The Vine: June 22, 2007
Dear Sars,
I have a book question. I’m trying to track down a copy of a knitting book that my mom had when I was a kid. I believe it was from the late ’50s or early ’60s, and it was a how-to book aimed at teenage girls that (I’m pretty sure) taught knitting and (I think) crochet basics. Of course I don’t remember the title, but I do vividly remember a cover featuring a perky blonde Gidget-type in pigtails, with a surprised look on her face, holding up a pair of needles with the beginnings of a project on them. I recall less vividly an inside illustration of a couple of teeny-boppers in pedal pushers hanging out in their bedroom knitting and possibly chatting on the phone.
Any help you or your readers could give in pointing me toward this book would be appreciated an awful lot.
A Nostalgic Knitwit
Dear Knit,
My first suggestion is to try a few random searches on eBay and see what comes up; my second suggestion is to see if the Bust site is searchable, because I know they have a ton of knitting features.
You also might try looking for knitting blogs or newsgroups (do they still have those?), but in the meantime, let’s see what my crafty readers can suggest.
Readers? If anyone knows the book and can link to an illustration, that would be rad. Otherwise, the usual spitballing in the comments is encouraged.
Tags: Ask The Readers rando
Check out the website CrazyAuntPurl. She’s got a blog that has a HUGE network of knitters, new and old, that might be able to help with this book. Good luck!!
Try Threadbared. They’ve seen more vintage knitting books than you can shake a stick at. Plus they’re hilarious.
My first thought would be Bust as well (their forum is http://www.bust.com/snbforum/). You can also try knitty.com and its forum, http://www.knittyboard.com/
Try this website. It has a lot of great pictures of book covers from around that date. Maybe something will jog your memory.
http://www.vintagecat.com/5crochet.htm
I would also recomend asking on craftster.org as well
Also try asking at the Crochetville forums — http://www.crochetville.org/forum/ . I bet there’s someone over there who’s heard of it.
If you’re already a knitter, you may know about these resources, but the Knitty and Knitter’s Review forums both have book threads:
http://www.knittyboard.com/viewforum.php?f=10
http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=81
Ask the Knitlist, a massive mailing list that has plenty of older knitters: http://www.knitlist.com. Places that skew young, like the knitting group over at Livejournal, probably wouldn’t help that much but I suppose it doesn’t hurt to ask — and not everyone there is 19. knitting.livejournal.com
I collect knitting books and frequent thrift shops to look for old books but I can’t help out on this one, it doesn’t ring any bells.
It might be “Betty Cornell’s Teen-Age Knitting Book.” Couldn’t find a cover image, but there are some pictures at http://www.wiseneedle.com/string-or-nothing/CommentView,guid,0899bbfc-b966-36f5-7459-0007e96ddfa0.aspx
You might also try looking in “No Idle Hands” by Anne Macdonald. It’s a social history of knitting that has quite a bit about knitting books from various eras.
Stitchy McYarnpants might be able to help…
http://www.stitchymcyarnpants.com/knit06/
Maybe try these knitting message boards:
http://www.knittyboard.com
http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/
http://www.craftster.org (actually covers all crafts, but there is a large knitting section)
It sounds like: “Learn to Knit” book #234 by Clarks (Ont) J&P Coats Price 10 Cents. Problem is it features a perky young woman with brunette hair in a headband and a red cardigan sweater with a Peter Pan collar. She is holding a pair of needles with blue knitting next to a basket of Red Heart yarn.
My yarn shop has some old knitting books, and people are always bringing us more (often pattern books from deceased family members because they know we will treasure them and give them a good home). I don’t think we have this one. I haven’t seen one with a blonde in pigtails, but I would suggest searching the Coates & Clark archives because it sounds like one of their publications. They still produce Red Heart Yarns (ick!).
Julia, aka the Sock Goddess
yarnivoresa.com
If none of the above books was the one, you could post in the comments of the yarn harlot’s blog. She has hundreds of readers.
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
I think it was published by Bear Brands. I think I have it someplace at home amongst my old comic books and other kiddie lit, but I haven’t seen it for years. If I can dig it up, I’ll scan it and post links here.