Vintage Knits book cover shows a stack of coloured knitted cardigan on a pale blue background.
National Library of Australia

People of the past knew the magic of a handmade garment - the uniqueness, the custom fit, the time and care taken by the knitter. In today's world of mass-production, we now crave the individuality and satisfaction that comes with creating a piece of clothing for ourselves or a loved one from scratch.

A woman in a light blue knitted jumper holds a ball of yarn in her left hand, with a loose thread held in the right.
Image: National Library of Australia Publishing

Knitters in the early decades of the twentieth century had their pick of patterns which were published regularly in a variety of books, newspapers and magazines. Vintage Knits presents a curated selection of these patterns from Australian publications of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, tested and updated to make them practical for today's knitter.

A knitted purple cardigan is laid over a vintage copy of the Australian Women's Weekly, containing an editorial about knitting
Image: National Library of Australia Publishing

The book features vintage material from the original publications with contemporary full-colour photographs of the garments as they have been recreated today. Interwoven throughout the book are sections reflecting on the social and cultural history of knitting in Australia.

Tapping into the trend for everything vintage, as well as the 'handmade revolution' and resurgence of knitting, this book will bring style and joy to any modern knitter!

Explore more knitting patterns on Trove

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The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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