grade school but can't remember the year. 1965 ish, perhaps.
Sorry, not to be anonymous, Grace
Those are great! I think it's rare that you find a pattern book from that era that contains things that you might actually want to make and wear today.
LMAO!! What was it about knit booklet photo styling of bygone days?! Stepford wives totally - and that guy?! CREEPY. Definitely worth $0.49!
Interesting! My LYS has this booklet in their library and yesterday I bought yarn to do Avril. Actually, it's on 8s, and the gauge is the same as Cascade 220, so not so bad. Not doing those colors though -- they're a little dated!
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