untonuggan: text: "If only yarn grew on trees" with a photo of trees that have been yarn bombed (covered with knitted yarn) (yarn trees)
lizcommotion ([personal profile] untonuggan) wrote in [community profile] knitting2011-10-09 03:23 pm
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Historical knitting patterns available free from Project Gutenberg

Excerpt from Knitting, Crochet, and Netting, with Twelve Illustrations by Éléonore Riego de la Branchardière, originally published in 1846 and available for free on Project Gutenberg:

"The Authoress, having had much experience in teaching, and always writing her own directions, has been induced to publish this little Volume for the use of her pupils; and as all the receipts have been tried, she can with confidence answer for their accuracy. Should any further instructions be required, she will wait upon any Lady, who will apply at S. KNIGHTS, 6, 'Change Alley, Cornhill; HOWELL and JAMES, Regent Street; and at all the principal Berlin shops."

Patterns include those for a Turkish Pattern Muff, Driving Mitts, Travelling Cap, Bead Purse, and more doilies (aka D'Oyleys) than you can shake a knitting needle at.

So much fun to just read the historical descriptions, and there are more vintage/historical knitting/crochet/needlework books available on Project Gutenberg.

crossposted to [community profile] crafting_the_past 
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jackandahat: A brown otter, no text. (Default)

[personal profile] jackandahat 2011-10-09 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for sharing this - it's really interesting! I'm surprised by how easy to follow it is - how patterns are written seem to vary so much from person to person that I figured historical ones would be near-impossible to understand but it's really clear.

I'm tempted to make something, even without the pictures...
untonuggan: text: "If only yarn grew on trees" with a photo of trees that have been yarn bombed (covered with knitted yarn) (yarn trees)

[personal profile] untonuggan 2011-10-09 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I know, that's always my hesitation...I'm so used to the luxury of printed pictures we have in the digital age. I'll just add it to my ever-growing queue of cool knitting projects.
spuffyduds: wash of color background, with text "spuffy" (Default)

[personal profile] spuffyduds 2011-10-09 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, neat!
wildebeest: (Default)

[personal profile] wildebeest 2011-10-09 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Cool stuff! Mrs. Beeton's book of Needlework is also a real treat
dragonfly: A large dragonfly drawn on a field of some crop. (crop circle dragonfly)

[personal profile] dragonfly 2011-10-09 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
That is amazing!
clare_dragonfly: woman with green feathery wings, text: stories last longer: but only by becoming only stories (Knitting: old school)

[personal profile] clare_dragonfly 2011-10-09 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
That is really cool! Thanks for sharing it!
jumpuphigh: Pigeon with text "jumpuphigh" (Default)

[personal profile] jumpuphigh 2011-10-10 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
And now I've fallen into Project Gutenberg and can't get out.
sporky_rat: It's a rat! With a spork! It's ME! (Default)

[personal profile] sporky_rat 2011-10-10 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
*decides to share her spirit lamp and spare fiber* Lovely to see you down here, would you care for some mushroom stew?
jumpuphigh: Pigeon with text "jumpuphigh" (Default)

[personal profile] jumpuphigh 2011-10-10 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I would love some mushroom stew.
afuna: Cat under a blanket. Text: "Cats are just little people with Fur and Fangs" (Default)

[personal profile] afuna 2011-10-26 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for the link! I'm having lots of fun looking for more crafting books...
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