Review: Vintage Hollywood Knits

There have been a lot of classic knitwear designs in movies and TV shows through the years, but the early days of Hollywood provided a great variety of iconic sweaters for both men and women, from striking sweater girls to dapper men in cardigans.

Years ago knitwear and fashion designer Bill Gibb re-created a number of classic Hollywood garments for a book called Vintage Hollywood Knits, which has recently been re-released with updated patterns and modern yarn choices.

The book in either form isn’t really on Ravelry, but there are 20 sweaters originally worn by the following actors and actresses:

Vilma Bánky
Claudette Colbert
Gary Cooper
Joan Crawfors
Peggy Cummins
Errol Flynn
Great Garbo
Judy Garldan
Cary Grant
Jane Greer
Jean Harlow
Adele Jergens
Jennifer Jones
Dorothy Lamour
Virginia Mayo
Marilyn Monroe
Robert Taylor
Lana Turner
Jane Wyman
Loretta Young

The book includes a little biography of each star and a picture of them wearing the original sweater.

What it doesn’t include is a picture of the updated version in any case, which makes me wonder if these garments were ever knit by anyone or if they were just designed from the pictures. So I guess I’m saying enter at your own risk.

Still, the idea of the book is a great one, and if you’re willing to go on a little adventure with one of these patterns (I’d go with Judy Garland’s fuzzy angora cardigan with embroidered details, or the gigantic Half Fisherman’s rib sweater or dress modeled by Jennifer Jones if it were me) you’d probably be well rewarded.

The patterns use Rowan yarn, come in three sizes each and are good for intermediate to advanced knitters.

If you’ve tried a pattern in this book I’d love to hear how it went!

About the book: 96 pages, hardcover, 20 patterns. Published September 2016 by Pavilion Books. Retail price $19.95.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

Next Pattern:

You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try.

The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Susanne Shahin]

Next Pattern:

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