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Viyella Knitting Book No 3

Knitting Patterns Booklet
1925-1930 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

As a general principle, woollen garments were warm, as Gustav Jaeger and his followers so passionately argued in the 1880s and 90s. If a child in a poorer family needed a warm garment, the knitted jumper and cardigan were a godsend to any parent who could use knitting needles and either afford new yarn or unravel an old garment to re-use; patterns were published free in popular periodicals, and copiable if a neighbour had one.

School photographs of groups of children from Board schools provide some of the best evidence of the increased use of knitting in clothing children: before the 1890s, many of the children are wearing garments, particularly jackets, which are too large or too small, and doubtless in some cases so worn out that they provided little warmth. By the 1910s, many of the children, and certainly the majority of the boys, are wearing knitted garments instead. Knitted clothing also had the advantage of a certain amount of elasticity to accommodate a child's growth, and was thrifty. If need be a jumper could be unravelled and knitted up again in a larger size, with a contrasting welt and cuffs of some other yarn, or in stripes using up several old garments.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleViyella Knitting Book No 3 (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Printed paper
Brief description
'Viyella Knitting Book No 3' instructions for a total of 71 garments; published in the UK by William Hollins & Co Ltd, 1925-30
Physical description
Garments to make:
1. Embroidered romper suit
2. High-necked romper suit
3. Child's jumper, leggings and cap
4. Little girl's "Buster Brown" (sic) suit (Jersey, leggings and cap)
5. Toddler's suit
6. Little boy's tunic and knickers
7. Little boy's suit
8. Boy's sweater and knickers
9. Child's dress and knickers
10. Child's dress and undergarment
11. Toddler's frock and knickers
12. Little girl's frock
13. Little girl's frock
14. Girl's frock
15. Girl's frock
16. Girl's jumper suit
17. Girl's Fair-Isle jumper
18. Child's Fair-Isle jumper
19. Girl's jumper
20. Girl's school jumper
21. Schoolgirl's jumper
22. Child's cardigan and beret
23. Girls cardigan
24. Girl's sleeveless cardigan
25. Child's coat and cap
26. Child's coat, cap and leggings
27. Boy's pullover
28. Boy's Fair-Isle jersey
29. Boy's polo-necked jumper
30. Boy's pullover
31. Toddler's pullover
32. Boy's school pullover
33. Small boy's cardigan
34. Boy's cardigan
35. Child's square-necked vest
36. Child's round-necked vest
37. Girl's ribbed vest
38. Boy's vest
39. Child's combinations
40. Child's lacy socks
41. Child's socks
42. Boy's knee-length socks
43. Girl's gym stockings
44. Schoolgirl's knickers
45. Little girl's cami-knickers
46. Child's dressing-gown
47. Little girl's bathing suit
48. Child's bathing suit
49-71. Adult garment
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by L Booth
Object history
Gift of L Booth (RF:92/1774)
Production
Attribution note: Original price 6d (2.5p)
Summary
As a general principle, woollen garments were warm, as Gustav Jaeger and his followers so passionately argued in the 1880s and 90s. If a child in a poorer family needed a warm garment, the knitted jumper and cardigan were a godsend to any parent who could use knitting needles and either afford new yarn or unravel an old garment to re-use; patterns were published free in popular periodicals, and copiable if a neighbour had one.

School photographs of groups of children from Board schools provide some of the best evidence of the increased use of knitting in clothing children: before the 1890s, many of the children are wearing garments, particularly jackets, which are too large or too small, and doubtless in some cases so worn out that they provided little warmth. By the 1910s, many of the children, and certainly the majority of the boys, are wearing knitted garments instead. Knitted clothing also had the advantage of a certain amount of elasticity to accommodate a child's growth, and was thrifty. If need be a jumper could be unravelled and knitted up again in a larger size, with a contrasting welt and cuffs of some other yarn, or in stripes using up several old garments.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.1041-1992

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
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