Verity Vintage Studio

Styling Some New Crochet Patterns

Three new crochet patterns were added to my Etsy shop this week. There was the Pin-up Neckwarmer, which is a scarf and 2 kinds of pins and can be worn multiple ways.

 

The Heather Bloom Neckwarmer is simple, but more than just a scarf - you can also wear this one multiple ways.

 

 

Then my Garnet Cardi, which is a 1950s inspired sweater-blouse. I had fun wearing it on Sunday along with 1950s accessories.

 

It was an absolutely beautiful day, but all the sunshine and the snow made it way too bright for photos. These are the best I could do!

 

I paired the cardigan with a tiered skirt over a crinoline, a turtleneck sleeveless top, and vintage hat, gloves, and heels from the 1950s.

 

I love the deep textured border.

 

While it is perfect for 1950s costumes or themed outfits, as I wear it here, it has classic lines and also can be paired with more modern pieces. The pattern has easy shaping and is written for sizes S-XL.

 

So that's what I've been up to this week. Next week we will get back to sewing posts - I promise! :-)

Of Cakes and Crochet...

When I was a girl, my grandma ran a home business baking and decorating cakes. She was a real professional, turning out anything from a Sponge Bob birthday cake (hand drawn characters, looking off a picture for a guide) to elaborate tiered wedding cakes complete with bridges and waterfalls. One of our favorites was a train cake baked in molds and loaded with candy, though as I got older I would request "something with lots of roses" for my birthday, since her roses were always fought over! She set the standard for cake and icing taste and texture - I rarely (if ever) have eaten even homemade cake as good as ones made from her recipes, and any other icing seems tasteless or too soft. She has made too many birthday, anniversary, baby shower, and wedding cakes to count, making dozens each year for her extended family, besides the ones for customers! 

 

Some of my favorite childhood memories were hours spent watching her at her kitchen table, effortlessly (or so it seemed) piping perfect shell borders and turning out roses like magic on a poised decorator's nail...something I still despair of learning to do. She would always let any watching grandchildren (or great-grandchildren now) play with and lick out the icing tips when she was done with them, and when we got old enough, she would let us help "paper towel" the cakes to get them ready for decorating, and put the centers on flowers, or maybe even leaves.

As I got older, I learned a bit more decorating skills and even helped her with a few of my cousins' wedding cakes, learning her exact science of how many batches of batter were needed for so many people, and how full to fill the pans and how to assemble tiers with their hidden support system. One of the highlights from my own wedding was the opportunity to help her assemble and decorate my wedding cake a few days before.

 

Last year, an idea for a crochet stitch pattern popped into my head, inspired by the way she frosted her biggest border shells. I swatched it, submitted it to Crochet World, and it was accepted. Now my Sugar Frosting Baby Blanket is printed in the spring special issue of Crochet World (purchase a copy here!).

 

Months after making the model, it was returned to me - so now my own little son can enjoy it. It's by far the most elaborate and time-consuming baby blanket I have designed, yet it was worth it and I really enjoyed working on it. Some beautiful things take time. Like making an heirloom.

 

I also have several other designs in current magazine issues, including the Marrakech Top for those of you who like more of a boho style. That one is in Crochet!'s spring special issue called "Boutique-Style Crochet" - find a copy here.

 

As a designer, I never know what will inspire an idea. But since that same grandma taught me to crochet my first stitch when I was 6 years old, I feel that this baby blanket is a small but fitting tribute to a talented and admirable woman.

Just Published: 1930s Beret Repro Crochet Pattern

I'm excited to share this news! My latest crochet pattern PDF download in my Etsy shop is a reproduction 1930s beret! It's quick to make and looks oh-so-authentic, especially when modeled by the lovely Cate from Vintage Gal, who kindly reviewed the pattern and allowed me to use her photos to illustrate it!

 

I've read her blog for a while, and love her crocheted sweaters from actual vintage patterns. She usually does 1930s outfits, so I knew she would be the perfect model. I was thrilled when she agreed to make and photograph a beret using my pattern, writing a very kind blog post about the process. Connections are one of the fun things about the online vintage community!

 

My version is in black, with the cutest little vintage glass oval buttons to trim the embellishment. Here I'm wearing it with my bold plaid 1930s Thanksgiving dress.

 

The beret features a simple crown and a lace openwork brim, along with a ruffled embellishment that adds perfect Art Deco flair. Wear it several ways; make it in just a few hours in any color to compliment a 1930s outfit!

Read more and purchase the pattern here.

 

Item of the Week - Crochet Lace Scarf Pattern Download

For one week only, download the Diamond Strike Lace Scarf pattern at half price - it's Item of the Week in my Etsy shop! Slashed from $3.

Turquoise Version of 1950s Inspired Pullover

I haven't been able to model my new sweater yet, but it's finished! Soon after photographing the coral version and saying how I thought it could be 1950s appropriate with a few alterations, I picked up a cotton/bamboo blend yarn in a vibrant shade and set about making another one that would fit me better and be more period correct.

 

I made it a smaller size, and used a smaller hook below the bust area to make it a little more fitted, shortening the version so it was just hip length - a popular 1950s style.

 

For the sleeves, I looked up photos on Pinterest and found that short sleeve lengths varied from cap sleeve to elbow, but a nice short style was what I settled on, and found lots of photos to back me up in that decision. 

 

I really like the yarn choice, elegant silhouette, and the color is better for me than the coral version - also very bright and vintage-y. Now that it's hot I won't wear it so much, but hopefully this fall it will come out of the closet more often!

 

I definitely want to add more costume worthy crochet pieces to my wardrobe. Just not so much during the summer months. :-)

What do you think? Does it look 1950s-accurate?

Vintage Inspired - Coral Pink 1950s Style Sweater

I have been doing a lot of sewing lately and will soon have several maternity outfits to share with you, but for now here's something a little different.

This outfit is what I call vintage inspired, not close enough to the real thing for a vintage reproduction. 

 

I had posted about it a few years ago when I first bought and altered the skirt, but this is the first time I've gotten photos of it when worn.

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about vintage knit and crochet wear, especially inspired by Vintage Gal and her gorgeous 1930s knitted jumpers. It's such a great way to dress authentically, there's an endless amount of garment and accessory options for any decade you wish, and is more portable than a sewing project. It adds versatility to a vintage wardrobe, especially for fall and winter months. Plus you might have just the right color of yarn for a badly needed wardrobe piece, and not have the right fabric!

 

This sweater is not quite close enough to 1950s for me to call it that, but it definitely fits the right general overall style. I am in the process of making a second version with some alterations to make it closer to authentic. Also a better fit, since this one was made when I was several sizes larger - hence the belt, which still works because belts were occasionally worn with sweater blouses. 

 

I will say that comfort is a big plus with knitted and crocheted vintage garments, since they are easier to move around in than a snug-fitting similar garment in fabric and usually were not worn with belts. So especially now when I am growing and changing in size, I'm thinking more about adding some crochet pieces to my wardrobe. If I knew how to knit, I would totally want to make some knitted ones, but there's a large crochet spectrum to keep me busy at the moment without repining (too much) for those amazing knitted garments.

 

There are many patterns in existence from vintage magazines so with patience you can make exact replicas of what they would have made and worn then, but the patterns back then were much more sketchy, general, and hard to follow, often with a single fuzzy or distant photo to illustrate. Challenging, to say the least.

In fact, the difficulties associated with vintage patterns have given me the idea to do my own line of pattern reproduction crochet designs for authentic garments and accessories but that are written with modern terminology, photos, and pattern details. More on that next month, hopefully.

 

The skirt has a lovely border print similar to 1950s novelty skirts, with lots of color in it to choose for accents. And it fits me comfortably just now. One benefit of changing sizes is that some my favorite clothes that used to fit and were too big for me, now fit again...at least temporarily.

 

 

So while it's a combination of modern garments (other than the undershirt, which I made from a 1940s blouse pattern), it still has the classic femininity of vintage styles...and is about as modern as I get! :-)

 

Crochet World Interview

Crochet and vintage go hand in hand around here...

I was recently interviewed for the Crochet World blog, after having an Art Deco style design in the latest issue. Check out the interview here!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Item of the Week - Scarf Pattern Download

Make this crocheted spiderweb lace scarf and holder for half price this week only. The pattern PDF is Item of the Week in my Etsy shop, slashed from $3.

December Tutorial - Crochet a 1940s Style Star Ornament

This month I designed a little crochet star ornament especially for my blog readers, inspired by pictures of 1940s aluminum star ornaments. It's the perfect way to add some vintage homemade specialness to your decorations this year.

 

For these ornaments I used Knit Picks' Curio, size 10 cotton thread. I can't say enough nice things about this thread. It comes in a gorgeous color palette (though limited), it's so soft to work with, and it comes in enormous yardage of 721 yards per ball. That's a huge amount of thread for your money!

 The pattern is written out below in standard American terms. But first, here are a few step-by-step photos to guide you through the process.

 

At first it looks nothing like a star!

 

Tightening the slip ring gives you 5 loops, like a flower.

 

After the first few rounds, it's starting to look like a star.

 

You could stop after Rnd 5. Nothing wrong with that. 

 

 

But like the icing on the cake, do one more round to emphasize the points and add a bit of trim.

Then the large star is done. You could easily add a chain loop for hanging before you fasten off. I prefer to use the less noticeable ornament hanger inserted through one tip, so omit a chain loop.

You could use this little fella all by himself, but there's more, just to add a little more with color fun.

 

 

 In another color, make this teeny tiny 2 round star, leaving a long end for sewing, and stack him on top of the large star.

 

 

Once he's in position, whipstitch him in place, all around the edge so his points won't curl. Weave in all the rest of the loose ends, and it's done!

 

You could starch the star if you want it super stiff, but if like me your stitches are tight, the star will hold his shape without starching. To get a perfect shape, mist it with water and pin it to your ironing board to dry, stretching out the points. 

 

So...without further ado, here's the pattern: 

 

1940s Christmas Star Ornament

Materials:

Knit Picks Curio size 10 100% cotton thread (721yds/100g per ball)

-a small amount of both Bluebell - 26273; and White - 26255

size 7/1.65mm steel crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

tapestry needle

 

Skill Level:

low intermediate

 

Gauge:

Not important - use a hook size small enough to get nice tight stitches with your thread.

 

Abbreviations:

ch=chain

dc=double crochet

hdc=half double crochet

lp(s)=loop(s)

sc=single crochet

sl st=slip stitch

st(s)=stitch(es)

yo=yarn over

 

Finished Size:

2 1/4 in. at widest point

  

Special Stitches:

dc3tog (double crochet three together)=yo, insert hook in same st as ch 2, draw up lp, draw new lp through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in next st, draw up lp, draw new lp through 2 lps on hook) twice, draw new lp through all 4 lps on hook

 

Large Star:

Rnd 1: With your main color, make a slip ring, (ch 7, sl st in ring) 5 times. Pull loose end of slip ring to close tightly. 5 lps

 

Rnd 2: sl st in next 2 chs of first ch 7 lp, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, ch 1) in each ch 7 lp around; join with sl st in first sc. 10 sc, 10 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 3: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 hdc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next dc, hdc in next 2 hdc, ch 1] around; join with sl st in first hdc. 30 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 4: ch 1, (hdc in next 3 hdc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next dc, hdc in next 3 hdc, ch 1] around; join with sl st in first hdc. 40 hdc, 5 dc

Rnd 5: sc in each st around, working (hdc, dc, hdc) in each of the 5 dc; join with sl st in first sc. 45 sc

Rnd 6: sk first st with sl st in it, * sc in next 3 sts, sk next st, in dc work (dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc) sk next st, sc in next 3 sts, sl st in each of next 3 sts; rep from * around; join with last sl st in first sl st. Fasten off.

 

Small Star:

Rnd 1: Make a slip ring, ch 2, (3 dc, ch 1) 5 times in slip ring, join with sl st to first dc. 15 dc, 5 ch sps

Rnd 2: [ch 2, work dc3tog (see Special Stitches), ch 2, sl st in top of dc3tog, ch 2, sl st in same st as last dc of dc3tog, sl st in ch sp, sl st in next dc] around; join with sl st in first ch; fasten off, leaving a long sewing end. 5 points

 

Finishing:

Weave in all ends except long sewing end. With needle threaded on long sewing end, sew small star to center of large star. Block or starch if necessary.

 

I chose blue and white for these ornaments, but you could use endless combinations of red, gold, green, silver, ivory, rose, white...anything that takes your fancy or matches your decor. You could even do random bright colors and use up your odds and ends of thread. You can hang them alone or in coordinating pairs scattered over the tree, or go wild and make a whole bunch and thread them together to make a garland. 

So find your crochet hook, turn up some big band Christmas music, and get in the 1940s Christmas mood!

 

Happy crocheting!

Till next time,

~Kristen - Verity Vintage Studio

 

Look for my new tutorials posted sometime during the first full week of every month. Hairstyles, crafts, repurposing, project journals, do-it-yourself vintage or alterations, etc.

 

 

April Tutorial - Revamped Original 1940s Crochet Hat Pattern

Springtime and Easter means time for new, shady hats! You can often find lovely ones in antique stores and online, and sometimes in thrift stores if you're lucky. But how handy it is to make your own!

 

Some time ago I found this rare, beautiful 1940s crochet hat pattern online and knew I had to make it. At once! The original pattern had only one photo and was somewhat difficult to follow - vintage crochet terms are different and much looser than modern crochet - and I ended up changing it some as well, so I thought I would share my version of the pattern with you. 

(Want the original instead, vague instructions and out-of-production materials notwithstanding? Check it out in this issue of Hey Doll Vintage Magazine.)

 

My first trial was mostly a success. Since I didn't have the millinery wire called for I was typically too impatient to wait until I found some, so I used a long, thin metal dress hanger instead and re-bent it into a circle. It didn't quite work. Too small, so the hat ended up a little ruffled and somewhat lumpy. But still quite wearable. 

 

I trimmed it with these gorgeous vintage millinery strawberries from Mary Not Martha.

 

For my next trial, I found this 12 gauge, easily posable floral wire - floral wire is much easier to find than millinery wire! - to use for the brim. It turned out it really was too posable and bends too easily to be the best choice, so I guess I'll keep looking!

 

My yarn choice was different as well, and the final version turned out much smoother and quite sturdy.

 

 

Not having any photos of the back, I was surprised to find as I worked through the pattern that it had an open crown, which I ended up liking very much. But, at least for my head, the crown the pattern called for was too high and unflattering, so I revamped it a little.  

 

The flexibility of the brim wire may be a disadvantage, but it does allow for easy changes in style!

 

So now for my version of this pattern.

 

Wide-Brim Lacy 1940s Hat

Materials:

Lily's Sugar'n Cream 100% cotton worsted weight yarn - 2 balls Ecru, CA; 2 balls Light Blue, CB

Size H/8/5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

yarn needle

stitch markers (optional)

12 gauge floral or millinery wire

vintage flowers and/or ribbon for trimming (optional)

 

Skill Level:

low intermediate

 

Gauge:

 With 2 strands, 3 rows of sc=1 in. high. (Stitches will be tight and dense.)

 

Finished Size:

16 in. in diameter; somewhat adjustable head size at the crown.

 

Abbreviations:

CA=color A

CB=color B

ch(s)=chain(s)

lp(s)=loop(s)

rep=repeat

rnd(s)=round(s)

sc=single crochet

sk=skip

sl st=slip stitch

st(s)=stitch(es)

 

Pattern Notes:

Solid section rnds are not joined; use stitch markers to keep track of beginning of rnds if necessary.

 

Hat - Crown

Solid Part:

Holding 2 strands of CA together, ch 40 (ch should measure approx. 13 in. long). Join with sl st in first ch to form a ring. Be careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: ch 1, sc in each ch around; do not join. 40 sc

Rnd 2: sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around; do not join. 60 sc

Rnds 3-4: sc in each sc around. At end of last rnd, join with sl st in first sc and fasten off. 

Lace Part:

Rnd 5: holding 2 strands of CB together (or you may use 1 strand in order to match the brim better), join in any st, ch 1, (ch 5, sk 2 sc, sl st in next sc) around; join with sl st in first ch. 20 ch lps

Rnd 6: work 5 sc in each ch lp around; join with sl st in first sc. 100 sc

 

 

Lower Crown and Brim

Solid Part:

Rnd 7: holding 2 strands of CA together, join in the center sc of any 5 sc group, ch 1, (sc in center sc of 5 sc group, ch 3) around; join with sl st in first sc. 20 ch lps

Rnd 8: ch 1, (sc in sc, work 3 sc in ch lp) around; do not join. 80 sc 

Rnds 9-10: sc in each sc around; do not join.

Rnd 11: (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) around, add 2 more sc in same st as last sc; do not join. 109 sc

Rnds 12-13: sc in each sc around. Join last rnd with sl st in first sc. Fasten off. 

It's starting to look like a hat now!

You could actually stop here and wear it as a small 1950s hat on the back of the head.

 

Lace Part:

Rnd 14: with 1 strand of CB, join in any sc; (ch 1, sc) in same st, ch 5, sk next 2 sc, (sc in next sc, ch 5, sk next 2 sc) around; join with sl st in first sc. 36 ch lps

Rnd 15: sl st into next ch lp, ch 1, work 5 sc in each lp around; join with sl st in first sc. 180 sc

Rnd 16: sl st into next 2 chs, (ch 1, sc) in same st, ch 5, (sc in center sc of 5 sc group, ch 5) around; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 17: rep Rnd 15.

Rnd 18: rep Rnd 16. 

Rnds 19-20: rep Rnds 17-18. Fasten off at end of last rnd. 

Rnd 21: join 1 strand of CA in center sc of any 5 sc group, (ch 1, sc) in same st, (ch 3, sc in center of next 5 sc group, ch 4, sc in center of next 5 sc group) around; instead of last sc, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 22: rep Rnd 15.

Bend wire into a loop, wrapping the 2 ends securely together for a few inches to make a circle. Hold wire against Rnd 22.

Rnd 23: Working over wire, sc in each sc around; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnds 24-25: sc over Rnd 23 and wire again (the 3 rnds of sc will effectively conceal the wire). Join last rnd with sl st in first sc and fasten off. 

 

Finishing:

Cut a length of CA, weave through sc of Rnd 9, tighten slightly and tie ends on the wrong side of hat to define brim. This may be adjusted to help fit head size. Weave in all ends on the underside, mist with water and shape hat; let it dry on a hat form or inverted bowl.

Trim as desired with vintage flowers and ribbon. (The original photo seems to show it with a ribbon around the crown and tied in the back with the ends dangling down to the shoulder blades.)

(I happened to have a yard of 4 in. taffeta ribbon that matched the blue yarn exactly!)

 

That's it! All finished. Now you can style it any way you like. 

With the bow in the back, bend the front down for a more dramatic picture hat style...

 

...or leave it with a plain round brim for the cartwheel look on the back of the head especially worn by teens and young women during the summer months in the 1940s and '50s, as shown in the original pattern photo...

 

 

...or tug it a bit to make it more of an oval shape, bending it slightly and wearing it tilted with the bow on the side front, for more of a late 1930s look. Lots of possibilities!

 

The last round is tedious, awkwardly working over the wire, but I think it's worth it. Fun to make and wear for spring! And the best part is you can make as many as you want in any color needed in your summer hat wardrobe. 

Till next month!

Kristen - Verity Vintage Studio

 

 

Look for a new tutorial posted during the first full week of every month...How-tos for hairstyles, crafts, vintage, repurposing, etc.