the pictorial guide
Jane recently posted a second hand book find that thrilled me: the Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Knitting . I’ve never even seen this book in real life, I didn’t even know of it’s existence. Now, though, I must have a copy of my very own. You see I have it’s sister book:
I’ve had this book since I was in primary school, maybe since I was about 9 years old. I’ve read every word over and over, and pored intently overy every picture. This book taught me embroidery stitches, rudimentary pattern drafting, suggested that I could alter clothes, and even design my own knitting. I love it’s creative, and as Jane highlights, stylish side. So here is a little pictorial peek inside (click thumbnails to enlarge).
Every single thing about this book comforts me, perhaps the smell most of all. It’s been in my parent’s house for the last few years with out me, but I looked it out, and the smell of it sitting next to me as I type is oddly comforting.
Speaking of comforting, here is a pictorial guide to my own knitting.
I’m planning on doing pictorial guides to the spiralling stripe technique, and the tubular cast on method I used for stripy, tomorrow. It’s too dark now, and my heads to fuzzed up with the first day back at uni. The spiralling stripes is a different technique from the jogless join, which works great with wider stripes, but isn’t so jogless for anything involving 2 rows or less.
Posted: September 19th, 2006 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 13
Comments
Comment from Leah
Time: September 19, 2006, 8:29 pm
Those books look very cool. I adore old craft books. It’s lovely to hear the way you describe it’s importance to you.
Stripy is so cool! I’m looking forward to the pictorial guide! :)
Comment from Mary-Lou
Time: September 19, 2006, 10:57 pm
You may be interested to know that there are at least 6 slightly differing books from this publisher which came out over a period of about 20 years or so - I think that I have most of the knitting ones, and if you drop me a line, I will be happy to let you know their titles. I found most of my copies on eBay (usually under a fiver apiece) - they’re reasonably common, and I suspect that there were an awful lot of copies in circulation. I also have the sewing one that you have, and another one on home mending
Comment from Jenna
Time: September 20, 2006, 12:49 am
I LOVE the way stripy is turning out - it’s going to look impeccable once finished and modeled, I’m sure. I’ll be first in line to buy the pattern!
Comment from Julia
Time: September 20, 2006, 7:53 am
I can’t wait for the stripes tutorial! I’ve just finished a two-row striped baby hat, and I’m less than impressed with the “jogless jog”. It doesn’t look so jogless to me! Your raglan sweater is looking great, by the way.
Comment from ayla
Time: September 20, 2006, 9:33 am
I saw the knitting version of the book at the annual christian aid book sale which is held at the church at the end of george street. they were asking ?10 so I didn’t capitulate, but it’s out there.
Comment from purlpower
Time: September 20, 2006, 2:13 pm
Yes please to the pictorial guide to spiraling stripes!
Comment from Jane in Camden
Time: September 20, 2006, 3:04 pm
I didn’t realise there was a sewing book! I shall have to hit Ebay now. I love my Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Knitting to the point where I replaced it having gotten rid of it in a much regretted decluttering exercise.
~x~
Comment from Juno
Time: September 20, 2006, 3:21 pm
I love the endpaper with my whole heart.
Comment from Hannah
Time: September 21, 2006, 9:02 pm
I have one of the other knitting books in the series. It is very exciting and has lots of nice pictures and patterns for underwear as well as excellent jumpers. You are welcome to borrow it if you would like to. I could post it to you.
Comment from Jane
Time: September 24, 2006, 10:24 am
Oh wow! What a great endpaper. I had no idea my book was part of a series, either. I just found it for a very cheap price on eBay. This is a lovely post - I really enjoyed reading it.
Comment from fluttercrafts
Time: September 25, 2006, 4:47 am
That green striped sweater is lovely, nice work and your photography is wonderful
Comment from stevo
Time: September 30, 2006, 4:47 pm
I too have several books from this excellent series:
Knitting Illustrated
Practical Knitting Illustrated
Practical Family Knitting Illustrated
Complete Home Knitting Illustrated
and of course
The Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Knitting
I do hope there are others. They’re really great books and were published by Odhams in the late 1940s, but only some have printing dates (PFKI 1947, KI 1948) . They have some great patterns, including this: http://www.siblingmedia.com/slog/siblog/item173.html#a173
Comment from julie parsons
Time: October 4, 2006, 5:06 pm
We have just bought an old house, whilst clearing we found this book ahd also one other on dress making! We just wondered if they have any real value or are they ready for the skip?
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