I have been collecting vintage crochet pattern books for some time, I started before I even realized why I was attracted to this form of printed nostalgia.
I had just taught myself to crochet, with the assistance of some you tube tutorials, so the first vintage patterns I acquired were a no brainer. Soon I realised it was not just any crochet pattern books that appealed to me. I purchased a contempory one I have largely ignored, it cost far more than it was worth.
The internet is abundant with free crochet patterns of all sorts, yet trawling through them can be tiring. However finding vintage crochet pattern books in the wild, that is in the dark corner of remote junk stores across the country side is just my cup of tea.
So what is it about about this form of publishing that attracts me?
The colour. I am so attracted to the crazy colours of these times, the extra saturation of the photography can look lurid and surreal.
The hair. There is something about hair styles from and photographed in the past that we cannot recreate today, well at least that is my opinion.
The mode. The way the models interact with themselves and the camera. It is so refreshingly un-banal, as opposed to the cool dude hipster wearing a crochet skull patterned jumper accessorized with the must have ipod.
The fashion. The instructions are for wonderful examples of unique fashion design. More contempory crochet pattern ideas tend to dwell in the accessory realm - scarves, fingerless gloves, ipod covers, pot holders. Things that take little time, commitment and wool.
At this point I admit I am guilty. I succumbed to the contemporary crochet and skull hype and crocheted a reversible skull potholder to hang on the stove.
After some months my vintage crochet pattern stack is growing rapidly as it seems that there is quite an abundance of these books being donated to thrift stores, yet interestingly enough not really many other forms of vintage publishing from the sixties and seventies are easily found and I am not sure why.
Recently I caught up with a friend who presented me with a plastic bag full of crochet patterns from the sixties and seventies. Wow! A most wonderful gift. It is at this point I will introduce the term for this activity that came to mind as we repeatedly stared at the images again and again, pointing out this detail and that - Crochet Porn.
Here are two unique patterns from the stash by a company I had not previously heard of called called ‘Sirdar’, which according to the website means leader, after Lord Kitchener’s appointment as Sirdar of the Egyptian Army. Instantly makes me wonder if Lord Kitchener wore crochet, some underwear made by his mother perhaps?
I now have two Sirdars in my collection number 25 and 28, these copies printed in 1970 are so preloved there’s even the signs of stains and strain on number 28. I am now actively on the lookout for at least another twenty six of these beauties in the wild.
These patterns blew me away. Capturing the silhouette stalker in the background is pure crochet porn gold. This is what I love about the seventies, anything flew. Maybe some contemporary patterns with a nod in this direction would stop seeing me leave my local craft stores cold. I have some suggestions for the Australian crafting retailers, a series of pattern editions such as the Lincraft Lovelies or the Spotlight Sizzlers.
Side note. I am also planning to crochet a version of number 28 for myself to wear around the house and perhaps find some swimming togs with a belt and a gold necklace for Mr S.
