Wwi knit and crochet items from great war patterns. Since its launch in 2006, knit your bits reach has been vastmore than 10,000 knitters and crocheters in all 50 states have participated. During world war ii, the office of censorship in the united states banned people from posting knitting patterns abroad, since the instructions could in fact disguise. The men and women serving our country today still appreciate the gesture a hand knit offers. Knitting pattern central free hats knitting pattern link. Knit your bit the national wwii museum new orleans. The standard analysis of world war i knitting projects points to their conservatism. This pattern is the classic world war ii watch cap, derived from beanie no.
Literally millions of women, children and even men in allied countries used their knitting needles as weapons of war. I am currently taking a limited number of orders, so please feel free to contact me by clicking the button below. Today is veterans day and it is also the 1 year anniversary of when i started this blog. War time knit patterns, war era knit, mens trigger gloves, scarves.
The wool brigades of world war i, when knitting was a patriotic duty copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket attendees of the central park knitting. Classic world war ii watch cap archived pattern by helen waittes. Wwii civilian knitting instructions canadian red cross. Gauge 19 stitches and 24 rows 4 inches in stockinette needle size us 7 4. These same knitters would be the first to pick up their needles in december 1941, to once more knit for victory. There was one occasion when knitting was used for code. Since 2011, i have been sorting and cataloguing the collection of publications held by the u. Over 200 free hat knitting patterns at free crafts network free crafts network free crafts projects. The patterns are all in the original french, which i translated myself to work from. The wool brigades of world war i, when knitting was a.
During world war i, a grandmother in belgium knitted at her window, watching the passing trains. Helmet, mittens, sleeveless vneck pullover, square neck pullover and cap. Get access to this exclusive knitting pattern and many more benefits by joining our exclusive knitting. The jeep cap was originally knitted close to the head, with a sixstitch starfish pattern on top supposedly to support. Wartime knitting was more than a hobby it was an act of patriotism. Sweaters socks, wwii military patterns, ebook, pdf, digital download. I posted even more patterns from this historic knitting book here in 20. Era patterns, trigger gloves, vintage 1940s patterns, pdf, digital download. Its the first time im making this pattern and want to do it with 2 colors pattern is one solid color ocean a nice blue shade and gray. I have received many compliments while wearing and some have expressed surprise that i made it myself.
Classic world war ii watch cap archived pattern by. A knitting pattern, to nonknitters, may look undecipherable, and not. To access this you need to be a member of lets knit together. If you werent a knitter, you might as well have been a nazi. Havent used dpns for many years just picked up knitting. Hats and helmets from world war ii free knitting pattern crochet patterns, knit patterns at craft freely. Classic world war ii watch cap archived pattern by helen waittes includes options for stitch patterns to be worked into the 6 sections. Others joined the rage for knitting complicated argyle patterns in a wide variety of colors anything, many swore, but armyissued khaki or navy blue.
The jeep cap was first issued by the united states army in february 1942 during world war ii. Classic world war ii watch cap pattern by helen waittes ravelry. The national world war ii museum knit your bit scarf pattern materials. The site has knitting patterns for the world war i and world war ii red cross sweaters, sweater vests, knit caps, gloves, socks, etc. Although the helmet liner had a webbing suspension system, soldiers liked having the extra padding and warmth of the wool cap. The popular weekly magazine life even featured a cover story about the initiative entitled how to knit. During the second world war, women on the home front were encouraged to contribute to the war effort by. With over a thousand free hat knitting patterns, you can knit one in every style, from basic beanies to simple bobbles, complex cable knits to fancy fisherman, easy preemie. Watch a movie or television program which takes place during the winter months, and somewhere in each outdoor frame will be someone wearing this hat.
Havent used dpns for many years just picked up knitting and crochet. Vintage knitted world war 2 knitting patterns available from the vintage knitting lady. The american red cross has always been at the vanguard of the knitting movement for the u. Nineteen forty i know there are many recorded knitting patterns that are much older than that, but the fact that i followed a pattern that was followed by dedicated women during a time of great worldwide conflict strikes me as amazing. Classic world war ii watch cap derived from beanie no. What started as a response to small gaps in uniform supply became a mass knitting frenzy, which made government very nervous about the quirky, unmilitary garments reaching soldiers at the front. Holiday crafts, kids crafts, crochet, knitting, dolls, rubber stamps and much more. Depending on the yarn and knitting pattern, knitted garments can stretch as much as. Hats and helmets from world war ii free knitting pattern. In this guest blog post, gena writes about the knitting, sewing and quilting efforts of women on the home front during world war ii to support the red cross and the war effortand how local newspaper articles about these women provide good information for your family history searches. Current crafts craze echoes world war i knitting projects.
Only two months later, these girls at a carshalton, surrey infant school ages four through seven were busy knitting. Knitting and crochet guild magazines, pattern booklets, pattern leaflets and other publications. Pdf 1940s wartime knit for victory usa instant digital download. Many books reference wartime knitting or wartime crochet at the start of the decade. Satisfyingly quick to knit up, not to mention the perfect practical fix when the weather turns chilly. The original 1940s patterns, available to download below, show the wide range of items knitted during the war. Questions ive been asked over and over again are answered there. Women used them to create the comforts and supplementary supplies that made up a central component of canadian red cross war work. Smart sewing first edition 1949 magazine instant download pdf 84 pages this. Countless knitted items were created and sent to the allied forces in world war two. Of course the thing that stands out about this time in history is world war ii.
Wartime knitting may have had a feminine image, but it was not timid. Free babys best booties knitting patterns howstuffworks. Classic world war ii watch cap pattern by helen waittes. After the war ended, some knitters dropped their needles for good. Wwii muffler knitting pattern 1942 loom knitting stitches, vintage. Im fascinated by old knitting patterns and womens magazines. I recently found this link and wanted to pass it on to those of you who have someone in the family who likes to knit. Their pattern magazines afforded wartime families the opportunity to sew their own clothing from scratch or recycled fabric, while still staying trendy. Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile or fabric. Shop top fashion brands outerwear at free delivery and returns possible on eligible purchases. Knitting this one for the dude plain and simple is all he wants. Yarn companies offer free knitting patterns for these caps.
Recently printed pattern to give to new knitter who admired the hat. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Pdf knitting pattern booklet for american world war ii etsy. Gena philibertortega is a genealogist and author of the book from the family kitchen. Many foreswore gray and khaki yarn for good, or so they thought. Adams elementary pupils knitting for world war i war effort, seattle, 1918. World war i red cross poster encouraging knitting, ca. Classic world war ii watch cap archived pattern by helen waittes, free pattern worsted 10 ply 9 wpi. Our grandmothers called their work victory knitting as they supplied desperately needed socks, scarves, and warm hats for the troops in world war ii. If you havent read the faq for each pattern type, please do so, even if youve used these patterns before.
Please read the world war ii pattern faq if you have any questions. Monarch knitting company was one of canadas largest textile firms. As they had during world war i, people on the home front during world war ii picked up their knitting needles almost as soon as the war began in september 1939. The olive drab cap, wool, knit, m1941 was standardized in early 1942, intended for wear under the m1 steel helmet. The mittens with a finger and thumb complete, the gloves for the drummers their drums to beatand the nice warm socks for the shivering feet as the war raged on, the pattern stopped appearing in publications, likely due to the war frenzy dying down. Through their efforts, the museum has distributed 50,000 scarves to approximately 1,000 veterans centers, hospitals, and service organizations across the country. It is a wonderful resource for researching the history of. The world war i and world war ii patterns are from publications of those eras. This hat pattern was probably knit at least a million times during world war ii, and remains one of the most enduring hat designs. The everyday knit hat pattern will give you a nice, basic knit hat in any color you choose. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Knitting pattern central free teddy bears knitting. Previous classic world war ii watch cap archived by helen waittes. Here you will find reproduction knitted and crocheted items made from the original wwi and wwii patterns. During the second world war the office of censorship banned people from posting knitting patterns abroad in case they contained coded messages. Feb 8, 20 during wwii the red cross handed out free knitting patterns to. Vintage wwii military knitting patterns book knit for victory gloves hats sweaters. Pattern classic world war ii watch cap by helen waittes craft. Learn how to crochet or how to knit with our crochet tutorials and knitting tutorials. Free hat knitting patterns lovecrafts, loveknittings. During the first 191418 and second 193945 world wars small booklets of knitting instructions like this one flooded the country by the hundreds of thousands. Pattern for navy watch cap knit in wwii by the red cross production corps.
Your files will be available to download once payment is confirmed. This awesome knit for defense was from world war ii and published in 1941. Here are specific french wwigreat war knitted and crocheted items. During world war ii, knitting served as one of the more prevalent ways individuals on the home front could support the war effort. Use yarn that is machine washable and dryable in gender. Some patterns may call for variations on measurements.
620 414 62 1207 487 195 534 589 552 1374 1442 986 701 1548 1047 1249 336 1270 517 596 1553 69 1302 1301 22 507 443 1376 970 997 959 134 1014 2 351 132 401 1408 47 887 705 979 149