Thought this might amuse some of you!

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watermeadow

I wonder how babies and children coped with woollen knitted clothes if they were allergic to wool or had eczema? When my second baby was born, in July, the nurses put a woolly vest on her. She reacted with a scarlet itchy rash.

I dare say there were patterns for cotton garments. In a novel set (and I think written) decades ago, 40s or 50s, there’s a mention of an adult cotton vest, derided by the main characters autocratic employer as useless for keeping oneself warm.
‘There is no warmth in cotton! One would hardly EXPECT to find warmth in cotton!’
The novel is Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym, in case anyone would like to know. A period piece now, but very funny!

I wonder how babies and children coped with woollen knitted clothes if they were allergic to wool or had eczema? When my second baby was born, in July, the nurses put a woolly vest on her. She reacted with a scarlet itchy rash.

When I went to grammar school my mother made all of my uniform. Navy cardigan with yellow hoops round the cuffs, navy tunic, square necked blouses, black gym knickers with name across my tummy, green science overall.
There were no patterns, just sketches, so nothing of mine was exactly like the bought version.

All I recall is the shirred swimsuit was a huge lot better than the woolly one.
Then when we had swim lessons those plain black ones with leg bits for decency's sake. And progress badges to sew on.

Elegran, I’ve seen a woman sitting on a beach in Cyprus knitting a sock on 4 needles! It was in mid October, but still hot. At the time I was frantically knitting a massive Advent Calendar for the Gdcs for Christmas, but it never occurred to me to do any on the beach. I confined my knitting to Dbro’s balcony, where he kept me supplied with coffee, G&Ts, etc.

Oreo

Haha Elegran you must have been so embarrassed 🙈

It wasn't me, thank goodness.

Any of you ever wear knitted cotton ankle socks which slipped under your heel and you had to keep yanking up! Yuk!

I had a shirred swimsuit. Very fashionable in the 1950s. I was about 8 or 9.

We had a rather special child minder who made clothes for my DSis and me.
She could run up dresses and shorts on the sewing machine so fast. She would even make matching outfits for our dolls.

Haha Elegran you must have been so embarrassed 🙈

I've heard of Shetland women knitting as they went about their lives doing all the usual chores, but never someone knitting as they were paddling in Bournemouth. Don't drop the ball of wool!

I had a knitted sunsuit/romper garment when I was very small. I remember it being a bit warm for sunny days.

Do you remember shirred cotton swimsuits? They stretched to fit you as you grew. Someone I knew (in her mid-teens) made herself a lovely two-piece shirred swimsuit and felt very glamorous at the swimming pool. Then she went down the slide feet first into the water and emerged with the bikini top up at neck level. Her unfeeling brother said he was not surprised it didn't stay in place, as she didn't need a top, a couple of pennies with a dab of glue would do.

Oreo

I had to read that twice Allira 😄 I thought even paddling was knitted back then.

Oh dear, must read and edit before posting.

We def need pics of all the knitted swimsuits, maybe they were only intended for kids playing or paddling but not the full immersion thing.

I had to read that twice Allira 😄 I thought even paddling was knitted back then.

Grammaretto

I think the knitted garment was known as a sunsuit, not a swim suit 😃

The Dutch cap pattern got a laugh at yarn group today at least among the older of us.
Shows my age.

Definitely a swimsuit.

I have a photo of me wearing one my mother knitted paddling at Bournemouth.
I shall not post it on here 😂

I think the knitted garment was known as a sunsuit, not a swim suit 😃

The Dutch cap pattern got a laugh at yarn group today at least among the older of us.
Shows my age.

Samsara1

Oh yes I remember my knitted swimming costume- horrible green thing. I wonder if that's why I never learnt to swim and hate having to wear a swimming costume on holiday.

Ooh did it stretch to your knees whenever it got wet 😂

😂
That gave me a laugh

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You can not only knit a vest and pantie set in wool as soft as thistledown but a Dutch cap....
Not sure how effective that would be?

It was for your head, not elsewhere! 😁
I had several knitted bonnets like the children's version!

I have some old patterns similar to these. I also have some more modern ones - not for underwear, though -from the 70s and 80s, often in gaudy colours and very flamboyant.

My mother wrote in her memoirs that she and all the other girls from her office were evacuated in the war and there was.not much to do out in the sticks where they were so they practically bought out all the patterns,yarn, crochet books and knitting needles at the local haberdashery shops and passed the time crocheting and knitting. I suspect the patterns I have date from that era - lacy gloves, bonnets, cheval sets and tablecloths, and even a pair of sandals.

There was a lady on YouTube who made videos of herself interpreting old patterns - some even from the 19th. Century. She was American and the older patterns used the British names for the stitches which she understood well, although many Americans don't. Like recipes of bygone years, the patterns were often vague or unclear and usually without illustrations. In fact she made it more challenging by getting her son to copy them and remove any pictures or headings before she saw them I think she had health problems and hasn't posted for a while but I enjoyed following her thinking and she almost always managed to produce a recognisable piece of work.

Here is one of her videos for anyone who crochet and loves old patterns.

youtu.be/HVLwOft9omM?si=ZR4CRUnLrNkmh-t_

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Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🤣

I've also found an illustrated knitting book from the 1940s. You can not only knit a vest and pantie set in wool as soft as thistledown but a Dutch cap....
Not sure how effective that would be?

Bathing costumes too.

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🤣

I'd make some for myself but can't see the top of the pattern, Primrose 😁

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🤣

My husband tells me that he and his brothers had very fetching knitted pants and trunks, which beloved Aunty Betty made for them. (early 60s).
They were made to measure and fitted beautifully on dry land. Not so much after swimming 🤣

Primrose53

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🤣

I remember a granny when I was maybe 15 or 16, on seeing my skimpy little teeny knickers that had just come off the washing line and exclaiming, ‘Where’s the warmth in those??’ 😂

Just dug out an old knitting encyclopaedia and found this pattern for knickers! Go on, you know you want some! 🤣