cosymakes

today’s fare

i bought that top one because it reminded me of a 1980s music video and i wanted to either talk about it on the blog or give it away on the blog. here’s the back

Patons Beehive: The Bumper Beehive Book (c) 1982. the inside is no less funny than the outside.

this one is out of Stylish Knitting: the top international knitting magazine. (c) november 1986. lots of good 1980s intarsia in this one.

from Spinnovations 15: Idea Book… sweaterdressing, the shape of fall. (c) 1978. i love this sweater and there are several other very nice retro chic knits on fine-ish yarn in this one.

WARNING! before you enter to win these, know that there are at least two side ponytails contained here within. now, enter at your own risk.

up for grabs today are these two lovely good housekeeping needlecraft magazines. spring/summer 1973 and fall/winter 1973-74.

the winter one in particular has some very nice classic looking 1970′s sweaters. there were at least two i though i might knit. however, i chose to photograph this page :)

and the summer issue – ah the poor summer issues. not much wool happening there, but some nice mohair. several classicly cut cardigans and this bolero ?!? (i had no idea they had such history!)

i love the loops of yarn that make it look a bit furry. comment if you’d like a chance to win!

today’s picks for the blogiversary are from the late 1960′s/early 70′s if i had a guess. two are labeled.

cable knits for men and women, published by bear brand and fleisher yarns. vol. 78, $1.00. note that the older edging books in the last post were originally 15 cents. book no. 120: Bernat Cables and Raglans for the family… sweaters and coats (revised edition). originally $1.00. i like both of these, but especially the first. mohair + cables? great.

Bernat Men, $1.25, Book No. 169 (c)1970 and from the february 1964 issue of Woman’s Day – our brilliant, international (hear the drum roll?) Sweater Collection 1964. The Woman’s Day one is probably my fave of the set. it has a really fabulous polka dot intarsia number in it, as well as several very nice colorwork sweaters. also, my personal weakness, embroidery throughout textured knitting.

comment if you’d like a chance to win!

you all flatter me! (*blush*) thank you for your many kind comments on the blogiversary. now, today’s contest.

up for offer today are some of my older patterns.
the three mary maxim graph-style patterns (c) 1955-59, seen here

the one with the car intarsia on it has part of the chart scribbled over, but should be decipherable should you choose to try it. also, there’s a men’s version of the fleur-de-lis one that you cannot see because of overlap.

along with these, a bunch of older books on edgings – including crochet, knitted, and tatted

here’s a nice sample of some edging on a store bought table cloth that my grandmother did. she’s in her mid to late 80′s now, so that may give you some time table. i don’t know what year she did this one and, of course, i see no dates on any of these. i feel that the small ones may be more recent. to me, edgings make me think of 1950s and before, thus the fact that they are placed in this category. although, i suppose we could apply the edgings in these books to the edges of shawls now. i love finding knit and crocheted edgings on pillowcases at thrift stores.

my favorite item in these books? tatted collar to spruce up your shirt, anyone?
comment if you’d like the chance to win! and adding to the earlier rules, you can enter as many of the five days as you like – but you can only win one. i believe in spreading around the love.

it appears that things happen here in january. i started flickr two januaries ago and last january i started this blog. saturday, six years ago, i got married. i also distinctly remember my biggest hair changes (cutting and dyeing) usually came in january while i was in undergraduate…

some statistics:
68,853 views on this blog
283 posts
1,142 comments

so this january, although not an overly sentimental person, i would like to thank you all for visiting and commenting, and keeping me company this year. in thanks i would like to wrap up this series of ponderings on patterns by offering some patterns that you all may enter to win.

here’s how this is going to work:
each day i’ll post a different package of booklets or magazines. you can sign up to be entered in the drawing to win that particular package by commenting on that blog entry. ends at midnight next sunday and i’ll draw winners and announce them early next week.

raising a sock to you all

cheers! and to another year of wool!
cosy