Happy May Day, everyone! Stitchcraft‘s “summer mood” is enhanced by a new layout format with more colour photos, distributed on single pages throughout the magazine. There are “soft colours” for the “gentle fashion look” as promised on the front cover, “Colour Bold and Bright” featured on the back cover, and some earthy rust-orange tones as well as natural or white garments. Diagonal lines, zigzags, chevrons, and stripes show up in the pattern stitches.
The “gently styled” skirt set on the cover is worked in twisted garter stitch (every row knit through the back loops) and has a choice of mini- or just-above-the-knee-length skirt. The purely decorative belt is held in place by little buttoned tabs, and the jumper is buttoned at the shoulder. More gentle styles and colours show up a pink and white jumper with a different lattice lace on the sleeves and yoke, a pastel top knit sideways in stripes, and a “romantic little dress” in fluffy “Fuzzy-Wuzzy” angora-mix yarn.
For those who prefer neutrals and earth tones to soft pastels, there are two summery tops to knit in lacy lattice or cluster stitch, And if “bold and bright” is more your style, the pullover on the back cover is warm both in wool and colour.
Men can get into the “summer mood” with a comfortable, loose-fitting pullover in natural white or a rust-orange cardigan with practical pockets. They are touted as the “casual, leisurely look” and the two men in the photos are apparently getting set to go hiking or fishing. Nevertheless, a buttoned-up shirt and tie are required! The little boy’s “out-door look” of “comfortable raglan sweater” would also not be complete without a shirt and tie, but he still has it better than his sisters, who are expected to play on the beach in a micro-miniskirt or travel on a cartoon train with no apparent clothing on her lower body at all. The caption says she will be “smart and comfortable on her journey”, which I doubt very much.
The baby of the family fares much better with not only an embroidered dolman-sleeve cardigan, but actual leggings on its legs. With feet, even! The leggings aren’t hand-knit though, or if they are, there’s no pattern for them in the issue. The diagonal lace pattern on the cardigan is knit in and the little loop flowers are embroidered on later.
The homewares and needlework designs are quick and easy, in keeping with both the casual summer mood and the general trend of needlework designs becoming simpler and more practical as the 1960s progress. The last few issues of Stitchcraft have featured a single, simple embroidery design that can be adapted to decorate all kinds of different homewares. This time, it’s quick trims of fruit and vegetables to put on a gingham apron, cushion, or pot holders. The agricultural theme continues with daisy (? I have never seen an orange daisy, but whatever) and corn-cob cushion motifs. For the nursery, you can make a cross-stitch wall hanging or rug with the little pet animals featured in the children’s comics from the last and next few issues of Stitchcraft.
Speaking of, this month’s comic (number three in the series) features Bertram the budgie, who has no other birds around him and is consequently lonely and depressed (realistic.) Luckily, another budgie just happens to fly in the window and join him! (less realistic, but hey, problem solved!) Or not, as it happens: Bertram is territorial and jealous and does not appreciate a stranger just showing up for tea and inviting themself in. His owner solves the problem by giving Bertram a mirror, and Bertram discovers he is his own best friend (realistic.) Realism points, 2 out of 3, and Bertram is very happy.
I don’t know what to make from this issue. The lattice lace pattern on the sleeves and yoke of the plain pullover is very cool and I toyed with the idea of making modern “rave sleeves” by leaving out the rest of the pullover and just adding some ribbing to the bottom of the sleeves and yoke. But I don’t really have anything to wear it with or appropriate yarn in stash. I don’t have the time or energy for a big project, have too many unfinished projects going on (including from last month), and have already knit something for my colleague who is having a baby in July. I guess I could embroider an orange daisy or a corn cob on something? Or a fruit and vegetable motif on a fruit and vegetable bag? Stay tuned!
The Stitchcraft Sixties 