Crochet Hot Plate Mats, Asbestos Replacement

I'm processing a Free Download for the shop this afternoon for a crocheted hot plate mat from 1949.

Free Hot Plate Mats Pattern - Flower and Star

Of course, I've seen the material requirement before, but had never put much thought into it .... 8-1/2 inch Asbestos Mat.   Now, I have a few of these mat patterns in the shop, which have never sold, which made we wonder if these have lost their vintage interest because of these Asbestos Mats.

Asbestos Mats made their appearance back in the 1890's.

These mats were made in two parts - the mat itself being a sturdy cardboard with the top layer being an asbestos layer called Millboard.  Asbestos was fireproof and absorbed heat, making it an asset for cooking.  Remember, cooking in the late 1800's was a quite rustic affair.  

As we moved into the 1920/30's, many homes now had kitchen stoves with burners which allowed these mats to become more decorative.  What woman didn't want a more decorative kitchen!  Initially, decorative covers were made using macrame cords, but then moved towards the influx of colorful crochet cottons.

Patterns for these mats began appearing in newspapers in 1935; first offerings being from the Women's Service Bureau, quickly followed by the Mail Order companies and, of course, the promotional pattern books and leaflets of the thread manufacturers.

Asbestos mats soon evolved to meet many household - heat conducive - needs.  The product was found, not only in mats and table pads, but our appliances, insulation and so much more. 

Asbestos use continued into the 1970's, when it was determined to be a carcinogen and removed from the marketplace. 

Well, let's get me back on focus here .... these vintage hot plate cover patterns that call for the asbestos mats.   You can use the covers without the mat insert; many mats pattern do not call for it.

 Or, if you need a heat buffer to put hot pots on your tables, there's a great substitute in the form of Pellon.  This particular interfacing - Pellon 975 - will function well, as will a number of others interfacing you'll find in your sewing shops.    Just cut the interfacing to your desired size.  The primary different between interfacing substitutes and the obsolete asbestos mats is the sturdy factor.

So, should you be partial to the particular design of a hot plate mat cover, don't discount your creativity over the asbestos mat. 

Okay, I've now killed an hour .... time to get back to work!

Thanks for dropping by.

Style Smiles by Gretchen, A Daily Fashion Column

Style Smiles by Gretchen first appeared in Newspaper columns in the Northeast (United States) at the end of the year -- December, 1936. 

A Daily Cartoon--Caper .... dressed up in a Paris Model!  

"Truly an amazing array of feminine fripperies mark with distinction this humorous highlight for the ladies.  Gorgeous creatures in gorgeous creations clown around for Gretchen, sensational humorist, remarkable artist and inspired creator of tomorrows styles!   This engrossing fun daily feature -- dressed up in a Paris model -- is but one of the brilliant features brought you daily in your Pittsburgh Post Gazette".      

And then .. on January 1st, the syndicated column began. ( It's was the first column for Esquire Features, Inc. who later expanded with other cartoon related cartoons and then merged with another syndication a couple years later).  

I came across Style Smiles while searching down a particular crochet phrase in the newspapers and was immediately enchanted.  So enchanted, in fact, that I'm not even sure where that original catch was, as I was then reading about Style Smiles.    This is exactly how I get sidetracked and, some days, get so little done!

It was the end of December, so I decided, for fun, I'd reprint the columns to coordinate with the date (day and month) of their original release.   The column appeared most days, however, I've found a couple gaps.   I've no way of knowing if these gaps represents date of no publication, or simply dates the newspaper did not get scanned into directories.   

Each cartoon has an endearing caption with a generous description of the fashions of the day.

I'm posting the cartoons on my Facebook page and then filing into a Style Smiles by Gretchen Photo Album if you'd care to follow along. 

Thanks for dropping by.

National Sweater Week

As this story goes, I'm browsing through a 1932 newspaper looking for information on a vintage yarn, when from another column the words 'National Sweater Week' catch my attention.  And that was it .... I call it side tracked.   My search string was changed to 'National Sweater Week' and I was off on an hour or so journey.

It appears this 'special' week started back in 1926, but didn't really get into the swing of it until 1927, with the dates being September 24th to October 1st.  

In 1927, a variety of ads were displayed and the marketing increased to even more markets.

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The promotion just barely continued into 1928, with just one set of advertisements.

And then, it stopped.  I'm going to suggest the result of The Great Depression that was suffered through between 1929 and 1939.   And then, this was back-to-back with World War 2 that started in September 1939 and lasted until 1945.     Through these events, many people did not have the money or frivolity for events like ... National Sweater Week.

In 1946, National Sweater Week returns across the major markets.   The script is the same, but the promotion pictures vary by store.  (Obviously the individual stores were given license here).  Another note for 1946, the dates have changed to September 9th to the 14th. 

Other players took some advertising promotions to cap in on National Sweater Week as well.  In this 1949 case, the cleaners want to clean those sweaters you wore last week and encourage you to turn them over to 'your driver' and the one who collects the most wins $109.

In 1953, we were introduced to the concept of the Sweater Sweetheart with a bit of Hollywood flavor with the ever rising popularity of movies.  

Then, there were yearly window sweater display contests sponsored by the Lewel Mfg Co.  (Makers of fine sweaters, of course).  Mr Otto Swadner, of Schachnes won in 1961.  

By 1965, even the big name players were getting involved -- National Sweater week at Sear!.   Apparently cables were the rage in 1965.  

And this little clip tells us what "I'm sure" we've all figured out by now.  National Sweater week is a promotion to publicize sweaters and knitwear, sponsored by the Knitted Outerwear Foundation.   Of course, there may have been earlier sponsors as well.  

And National Sweater week dribbled on.   I say dribbled in that by 1972, the ads had almost stopped.  There were still a couple each year, but hardly any.   By 1979 it was all over ..... cutoff without a single advertisement going forward.

 Since the scripts were essentially the same particularly in the earlier years, I'd assume there was sponsor was kicking in some form of revenue.   I'd guess in the realm of advertising dollars, but really, I have no inside knowledge. 

Okay, back to work.   Thanks for dropping by. 

Bess Wiersma Knitting Patterns

I came across this advertisement in the 1949 issue of Modern Knitting Magazine, and of course, the hunt was on. 

And, besides this lone advertisement, a very brief hunt it was. Apparently Bess was a knitting entrepreneur that came forward to offer her expertise. 

In 1948, she copyrighted a 15 page leaflet titled "Answers to Knitters Problems, as well as 5 individual knitting patterns for family cardigans and a toddler dress.   It's interesting that the ad says the patterns are full-size.    It also informs us that Bess was a knitting instructor. 

"Patterns are my original designs, never before offered".   Mail in $1.00 and receive two of the patterns, and (I'm assuming) the leaflet.   (I note that $1.00 was on the expensive side for 1949, even if it does include postage).

And that's everything I learned.   I've set up alerts out there on the World Wide Web, and who knows, maybe something more will pop up.   Or ... perhaps you know something about Bess Wiersma and her patterns?

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Paula Bank Knitting Patterns

Tucked away ... all the way back on page 53 ... of McCalls Needlecraft (Fall-Winter 1953/54) is this small advertisement.

Send for Paula Bank's color card and fashion catalog.  Order the finest yarn and knitting instructions from your home!.  Send 50 cents for our Color Card of nationally known yarns, includes Fashion Catalog of our complete line of knitting patterns for the family. 

The line that sent me on the Google search was "Paula Bank, nationally known knitting authority".   Oh, and the idea that there might be a catalog out there that I've not seen.   Well, Google and Newspaper.com resulted in nothing.   But, I'm putting the post out here as a placeholder.   AND ... perhaps one of you might have some of these patterns, or a catalog or know something more. 

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Royal Crest Yarn Contest

Through time, the various companies have employed a number of marketing strategies.   There are, of course, the pattern books, kits and paks, state fair contests, fashion shows, representatives offering help in individual shops, etc.   But this marketing ploy for this 'get to know us', came as a surprise. 

This is a full half page add in the 1953-54 issue of  McCalls Needlecraft.   In case you can't read the small print, the gest is  ... knit a piece with Royal Crest Yarn.  And then finish this sentence ... I LIKE ROYAL CREST YARNS BECAUSE .....   in 25 words or less.   Then, mail in your entry.   Enter as often as you like. 

There are 31 prizes ranging from a 1st prize of $500 down to $10.00.  YOU CAN'T Lose, because whether you win a cash prize or not, you'll discover Royal Crest Yarns will save you money!

I did my typical Google, newspaper and book searches and came up with only a couple pictures.  Apparently the yarn was not a big success.     Here's three that I did find.

Royal Crest - Moonlight 

Royal Crest  - Petite Royal - 1 oz skeins, 75% Virgin Wool, 25% Rayon

Royal Crest - Royality Yarn

I'm sure I'll find more in other magazines as I go along and will come back here with any other details. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Lorrie 

Holland Windmill Imported Hand Knitting Yarns

Tucked onto page 11 of the Fall Winter 1953-54 issue of McCalls Needlework magazine with this wonderful color advertisement for Holland Windmill Imported Hand Knitting Yarns.

Now, I've processed a lot of patterns and had no recall of Holland Windmill in material listings. 

 I did discover, however, that I'd collected other advertisement for this company -- this one from 1952.  Actually, I have several renditions of this same ad dating between 1953 to 1957.  The only business difference is this ad shows Margo Trading as the importer, earlier ads showed Wool Trading Inc. 

Now Holland Windmill Yarn was the product of Gebroeders, Van Wuk & Co of Leiden, Holland (you'll have to hit translate to read the Wikipedia).   This is speculation on my part, but I'd suggest this product was marketed in the States between 1952 and 1957.   A couple of the ads indicate there are free instructions, however, a search of internet-land renders nothing.  There are also no traces of the yarn itself on Ebay, or a single mention over at Ravelry. 

The company had a long run, starting up in 1795.   In 1957 the company was merged and then later liquidated, coming to a complete demise in 1963. 

I have quite a number of magazines that I've not been through, so, should I find any additional information, I'll come back and add to this post.   

Thanks for dropping by,
Lorrie

Knitting in a Big Way, An Elephant Story

I've been working my way through the Fall-Winter 1951-1952 issue of McCalls Needlecraft Magazine.  I always enjoy these magazines for their variety and periodic surprises.   Like this one, tucked nicely on Page 124.

Now, I'd don't usually copy paste an entire story here in the blog, but this one is just too delightful to mess with.   If you have the time, it is definitely a fun read.

" If, halfway through a sweater for a size 46 husband, you have ever said wearily, "I might as well be knitting for an elephant!" you may be interested to know that Mrs. Susan Jarvis, of 1716 North Edgemont Street, Los Angeles, California, the pleasant-faced, motherly woman in the photo, actually did knit a sweater for a Ringling Brothers circus elephant. Mrs. Jarvis made the sweater—probably the largest in history —as her "consequence" on CBS' freakish television show, "Truth or Consequences."

One night this past year, Ralph Edwards, Master of Ceremonies of "Truth or Consequences," asked for a lady who could knit. Mrs. Jarvis,, in the audience, volunteered and was selected as the lucky contestant. When she missed her question, Edwards asked if she would knit a sweater for a friend of his, and puckishly ushered out Herman (elephant photo), presented stunned Mrs. Jarvis with a wheel barrowful of wools and told her to go to work.

Naturally, the audience roared. Whereupon Mrs. Jarvis, her dander up, accepted the challenge to her prowess as a knitter and announced that she would not only knit a sweater but a complete outfit.

Her first step in the project was to determine Herman's measurements. They were, as follows: waist, 192 inches; length, -10- feet; trunk, 5 ½ feet long; tail, 4 ½ ft.; head surface for hat, 1 ½ yards across, each way; boots, 2 ½ feet high, 2 ½ feet around.

With this information in hand, Mrs. Jarvis was set to go. The question; 'Where do you start with an elephant? bothered her. She decided to make a waistband first. In a week she had completed a strip 8 inches wide to go around Herman's waist with 8 inches for button lap. It fitted. Knitting for an elephant took on a more reasonable aspect. From there on, the job went smoothly.

To keep the work from becoming monotonous, she varied her colors from week to week. The entire project took thirteen weeks. Mrs. Jarvis grew to love her mammoth knitting chore and felt really sorry when the last row was bound off and Herman ready to be decked out in his knitted finery as you see him above.  "

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I do.
Thanks for dropping by,

Lorrie