As the weather finally seems to be staying nicer and I creep closer to rotating my closet (yay for seeing pretty spring and summer fashions that have been hidden away for months!), I've been thinking about what cover ups I like to pair with my not-too-cold weather clothes. I have a multitude of boxy cardigans, but lately I've been really wearing a couple of my favorite boleros the most. I love that they're just a bit less bulky and nip in at the waist, which is perfect with dresses. I really need more of them in my life!
So I thought what better time to share a vintage shrug knitting pattern? (Though I think of this as more of a bolero, but that may just be me.)
This one comes from my somewhat tattered copy of a Fleischer's knitting book called Cardigans... Cardigans... Cardigans. Half the cover is missing but I was able to date it from another eBay listing as being published in 1954.
There are a few things I like about this pattern. It's knit in fingering weight (or sock or 4-ply, depending on where you're from) at 8 stitches an inch, so it wouldn't be too bulky for spring or cool summer days to throw on over a blouse or sun dress. It has dolman sleeves which I adore in boleros, and it's knit flat in one piece. Because it's in stockinette, it would be a relatively quick knit. Although due to the shaping, I definitely don't think it would be a mindless knit.
Plus there's a child-sized version, too! Of course if I'd really been thinking ahead, I would have posted this on Mother's Day. ;)
The other thing I think is really fun is the recommendation to finish it with braid or bead trimming. What a great way to use up some vintage trim in your stash! I think it would be lovely with a design done in cording, too. I'm not sure the technical name for this, but I have some sewn on one of my shrugs and it's very smart looking. I'm always inspired to try it myself.
I hope you enjoy this pattern, too!
Download: 1954 Mother and Daughter Shrug (pdf)
Super cute! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis adorable! It makes me want to go buy some yarn and pick up my knitting needles... But then I remember that I don't really have the patience for knitting ;) maybe I need to to practice so I get faster at it?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be fast to enjoy it! Just go at your own pace. Sometimes I knit fast, sometimes really slow. :)
DeleteCardigans, cardigans, cardigans was the first vintage knitting book I ever bought, the day I came home from my first knitting class. I've always wanted to knit this up.
ReplyDeleteI was looking on Etsy for a bolero to pair with a retro-esque maternity dress and saw this. It looks really familiar to the pattern above. Cool! http://www.etsy.com/listing/90867901/vintage-1950s-ivory-bolero-sweater?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=bolero+sweater&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_order=price_asc&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all
ReplyDeleteWow, that is SO similar! Really cute!
Deletevery cute! Now I just wish my waist "nipped in" like the one in the catalogue! LOL!
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ReplyDeleteWow, thanks so much for sharing this Tasha! My favorite cardigan is very similar in shape ~ kind of the rounded edge bolero length, but it's getting a bit shabby so I was thinking that I'd have to try finding a pattern like it! This is close and is definitely cute. I think I have my next project! : )
xox,
bonita of Depict This!
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This is by-the-by, but...my printer is on the fritz. I really wanted the bolero pdf pattern, so I hooked my Kindle up with its usb cord and downloaded. It worked great! The thing will accept pdf files.
ReplyDeleteI got greedy and downloaded a bunch of free knitting and embroidery pattern books from Project Gutenburg.
My Kindle fits right in the old knitting bag. I can enlarge the text size, the better to see the intructions. This is probably old news to you, but I am feeling cuttin' edge tonight!
Wow this bolero is super cute!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really great pattern. Thanks. I'll have to try this out and see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, just this past Sunday I started crocheting a summer-weight cape, and have a backlog of bolero and shrug patterns that I am dying to get to! I can't get enough-especially since I can't seem to find any that I like either in the thrift stores here or the regular shops!
ReplyDeleteOoohh I love it! I've always wanted to knit matching sweaters for me and my little one...
ReplyDeleteI adore shrugs and cropped cardis (they tend to work really well on my short figure, as standard sized cardis are sometimes cut a bit long and end up hitting me too low on the hip), and wear them very often. If I was a knitter, I'd want to whip up one of these lovely shrugs for myself right away (no mini mes to dress yet either, but perhaps a super tiny, modified version could be made for the kitty? ;D).
ReplyDeleteWishing you a stellar weekend, dear gal!
♥ Jessica
This gave me an idea to revamp something in my closet when I get back from Spain.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Thank you for sharing this! I honestly have not really given shrugs much thought, even though I think they can be terribly practical and useful in the retro wardrobe (or just in general, actually). I think because I worked in retail around the time shrugs were big in the early '00s, and there were some truly awful versions of the shrug out there! lol. Scarred me for life. ;) haha. But I really love this pattern because it's a bit longer than some shrugs I've seen, and I love the sleeves. Downloaded to save for future knitting!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! Thank you for sharing so many great patterns!
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