70's Poncho Patterns

This is one of my favourite pattern books.

I just love the styling of this shoot - lazing about and crafting in the adobe hacienda with your long hair free and flowing. Although they do look a bit like they are imprisoned and waiting for the magnificent seven to rescue them*. A poncho sweatshop?

Looking at the patterns I realise that the old poncho is a very decadent item of clothing. Some of them have 7 balls of wool - just in the fringing!!!
Was wool really that much cheaper in the past?

Oh and I love that the poncho can also be a skirt. Ah the seventies. All long hair, boots and swathes of wool fringing.

*I would happily be rescued by the magnificent seven myself - especially Yul Brynner in that black shirt. Come and Save me Yul! Who-hoo!

Scottish Vote

 With all eyes looking at Scotland today I thought I'd share these wonderful knitting patterns. Good luck Scotland, whatever the outcome!

Which would you choose? No - I don't mean independence or remaining united with the Brits! I mean which fair isle jumper? I'm partial to the "Dunkeld". Can't go passed a short sleeved fair isle knit!

70's does 30's/ 40's - my favourite!

Am I the only person who searches "70's does 40's" or  "70's does 30's" on Etsy? I have a real affection for 1970's clothes that reference the thirties and forties.

Sweetheart necklines, gathers and puffs - but all in 1970's prints, fabrics and colours. I seem to get endless delight from it!
I wore this dress to my 25th birthday party - so yeah - I've had it a loooooooooooooong time....

This one has the gathered shoulder yokes, puffs, collar AND flying ducks! 

Another sweetheart neckline, fancy sleeves with a modern print.

Didn't even get to dressing up in the puff sleeve maxi dresses that skim the hips and swish with frills at the bottom. 

The 1970's had a spate of great films set in the 1930's too - Chinatown (1974),

Faye Dunaway

 The Day of the Locust (1975) with the wonderful Karen Black

 

 Paper Moon (1973) with Madeline Kahn

and of course it started with Bonnie and Clyde in the late 1960's

Faye Dunaway

But best of all is 1970's does 1930's and 1940's in KNITTING! Complete with Rosie the Riveter head scarf!

 

It doesn't get much better than that for me. I've had this book for an eon and never knitted anything from it but I did find this cross over cardi from the book in the op shop some years back - it's even knitted in the same colours. If only I could find the shorts.....

What's your favourite reinterpretation of an era? 80's does 40's is pretty good  - structural peplums and shoulder pads! Very Dynasty!

Belated Australia Day in Knits...Noice

This knitting book in the Victor Harbour op shop in South Australia.
It is full of 80's design gems celebrating Australian-ness.

Like these Jenny Kee geometric "Oz" maps for father and daughters...that's right,"Oz".

The poor girl can't even bear to look!

But wait! There's more!

For all those who love Vegemite so much they want to snuggle up with it all night....

 And yep! That's a knitted"Norm" from the "Life Be In It" campaign...
 And here's the not so Jolly Swagman....

Just what every kid wants on his jumper- a creepy old man! And then there is more maps on your accessories...

And I don't even have words to describe this one... 

 

And what Australiana collection would be complete without a reference to Ned Kelly?
Unfortunately some of the book is missing but the contents page eludes to the missing marvelous "wildflower dress" and "fosters cardigan"!!! Yes! A hand knitted beer logo cardigan!What bloke wouldn't that?

Happy to scan any of these pattern is anyone wants to indulge their nostalgic knitting nationalism.