Hello dearies! I hope you had a splendid weekend! I certainly did. The incipient stages of Autumn are beginning to show themselves, as they should, since the first day of Autumn is but days away. Though my hands are busy year round with needlework, it is the cooler months of the year that most people associate with such handwork. So for this month’s Magazine Monday, I thought it fitting to share one of my favorite 1920s handicraft magazines: Woman’s World Book of New Designs in Needlework, 1921.
If you can’t already tell by the front cover, one of the main reasons this magazine is such a delight, is on account of the positively scrumptious illustrations. I’ve pulled my very favorite illustrations and articles to share with you all today. Let’s take a look shall we?
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Crocheted flowers are nothing new, but I think these particular designs, especially the Corsage bouquet are quite cunning. Methinks I shall try my hand at one of these patterns before the Winter is out. Which would you create?
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And since I’ve shared some embroidery pages down below, I thought it only fitting to share how to do some of those fancy stitches. One of my favorite things to do is read original instructions from the time period of which I am attempting to create a garment. I feel as if what I am making is more authentic if I follow the instructions available at the time, as opposed to modern instructions. Though there are times where modern tutorials and such are more helpful, you simply cannot beat the quality of vintage illustrations.
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I recently picked up some 1920s patterns that I may just try my hand at someday. Don’t you think one of these collars would be the perfect finishing touch to a solid blue crepe dress of the era? The “Near Irish” Edge with Diamond and Scallop looks particularly appealing.
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This is the page that made me fall in love with the magazine when I first opened it’s tattered cover. At the time I couldn’t knit a single stitch, but now that I do know how to knit these delightful patterns, they simply wouldn’t fit with my style! C’est la vie!
Can you see why I love 1920s illustrations so much? Some of these projects (the luncheon sets in particular) look so delightful, but there simply isn’t enough time in the day to do everything, is there? Someday when I have some extra time on my hands, I will try my hand at making some embroidered table linens. I will!
Well, it wouldn’t be a Magazine Monday without a link-up would it? I’ve attached the usual link widget below, so if you have a Magazine to share in the next few weeks, do link it up as I would love to see it!
Do you like 1920s illustrations?
Have you ever embroidered a set of table linens?
Which project from these pages interest you the most?
Blessings,
Brigid, the Middle Sister and Singer
P.S. All of the winners of our 7th Blogiversary Giveaways are displayed on the Giveaway widgets on the original post. So if you want to find out who won, head on over there and take a look!
Emalee says
09/21/2015 at 6:54 PMI completely agree, vintage magazine and books are so much fun to peruse because the illustrations from back then were so charming! I love the elephants on the last page! And the crocheted flowers look like a fun little project to try, perfect way to use up scraps!
Jenn Bontrager says
09/21/2015 at 10:51 PMWhat a beautiful magazine! You might be interested in Amy Barickman’s book Vintage Notions. It reminds me of this magazine.
Brigid says
09/23/2015 at 1:46 PMHello Jenn,
I actually own a copy of Vintage Notions! It is actually the book that made me fall in love with the illustrations of the 1920s. 😀
Hana - Marmota says
09/22/2015 at 6:38 AMI went wow at the cover even before I scrolled down, just on account of the illustrations – you are absolutely correct!
I’ve never embroidered a set of linens, because a) they don’t see much use in this house, b) the embroiderer in this family is my sister. She has already embroidered a tablecloth, and some smaller linens. Aaaand several of those photorealistic cross-stitch pictures.
I love those handbags; I love the realisation that they’re still much like the reticules of Regency and still just as easily made! And the collars – mostly because looking at them, I realise it’s exactly the kind of thing that would have been made of bobbin lace in this country (although crochet was also popular, of course) – it’s got a bit of a tradition here in the Czech lands, my grandma does it, and I would like to do more of it. Pity that the 1920s are exactly the era that goes right “against the grain” of my figure in every aspect! I could utilise a robe de style from the era, but I couldn’t wear one of those cute tab-collars with it. 🙂
(Also, funnily, it reminds me of the tabs/”tablets” that ministers in my church wear during service…)
Esther says
09/22/2015 at 10:50 AMI love this magazine!! The illustrations are to die for!! 🙂 I think your idea of a blue dress with that collar would be lovely!
I loved seeing the pictures of the different purse styles. Such inspiration!!
Thanks for sharing, Brigid!!
Jessica Cangiano says
09/22/2015 at 7:57 PMWhat cozy, wonderful fashions! I especially like the plaid + orange golf ensemble, complete with brown lace up boots. Albeit not on the links themselves, but that’s something I could easily see myself wearing any autumn.
♥ Jessica