Viyella Knitting Book No 3
Knitting Patterns Booklet
1925-1930 (published)
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.
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 | |
| Title | Viyella 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 type | Mass 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 created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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