Vintage Thingies Thursday: Workbasket Magazines

I love all kinds of needlework, and these old magazines make me feel intimately connected to the generations of craftswomen who have gone before. In honor of The Apron Queen, who hosts Vintage Thingie Thursdays, the first booklet has an exquisite crochet apron on the cover. It was published in 1946.


The Workbasket was published between 1935 and 1996. It began as a small business run by a husband and wife team and became very popular. My mom had crates of them (where are they now???). I used to love to sit on the floor in the basement and go through them one by one. The issues published during WWII had lots of patterns for scarves, gloves and socks to make for loved ones serving overseas.



These 1946 editions are mostly filled with decorative objects (oh for the days of a snood!) and seem to be pretty heavy on the crochet patterns, although there are also plenty of tatting and quilting patterns.


How many women made these cute slippers? Probably thousands.

To fill space, there are some household tips, such as "paint your nails twice a day with white iodine to keep them strong." Huh? Really? Who had that kind of time and organization?

Here is one of a set of coasters I made from a pattern in The Workbasket. I used a lot of wild colors, but I think the original designer wouldn't mind if she knew.



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Coming tomorrow: It's awards time! Wear your loveliest evening gown and take a seat. Plenty of swag to be given away.

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Responses to comments from Yesterday: "Spreading Joy"

kawaii crafter, Nancy, Jenn P, noble pig, Amy, and eileen; you're welcome! I thought there were a lot of us out there feeling the same way. Patty, not only do I love that tutorial, I love the picture she used! I definitely have to try this.