Monday, April 09, 2012

Keeping a Home

Yarning along with Ginny again this week, you can check the blog for all the other yarn alongers :)

I was torn between making a new yarn along post this week, or just linking to my Easter post from yesterday, in which I display my knitting for this week.  Instead I decided on a new post with a link to the old ;)



I blogged about this bolero I made my daughter yesterday. It is from a 1930's pattern, and totally went with the outfit I made her for Easter (also blogged yesterday).  I found the pattern online ages ago, and since it was made in a chunky yarn, I took the opportunity to make something quick while I took a small break from my very fine gauge cardigan.  Which I am still working on ;) I hope that link for the pattern works for you because it is playing up for me right now!
Anyway, I used a doubled worsted weight acrylic yarn.  Acrylic is important- I can attest to the fact that the dress from yesterday needed to be washed because of chocolate on it, and all children's wear suffers that same fate.  So... acrylic!

The book is an interesting story all its own.  The housekeeping book was one I saw mentioned on another blog- it is a wonderfully comprehensive guide to housekeeping, from 1941.  There are a great deal of good ideas contained inside, and it was not the easiest book to get hold of (probably because it had been mentioned on other blogs!).
The garden book is another story.  Just this weekend, while walking through an antique mall, I ran across the book.  I recognised the cover instantly- it was a dead ringer for my new housekeeping book!  A matched set, obviously.
I snatched it up ready to read once I finish its companion!  I might test the cover's claims to be washable too, since it is looking kind of grubby...

7 comments:

  1. Looks like an interesting set of books! I love vintage home books too.
    The bolero is adorable. And yes, washable is very important around here too :)

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  2. The knit is beautiful Rachel! Oh, we had some chocolate on clothes here too! :)
    I love reading old books and yours look like wonderful ones.
    Have a happy yarn along day.

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  3. Those books look amazing and I absolutely love the bolero with the little vines and flowers. Divine Rachel, simply divine!
    xo

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  4. What sweet stitching on that bolero. And thanks for the books - my library had both of them!

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  5. love the embroidered bolero!!! and a matched set! How lucky a find was that???

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  6. Excellent job with the bolero, currently on a knitting hiatus, while I learn to crochet. I'm having a lot of fun. Oh you've got to love the acrylic yarn, especially when you some active children. You don't have to worry about special washing instructions, just toss it into the machine.

    My father has those books;... he inherited them from his mother. He has a large collection of old books too, many of which I inherited, including an old copy of Keats & Shelly, Shakespeare, collection of poems, and many others... but those are the ones I cherish. They were published in the 1800's.

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  7. Hi there!
    I've just discovered your blog, and LOVE what you are sewing and knitting.

    I was recently given a collection of 1940s/50s knitting patterns from my mother and am hoping to make some of them up. As a teen I would often be knitting myself something from them, but now I'll be making them for my daughter.

    Looking forward to reading more from you! :)

    Catherine

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