She was a depression era bride, then a dirt rich, money poor wartime farmer's wife and mother. Out of necessity she was extremely frugal in her housekeeping and habits, something she carried throughout her life until her passing shortly before her 88th birthday.
Among her things was one old 60s-style floral knitting bag. The kind that tied closed with ribbon tapes and had a tape measure sewn under the closing flap.
That knitting bag contained a well loved and cared for set of faux tortoise shell knitting needles in old UK sizing (pre-metric chic). Both short and long in the most common sizes of the time 7-8-9-10-11-12 (in new money that's 4.5mm-4mm -3.75mm - 3.25mm -3mm and 2.75mm). There were also various double pointed sets for finishing neckbands or knitting socks, all kept together either in their original packaging or with rubber bands.
Sadly there were no pattern books among her things, then again I never remember her actually using a pattern when she knitted. I asked Mum about it once and she said she didn't think she ever did. She did remember an old Patons booklet with lots of patterns for everyone in the family or the occasional pattern from a magazine or newspaper (back when newspapers still published patterns and recipes) but had no idea where it went or recall her ever actually consulting any of them as she cast on.
We remembered her knitting jumpers and jerkins for everyone. Warm and practical, they always had extra wide rib bands to prevent them riding up and giving you a "chill in your kidneys". We both remembered her teaching us to knit and do the basic crochet stitches to make a button loop or close a seam.
I do still have the pattern books that she brought me when I learned to knit and some older ones from Mum, which may have been given to her by her mother. But sadly none that I know actually belonged to Nan. Perhaps they wore out with use and because she knew the patterns by heart, and being the frugal lady she was, had no need to replace them.
When I was older and could be trusted not to lose or break them, she let me use her lovely needles. I have some of them now and use them often. They are smooth, flexible and warm to the touch, evoking memories of sitting in comfortable silence on the brown fabric lounge suite in the "front room" with its carefully attended 50s floral wool carpet and oil heater that pretended to be a fireplace, both of us knitting and watching evening television while Pop quietly read his newspaper.
What we were knitting, I don't remember. There were so many things, on my part anyways. I would of had the choice of several half finished projects (I still do this now), but Nan would carefully choose her yarn, calculated down to the last ounce required for her project perfectly, cast on and knit to the end before starting another. It would have been something practical for Pop or a school jumper for one of her grandchildren, I don't recall her ever knitting for herself.
You can find some of the things I have knitted using my Nanna's needles in my Handknit Shop.
Unlike my Nan, I am off to cast on what I hope will become my first published 1940s inspired woman's jumper pattern but I'm making this one all for me!
Have a great weekend everyone,
Meg
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