Author: Jamie

1860’s Afghans

If you have ever considered making your very own historical afghan, here are some patterns that may catch your eye. All of these patterns were published in period magazines between 1858-1865. Most are simplistic in nature, and worked in smaller portions that are stitched together. There are period patterns for both crochet and knitters alike! However, almost all of these crochet afghans are worked in Tunisian or long hook crochet. 

Knit Pattern – From Godey’s 1858. This is the only afghan pattern I have seen thus far made of cotton! As you see, they call it a quilt. I’ve seen multiple names for afghans include quilt, afghan, blanket and carriage wrap.

Crib Cover to Knit Peterson’s 1860 – I made this blanket for my daughter, and have a modernized free version of it here. 

New Design for Crochet Afghan -Peterson’s 1861

Crib Cover to Knit – Peterson’s 1861 This is just a picture. There is not written pattern

Carriage Wrapper to Crochet – Godey’s 1862

Carriage Wrapper Godey’s 1862

Traveling Blanket in Crochet – Peterson’s Magazine 1862

Velvet Ribbon Afghan – Godey’s 1863

Velvet Ribbon Infant Blanket Godey’ 1863

Baby’s Carriage Afghan in Crochet – Peterson’s 1865: I made this afghan for my son. You can access the free modernized pattern here 

Links to Raverly and our Historical Closet

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Godey’s Volume 59, July-December, 1859

Dear Sis,

This collection is mostly for the lady.

Traveling Reticule

Evening-Dress Pattern

Purse in Crochet

Opera Cloak to Knit

Fall Paletot Pattern

Child’s Bib in Crochet

Happy Historic Crafting!

Love,

b

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Godey’s Volume 57, July – December 1858

Dear Sis,

Just a few more pretties for you!

Shell Afghan to Knit

Patchwork Pattern

Reticule to Embroider

Winter Mantle in Crochet

Happy Historic Crafting!

Love,

b

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Godey’s Volume 56, January – June 1858

Dear Sis,

Now that I’ve finished Petersons Magazine I guess it’s only right to move onto Godey’s Ladies Book:)

Pique Jacket Pattern

Infant Apron Pattern

Bead & Bugle Guipure Collar

Another Infant Apron Pattern

Braided Bib

Infant Spring Cloak Pattern

Footed Pajamas for Children

Period Footie Pajamas!

Love,

b

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Evelyn’s Rag Doll

Hi, 

A family friend gave Evelyn a rag doll kit for Christmas. Yesterday, while Grant took his nap we went to the sewing room together and made her doll. Eve is only three, but she handed me pins, tossed the scraps, sat on my lap while we used the sewing machine, and helped pass the stuffing and fill the doll. 

While, it was an easy thing to make, it was tiny and kind of difficult to manipulate. But, I finished it last night and she seems pleased with the result.

Look forward to seeing how your rag doll for Charlotte turns out!

Jamie

Modifying Microfiber AlOs to Hemp AIO – Cloth Diapering

If you are anything like me, you may not like your cloth diapers to have microfiber. The reason being, they are fluffy, they compress and oftentimes leak with heavier wetters. Microfiber is also difficult to keep clean, as microfiber tends to hold onto ammonia. Even with a very good washing routine, sometimes it is near to impossible to keep microfiber smelling clean.

Because of this, I often replace a microfiber all in one with natural fibers. My favorite fabric of choice is hemp fleece 370 gsm from Nature’s Fabric. I pick hemp fleece for these reasons

  • hemp is very trim, and has very little compression.
  • hemp fleece is softer then knit jersey.
  • fleece like fabric does produce more of a stay dry feel
  • hemp fleece doesn’t get the holes that a hemp knit jersey insert will get. I find hemp jersey will even get holes where a dull sewing needle goes through it. And even if you get an interlock jersey that will not continue to fray, a thicker fleece will last much longer.

My instructions kind of assume you have a serger, but I realize that isn’t a reality  for everyone. If you don’t, you can opt to buy already made inserts.  I would stick to trimmer options for easier washing. Keep in mind the insert size when purchasing, measure your diaper to make sure it will fit in nicely.

For this project, I had did some recycling. I some hempkicks prefolds laying around, which are made out of hemp fleece. I used two layers for each insert.

Before you start to sew, I would decide on what kind of flap style you want your aio’s to have. There are three main options. One directional, two directional, and snake. I personally, prefer one directional or snake. Cleaning a poop with inserts that flip in opposite directions isn’t for me. lol.

Both of these are Thirsties Microfiber AIO.

Step 1: Remove the old insert with a seam ripper. 

Step 2: Use the old insert as a pattern for you new ones. Even if making a snake, just make it twice as long as the old one, and the same width. Serge around the insert.

Step 3: If using two inserts, and putting them on the same side…sew them together first. Then attach to the diaper wrong side to wrong side. Sew

All done, just trim the ends of the threads, and finish like a normal sewing project.

Happy Cloth Diapering,

Jamie

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1860’s Knitted Winter Accessories

Hi Sis,

I completed my knitted accessories today, that go with my 1860’s winter wear. I made a scarf, to take a chill of my neck…as I may have made my neckline on my coat a little short. A hood, to cover my ears as the wind blew under my quilted hood last venture. And some super warm mittens/gloves.

Scarf Pattern 

My scarf is a combination two similar period patterns. The Princess Royal Scarf, which was featured in Godey’s Magazine, in 1856. And a Childs Muff pattern that was featured in Godey’s Magazine, in 1860.

Both original patterns call for 130 stitches, and are striped in two colors. The Princess Royal calls for each color band to be 6 rows wide, and the other 8 rows wide. One asks for every fifth stitch to be dropped, and the other every 4th. The have different numbers of stripes, but it is almost the same pattern republished.

I found the 130 stitches to be very small, child sized makes sense! I adjusted the pattern for myself. It’s not a super long scarf, but I can tie it once.

Materials
Sport Weight Yarn in two colors
Size 5 knitting needles

Pattern

Cast on 200 stitches (Or, more if you want it longer! This, is a stitch repetition of 5. Food for thought. Historically they didn’t have circular needles!  Naturally, they did have options for making projects with width greater then the average needle size. However, for a simple project like a scarf. You generally see a smaller width knit as long as one likes)

Do eight rows of stockinette stitch. Change color, knit eight rows. If you like the look, or what a fluffier scarf you can reverse the stockinette. Knit till you have four repeats of each color. 

Drop the fifth stitch, and tear all the way down to the bottom.

Cast off. I cast off one extra stitch right where the dropped stitch was, to add extra stretch there.

Sew up the side, and bottoms. Make pom poms or tassels and attach.

Richmond Gloves

These neat gloves where featured in Piecework Magazine. The pattern was developed by an Englishwoman in the 1860’s, but no exact date is given. You can purchase the pattern here for $6.50.

 

Godey’s Opera Hood 1862

What Materials I used
Sport Weight Yarn in two colors
Size 5 Knitting Needles
Tie

Pattern

Cast on 90 stitches.

Do 5 rows of stockinette stitch in one color. Reverse the stockinette stitch and do five rows in the alternate color.

I changed on thing. I followed the picture instead of the instructions. The pattern calls for 9 rows of one color and eight of the other. While, the picture shows 10

rows of one, and 9 of the other. I followed the picture, and I like it!

Cast off.

It is a pretty stretchy thing, but blocking it may make the colors stand out more. I didn’t block mine, but might do that. To tie, I opted for  a functional wool cord made from a lucet loom.

Raverly link for this pattern 

Happy Knitting,

Jamie

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Richmond Gloves

Dear Sis,

I am knitting a thnead, which is an item that everyone, everyone, everyone needs. It can be a bicycle seat, or hat, or item much weirder than that! Like a 1860’s pattern for a double layered mitten!

The original pattern was created by Henrietta Pulleine Ryder, from Richmond, England. No exact date is given, just that it is from the 1860’s. It was worked by a modern knitter, and featured in Piecework magazine. You can read more about it here!

The pattern is purchasable on longthread, for $6.50. It is made with size 0 dpn needles and lace weight yarn.

I am really enjoying the pattern! It is a super warm glove. It has just enough variety in the knit to not get too boring, and have an interesting look. The only thing that is a bit annoying is the five inches of broiche stitch. Double knitting with tiny needles and yarn takes forever. But, once you get through that, the pattern gets interesting.

I can’t wait to finish the other glove and get pictures of it with my jacket and new scarf! Yep, I finished a new scarf! I need to do a post on tube like scarfs from the period with a few patterns. 

See more of our projects and patterns in our Historical Closet.

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