50's Pipe-Swank

I've discovered that while most knitting books are full of terrible, weird and mostly really boring knitting patterns I can usually dig up one or two good patterns. To get my hands on these while avoiding the rest of the filth, I turn to my handy-dandy local library. I can order books from most of the other Oregon libraries and have them here really fast. For example, Knitting America: A Glorious Heritage from Warm Socks to High Art is a great book if you're looking for a giggle and some really interesting history on knitting, but I really didn't need to own it. However share from it's recently rented pages, I will.

There's something about vintage knits that mean they either have to be terribly kitschy or super cool, but there's never really an in-between with vintage. Let's start with the "terribly kitschy" end of the deal:

I feel like I have the host of that show about Birds they like to show on OPB whispering in my ear "The youthful knitter could express her patriotism by knitting sportswear in patriotic colors". AS IF! This is soooo air-hostess-meets-cheerleader that it screams wacky.
But then you get Mr. Pipe Swank. He is total cool, right down to his "Hey, ladies" eyebrow cock. All of the ads featuring men, wearing knitted things (which are also made by the little ladies in their lives) also involve pipes. How else are you going to let the world know that you are a swingin' fella? That sweater sure isn't going to do it.And lastly, the best part of vintage knitting is the sheer usefulness of things. Like this awesome mitten (perfect for golfing or... riding bikes? I don't really get the situations they're giving) which would be great for smoking, giving a little "pew-pew!" gun hand to someone, pushing elevator buttons, holding onto a mug, really the options are endless. Now, if another, saucier finger were left independent as opposed to the utterly useful first finger, then and ONLY then would this pattern graduate from being a utilitarian vintage knit to a kickass modern knit. See the difference?

But if you're actually looking for a book of absolutely gorgeous knitting patterns, Vintage Knits is the perfect book. They're inspired by vintage knitting patterns and the movies Amelie and Chocolat and then regurgitate the amazing patterns (I can see myself knitting just about all of them over a long period of time).