This blog is about to launch a new cottage industry as a result of a garage sale purchase-a bundle of albums going back to l950 dealing with the art of crochet , knitting and dainty stencilling.
Tucked away in a plastic sleeve , near instructions on how to embroider a crinoline lady hanky corner and make a nasturtium tablecloth ,were handwritten instructions on how to knit Russian boot bed socks...a green ant running about the computer is interfering knitting this post together .
 |
Surprising to learn Ruskies sleep in footwear.
|
At the back of a tearsheet about handkerchief edging (Go away ant! ), from the Australian Home Journal of November, l963, was an article about Matson Line hostess Hope Evans , who collected items for two leper colonies in Fiji and Tahiti .
Although she had been born at Jasper, near Alberta, Canada, she was American by adoption . She had obtained her wanderlust from a "lady milko" , a New Zealander, who had the milk run in her home town.
During her travels she had collected about 100 high fashion dresses , many bought in Australia , kept in her cabin aboard the Mariposa ...evening gowns of lace, fine embroidered linens and silks, hand painted casual sun dresses from Tahiti , Honolulu . Australian fire opals , which reminded her of wonderful South Pacific sunsets and sunrises, were also collected.
The garage sale find , on Magnetic Island, included Australian and overseas crochet design books , tearsheets from such publications as The Australian Women's Weekly, New Idea, The Australian Women's Mirror .
On the doyley front, there were instructions for Solomon's Knot, Pineapple, Tulip , Grape, Star Petal , Shell, Cone and Knot, Thistles, Dahlia and Daisy Medallion ,Old Rose, Primroses. One magazine bore the name of a Hermit Park, Townsville , resident.
