Pattern Books from the 1970s and 1980s
We have reached the end of the great collection of pattern books that I picked up in an online auction. Handwritten notes clipped into these books show that the original owners, Minnie and Olive, were still actively creating hats, sweaters, and afghans during these decades.
In the photo of the pink hairpin lace shawl, notice that huge pendant! Just this month I have seen similar things — big Western belt buckles now being used as pendants!
And how about that Shrink Top? My grandmother made me one of those in purple, yellow, and green WITH a matching purple mini-skirt in shell stitch, and a purple cotton mini-skirt to wear underneath it. Sadly, no photographic evidence of this outfit remains.
I always wanted the multicolor striped vest and later, leg warmers, but never got either of those.
To celebrate getting through this whole collection, I created this bingo card of vintage textiles. (I am pretty sure my grandmother could have crocheted an afghan in the time it took me to format it.)
Pattern Book Bingo — how many have you seen?
Here is a PDF for the bingo card
I have loved going through this collection, and I am proud of myself for getting through it within the same year I purchased it! I plan to use the images in future posts and art journals, and as inspiration for quilts. Have you had a favorite decade, technique, or item from this collection?
I may have had one of those shrink tops; if I didn’t, I know I wanted one. I really wanted that yellow one, but didn’t have the figure for it. LOL. I still have, in my possession (somewhere) some of those items on the bingo card. I’m pretty sure I have that work apron pattern, and keep thinking I should make one, just for fun.
I don’t have everything on the bingo card, but I think I could get a bingo or two! 🙂
Love the vests and the cool dudes pullovers.
That coral necklace caught my eye too – it is ginormous!
The crocheted square tablecloth with fabric was quite unique.
Yes, there were some things in that granny square book that I wouldn’t mind making today, but I had never seen anything like that gingham and granny square tablecloth, so I had to include it. 🙂
So enjoyed the images! Oh how styles change!
OK, I’ll admit it, there must be something wrong with me because even in that time period I wouldn’t have liked any of those garments. Well, maybe the ‘cool dude’ sweaters. grew up in northern NH so nothing flashy up there LOL Good job getting thru those magazines.
I didn’t like most of those garments either, except for a scrappy striped vest. I was living in Texas by the time the leg warmers came out, so no need for those! I have seem some classic cardigans and shrugs in those pattern books that I would not say no to though. 🙂
OK, my faith in you has been restored! LOL and we are not responsible for what our grandmothers made for us. haha
OMG! Tierney totally needs to make that granny square tie for John!!! My fave was the picture of the dresses from “the last time fashion was pretty”.
I hope she does! I would, but I have never learned to crochet beyond single and double crochet, and I never get the turns right. 🙂
The excitement of hairpin lace!!! I confess that in the early 1970s I crocheted myself a striped poncho in eggplant and hot pink. Luckily, I don’t think any photos of it survive.
Yes, I am very grateful that we didn’t have the internet when I was a teen-ager! Pictures from that era can fade into obscurity.