Fireside Reading from the 1930s and 40s

Don't you just love these magazines from the 1930s and 1940s. I love looking back and wondering who ordered these copies and what their life was like back then. The Jan 1936 edition of Good Needlework & Knitting has the name "Miss Williams" pencilled on the front cover. Did Miss Williams order this monthly, and was she a young Miss Williams preparing for her up and coming nuptials, or an old Miss Williams, a school ma'am or Governess who had lost her beloved in the First World War? So many questions that the magazine can't answer. This particular edition has some lovely crafting things to do. The jumper modelled wonderfully with a belt would look well today with a tweed skirt, a very retro look and the embroidered satin nightdress case and hot water bottle cover remind me of the same things that my nan used to have.

I also love knowing what happened in the year these magazines were published. In January 1936 King George V died and left a kingdom in crisis. During this year the scandal involving Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson unfolded, with his eventual abdication in December 1936. I bet Miss Williams was looking forward to the new monarchy as she sat down to read her new copy of Good Needlework without thinking of the scandal which was to follow.

By the 1940s women had another war to worry about and this Woman's Weekly, published on 12 January 1946 , still has the hallmarks of rationing, even though the war had been over for 6 months or so. I note that the Fair Isle fashion, first worn by Edward VIII when he was Prince of Wales, is still going strong. It was popular because wool was difficult to come by, with so many factories given over to producing armaments and imports severely limited to essentials, so unpicking old woollens and using the wool again was the rage. Interestingly I had the original pattern for the matching cardigan. It was produced by Bestway originally. Lucky because the cardigan pattern was published in the next issue, which I don't have!

Moving on to 1952 and this time to Stitchcraft magazine published in Nov 1952. Paper rationing was lifted during this year but this particular edition is still smaller than usual.  Thumbing through this copy, my attention was caught by this very handsome and debonair young gentleman modelling a turtle-neck jumper.  I remember thinking it would be worth knitting it for my husband if it would make him look that good! Closer inspection reveals a very young Roger Moore, legendary Bond actor (and The Saint & The Persuaders). Roger started his career with modelling for knitting pattern publishers, mostly P&B (Patons & Baldwin) and was so popular that it is alleged his friend, Michael Caine called him "The Big Knit". I have had other knitting patterns featuring Roger, and very dapper he looks in all of them!

All of these publications are available on my Etsy shop SJB Hand Vintage Knits, so please have a look https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SJBHandVintageKnits
I'll also be popping up at Vintage Fairs across the Isle of Wight, more details can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SjbVintageKnits?ref=hl