Originally Posted by
Macybaby
I have not seen these before, but do come across war effort stuff occasionally with my vintage sewing machines. I love reading about stuff like this.
Well then, here's the extent of what I know about these needles. They were made specifically for the war effort - WW2. With that info - and the US' beginning of involvement in the war - it would date these to about 1942 - 1945.
I don't know if they were sold or given to people (families, men or women, etc - everyone knitted then!) perhaps by the Red Cross to use for knitting for the cause.
As I mentioned above, the set is made by Susan Bates. It was made possibly as part of the "Knit your Bit" campaign by the Red Cross.
I'd sure love to know its story and how it ended up in Canada and donated to a thrift shop in 2015. Actually, I'd love to find any information about these sets because it's really slim pickings out there!
The original "Knit your Bit" patterns are here:
http://www2.redcross.org/museum/exhibits/knits.asp
Originally Posted by
tessagin
I still have a few crochet hooks from my hairdressing days. We used to use them to pull the hair through frosting caps (early days of highlighting). My grandmother taught me and a couple cousins to crochet and tat (still have a couple shuttles). Because of a very long story I won't go into, I tense up when I hold a crochet hook with yarn around it. You did great. Just a different kind of needle other than sewing, knitting still involves needles. Congrats on the score!
Tessagin, that sounds really close to what the process is when I find a sneaky little thread under a top. Sneak in with a tiny hook and snag it and pull it through. Not fun on loose weave, nerve wracking on a tighter weave.
I'm sure all of use would be willing to hear your story,.. you know for therapeutic purposes.
My projects have been pretty basic so far but I want to work up to these 2 that were both in the Fall 2014 issue of Interweave Knits:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...eret-and-mitts
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meadow-tunic
I'm just hoping I can learn well enough on my own to do it.
I've found as I drive less (and passenger more) I feel like I'm wasting time. Tying and burying threads makes me motion sick, so I'm hoping I can keep my head up more with knitting.