I bought one last week for the knitting pattern - guaranteed to be correct. I have the free gifts in my granny’s button box, needle threader, stitch counter and cable pin!
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The People's Friend magazine is 150 years old.
When it was first published in Dundee on 13th January 1869, it vowed it would contain nothing with 'slightest tendency to corrupt the morals of either young or old'
A firm favourite in our family, read by both my grandmothers, great-aunts, aunts and my mum.
My grandfather who was an amateur Artist often admired the scenery on the front covers.
My paternal grandmother always gave me The Peoples Friend fire side book every year for Christmas.
Re the knitting pattern checker lady. I took to her at once. She looked so like a person in a soap that I watch that I felt I knew her on sight.
I wonder if in these troubled times the magazines sales will increase (as with lipstick sales ) a comforting 'fireside read' as the magazine itself proclaimed?
For me the People's Friend is a trip down memory lane.
The magazine now seems to be aimed at the over 60s.
Jane with your insider knowledge do think that this will always be so?
I don't buy the People's Friend (I read magazines online) but prior to my Mil suffering dementia, I would sometimes read her copy.
I do not see my daughter every reading the 'Friend' when she 'becomes of age' (60+).
I'm sure both my Grans and Mum all avid knitters would have put the free gifts to good use.
Sadly I am not good at either knitting or sewing so the PF patterns do not entice me (or my daughter).
What I remember as a child was the little cartoon story on the last page and the numerous adverts for corsets and later 'Cross your heart' bras.
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