And while browsing through one stack of pattern booklets I suddenly stopped abruptly and sucked in my breath as I saw this one.
Published in 1943 and containing numerous baby items both knitted and crocheted, this book was a part of my childhood. I can remember my mom making numerous sweaters, bonnets, soakers, booties for new moms in our community or at my daddy's work. And how was I sure it was the same book?
Well, you see she taught me how to crochet when I was 4 or 5. I could do the chain stitch (miles of it, I think) and then learned how to make crochet in the round. I wasn't very good at remembering to increase so I ended up with a lot of 50's colored cups..which worked well for my dollies' lunches and such. But blessed with an amazing imagination, I pretended sometimes that I was crocheting the sweater on the cover for my imaginary daughter.
Now, back in now-time, I still wondered if this truly was the book or was my memory playing tricks on me. There was a way to find out. Inside the book, I remembered a picture of two children, which in my young imaginary world were my older children Tommy and Candy. So I turned the pages and there they were in all their curly glory!
Needless to say, it came home with me. A bit ragged from wear (I can certainly relate!) and needing gentle treatment it's now an important part of my space. Cost of booklet ... Two dollars. Seeing it again...Priceless
5 comments:
Susan, I have a book like that too - I think it's an old Coates & Clark? It has a smiling fat baby in a mint green bonnet on the cover and a pattern for a woolen sweater-and-footed-pants set I wore as a baby and then dressed my daughter in, made by the loving hands of my own Nana, who taught me to knit. Thank you for reminding me.
Kristin, oh cool! Glad I'm not the only one that really loves stuff like this. And how nifty that you were able to have that outfit to pass along to your daughter. I love things like that. Everytime I see this little book, I grin. Good thing there aren't spy cameras in my house :)
What a wonderful, tangible, memory!
Devorah, yes it is. It's rather weird..almost like a recognition of a memory that had been stored in an out of the way filing cabinet. It's nice to have it back
Whew! Now I'm caught up! Love your intarsia, it already looks great. The stash is fun, and congradulations on getting SWAK nearer to you. The ladies there are very nice. I have Ann's Mom's address written down and will get a card in the mail today or tomorrow. Isn't it wonderful finding books from your childhood? I have a set of World Book Encyclopedias from the 60's I found in the thrift store. My parents have our 'original' set, I have mine just because I love them. :) Those penny circles are VERY round. I couldn't make mine as round, seriously. Sobriety tests scare me, who can walk a straight line, never mind draw one?
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