thinking of the thirties

While I'm plodding through the last inches of stockinette to finish 'Jemima', I've come across some beautiful colourwork sweaters. I might be getting a little ahead of myself, I have after all yet to complete a simple wearable sweater. Nonetheless, this is where my knitting aspirations lie;



'Brocade', by Kaffe Fassett, I think this is featured in Rowan Magazine 38, which I will try and find a copy of.

My Rowan autumn magazine has arrived, and I love the 'nostalgia' set, although I'm not sure how many of them would suit me. These are pretty, and I love the 1930's feel;



I'll add these to my queue, in which the thirties-inspired 'chevron lace sweater' from Romantic Knits has been sitting patiently for quite some time. There is something about the elegance and utility, the delicateness and the practicality, how well-dressed everyone seemed; no jeans and t-shirts in this era. Doesn't this scene from Gosford Park make you want to wear tweeds and sensible shoes? Over a beautiful, form-fitting, lacy sweater of course.



A few of my favourite films set in the inter-war period, and some of the best for costumes, are

• Gosford Park
• Coming Home (a BBC production adapted from the book by Rosamunde Pilcher) and it sequel Nancherrow
• Ballet Shoes (another BBC production, adapted from the classic Noel Streatfield book
• Love in a Cold Climate (adapted from the Nancy Mitford books 'Love in a Cold Climate' and 'The Pursuit of Love')

Feast on silk dresses copied from vogue by village seamstresses, endless tweed skirts, blouses and pullovers, well-cut slacks, tea-dresses, curled hair and silk scarves, woollen stockings and painted faces. But I'm sure you knew that already.