I've had a few issues with power and Internet lately, so have been keeping a low profile. The connection seems to be working quite well tonight, so I'll take the opportunity to share a few more of my crochet pieces and older pattern books. The photograph above shows a little milk jug cover I have made. It's been worked with #80 crochet thread.
This close up will show how the crochet forms a little cup and saucer. This type of cover was really used a lot when I was a child, as the milk was always put on the table in a jug. 'Our' milk came from the dairy, and was stored in large glass bottles in the refrigerator.
The pattern for this little cover is in this very old booklet that was given to me years ago by an elderly aunt. It's almost falling to pieces, and has moved with me many times. It will be with me for life, as I treasure it greatly.
I have also made this little swirly doiley from the above book. I love this pattern, made up of simple double crochet, and chain/picot loops. This little piece is only quite tiny, and is worked in #60 thread.
Another old booklet that I have has some lovely old tea cosy and cushion patterns. I have made several of them over the years, and thought I would include it in this post. The tea cosy in the bottom left corner makes up particularly well. I've always been drawn to the 'van dyke' pattern in crochet.
I have received a request from a reader regarding a pattern for the little baby matinee jacket I shared some weeks ago. Unfortunately, at this stage I do not have a 'written' pattern. However, I would not mind working out what my grandmother has done, and then endeavour to write it out. The lady may come back here to read this, and if so, please do not hesitate to email me and I will try to assist with this project. I am unable to contact her, as there is a 'non-reply' on the comment.
I seem to have been quite busy helping outside of late, and not getting so much stitching done, but I have been working a little on a bit of knitting in the evenings. It is very cold here tonight [well, cold for Queensland]. I have a good store of wood inside and am off to settle into a bit of that knitting for a few hours until bed time. I hope everyone is keeping well.
I have been meaning to share this little outfit with readers, as I thought you might like to see something that was made for me by my grand mother [maternal]. She had twelve children, and to be honest I forget how many grandchildren, in the vicinity of sixty!! She didn't do a lot of varied crafts, but one thing she excelled at was crochet. I think my mother told me that she made a little three piece outfit for each and every one of her grandchildren - to be worn at their christening. This one in the above photograph is mine, made almost 59 years ago.
She didn't 'read' crochet patterns as such, often making up her designs as she went along. This little matinee jacket is more like a batwing edge to edge coat, fastening with a ribbon tie at the neck. I've tried to fan it out and place the little cap sleeves so you can get an idea of the design.
The crochet in itself is very simple, and seems to be done in a type of shiny rayon thread. I remember the term Fibrone Silk being used when I was younger. Just recently I noticed you can still buy something like this, and the description on the packaging says 3 ply rayon. The little embroidered 'grub roses' were done by my mother I believe, Granny didn't embroider.
The little booties are so tiny. Bonnet and bootee design have a little more shell-like pattern. I am the second in a family of four, and each of us have 'our set'. All of our own children have worn the garments on the occasion of their christening.
My mother used to make lots of these outfits too for friends or family, often starting with a length of chain and working away down the the garment from the neck. She could work that bullion/grub/roll stitch, something I've not tried in earnest, but I really must keep at it until I have it mastered.
I hope this little bit of vintage crochet is of interest to some readers. Thank you all for popping in to prop me up after my knitting disaster.
The pattern for this little cover is in this very old booklet that was given to me years ago by an elderly aunt. It's almost falling to pieces, and has moved with me many times. It will be with me for life, as I treasure it greatly.
