Were Vintage Crocheters Quicker?

The reason that I am asking this question is that I bought this pattern earlier this week

I don't know if you can read the wording but it says make this sweater in an evening. I always thought that I was quite a quick crocheter but it took 2 evenings to finish it. I am trying to make my mind up if the ladies of the 50's were quicker as most of them didn't have the distraction of the TV. I don't think that there was such a thing as the trade descriptions act back then to stop people saying anything that they wanted to describe things.

I have a crochet sweater hardback book from the 60's that is called Crochet Sweaters in a weekend. Considering that some of them are multi coloured fair isle type designs I defy anyone to make a long jacket up in pattern in a weekend.

This crocheted up really quickly. I can crochet old type patterns far quicker than the modern patterns. There is something simplistic about the way that they are written that I understand. Modern patterns have far too much information for me and I find them harder to follow. I usually give up and do things my way in the end.

This sweater took less than 200 grams. I made it in acrylic as it is for sale and more expensive yarns, although lovely, would put it out of my customers price ranges. I would love to crochet in the finest yarns but I do want to make some kind of a profit at the end  of it. I can't afford to have expensive things that don't sell. Non crafters have no idea how much hand made things cost to make.

The bottom band is crochet afterwards and is tight fitting. The pattern gets around this by making splits fastened with buttons to be easier to get the sweater on. I would miss this bit out if I was making this sweater for myself as I don't have a waistline to show off so a looser edging is more my style.

I still haven't got around to the machine knitting. I seem to be having a bit of a mental block with the knitting. I have started another crochet shrug instead. It is slow going as I am using quite fine yarn and a small hook.

I am still waiting for the tailors dummy. When I phoned the store they said that I would not receive it until next week as the sale advert states 8-10 working days for delivery. I understand why they are maybe closed one day for the weekend but they seem to be counting both days of the weekend. The silly thing is that the store is about a mile down the road from me!. If it comes on Monday then I will have been waiting 13 days. I have never waited this long for anything to be delivered from Ebay except for when I ordered buttons from China. I will have to spend a whole day taking photos for Etsy once it does arrive as I have quite a few items to list.

I have joined another online community of Manchester crafters. I figure that the more that I chat to people having similar problems to me as regards marketing myself and selling things the better. I now belong to two of these communities so hopefully some good advice will come through these forums. I would welcome advice from people who are making sales and have good web sites.

I don't have anything planned for the weekend except for a little bit of shopping. I hope to settle down to my crochet and a bit of housework. Have a nice weekend folks.

Happy Sunday

I had another good night's sleep last night so I am happy today. If only the sun would shine and I could have a little walk then I would be happier still.

I have posted a photo of the finished sweater even though, as you can see, it hasn't been blocked as yet. It reminds me very much of the 60's if only because when I was learning to crochet garments in the very early 60's one of the first sweaters I made was a long line one made from 3 treble blocks and was in almost the exact colours of this one. The Granny or Russian square is also very retro 60's. I think I am happy with the finished result albeit a bit unusual.

Vicky J came today to introduce me to the intricacies of ordering my food online. It should arrive on Wednesday as I have enough food to last me until then. She brought with her the now balled colours for her granny square shawl. I am going to make one square of each of the 4 colourways tonight just to make sure that the squares look the same crocheted up as they do in the balls. You can never be absolutely sure of how they will look until you see them in the square.

I have started the long line cardigan from the Everyday crochet book from the huge ball of wool that Vicky gave me the other day. I have discovered that I have some other wool that will tone with it if I run out for the shawl collar, belt and cuffs. I don't want the jacket to be as long as the one in the book but I do want it long enough to cover my ample rear end. The more Doris Chan designs that I do the easier I am finding the yolk. Charlie called today and is finding the yolk of her Mei Mei a bit intimidating just as I did when I started my first one. Doris does unfortunately have a habit of sending you from page to page and size to size so if you are not absolutely concentrating then it is so hard to keep track of where you are and which page of which pattern you are crocheting next. I have told her that I will sit with her and show her which bit goes where if she hasn't fathomed it out. I have offered to finish it off for her but I think, like me, she doesn't like to be beaten by a pattern. I think once I show her then it will all fall into place for her.

Charlie brought me some wool and some noodles but I will post some photos of those tomorrow along with more progress on my car coat and the squares.