Where to Find Vintage Knitting Patterns

Despite being an age-old craft, it's difficult to imagine the knitting world without technology. How on earth did knitters cope without Ravelry, Youtube or Pinterest? The traditional knitting industry has certainly changed a lot over the past century, but the use of technology doesn't necessarily mean modern-day knitting patterns and techniques are superior. With thrift shopping and vintage clothing becoming increasingly popular (thanks to slow-fashion and reusing & recycling movements), vintage knitting patterns are a fantastic source for classy, affordable and unique patterns that look just as good as their modern-day alternatives.

The great thing about vintage knitting patterns is that you can find them everywhere. Before the days of Ravelry and the internet, knitting patterns like the photographs above (source: Wee Bird) were distributed as paper copies. Those paper copies often end up on Ebay or in local second-hand stores. Here in the UK, second-hand stores (or charity shops) are a treasure trove of vintage knitting patterns. Below are a few useful tips and tricks for finding and adapting vintage knitting patterns.

One of my oldest vintage knitting patterns, dating back to the 1940s

Where can I find free vintage knitting patterns online?

There are many places to find vintage knitting patterns online. Here are a few of the websites that I have found useful when searching for vintage knitwear:

 • Free Vintage Knitting - this website has the biggest collection of free vintage knitting patterns that I've found online, so I would highly recommend checking it out.
• Vintage Knitting Pattern Archive - this blog has tons of beautiful vintage knitwear patterns with designs for men, women and children. The patterns were originally paper copies but have been scanned and uploaded onto the site.
• Victoria and Albert Museum - the British museum has a selection of vintage knitwear patterns on its site, plus the museum itself has some amazing vintage knitwear and articles about the history of the knitting.
• All Free Knitting - All Free Knitting has a post with 10 vintage knitting patterns. It's not a huge selection, but the designs are nice.

A range of newer vintage knitting patterns from the 1980s-1990s

Where can I find physical copies of vintage knitting patterns?

There are far more paper copies of vintage knitting patterns than there are digital versions. After all, that was how knitting patterns used to be distributed and sold. Below are a few places that I look to find original paper copies of knitting patterns. They are often rarer than the patterns you can find online, and I've certainly come across a few paper patterns that aren't mentioned anywhere on the internet.

• Second-hand stores - this is the best place to go to find vintage knitting patterns and old knitting books. I've found some great patterns from many different eras in charity shops here in the U.K - my oldest pattern dates back to the 1940s! I'm not sure whether they'd be sold in U.S thrift shops, but check out any second-hand book stores (e.g Oxfam Books in the U.K) and you might be in luck!
*note - you can also find some excellent knitting books in second-hand stores. One of my stitch dictionaries is from 1992 and is still a great resource for the modern-day knitter (and far cheaper than a brand new one from a book store).
• Ebay - another great place to find cheap second-hand knitting patterns, these designs will probably be rarer than the ones you can find online.
• Etsy - a popular online home for craft-related items, it's only natural that there are plenty of rare & unique vintage knitting patterns on the site.

Inside my 1940s 'Woman's Weekly Home Knitting Book'

Where can I find modernised vintage knitting patterns?

Vintage knitting patterns can be a little difficult to follow, and sometimes only come in one size, which is a little problematic if you're not the exact same size as the model. Some very clever designers have updated, modernised or redesigned vintage knitting patterns for modern knitters' needs. Here are a couple of useful resources for you:

• Susan Crawford Vintage - Susan Crawford has released two books, A Stitch in Time Vol. 1 &2, in which there are many vintage-style knitting patterns that have been modernised and reproduced. Using patterns from the 1920s-1940s, the books present reproduced and digitally enhanced versions of the originals. However, some of the original patterns can still be found floating around the internet, like the Such Flattering Puff Sleeves pattern on this knitter's blog.
• Glamour Knits by Erika Knight - this book contains 15 knitting patterns inspired by Hollywood sirens. The designs, like this gorgeous lace top pattern, have a very vintage feel to them - think golden-age starlet.

Two modern vintage knitting books - I highly recommend the book Knit Back in Time.

How can I adapt vintage knitting patterns? 

To adapt vintage knitting patterns, you'll often need to do a lot of calculations. Based on the pattern's gauge, what measurements does the garment have? And if I want to adapt it to my own measurements, how many more stitches and rows do I have to add? It can be difficult to adapt vintage patterns, as they were often made in one size and the yarns are quite likely to be discontinued. If you really want to get into vintage knitting, I'd recommend the following book:

• Knit Back in Time by Geraldine Warner - this book explains in great detail how to adapt, substitute, alter and adjust vintage knitting patterns. It also has a section on vintage design elements that you can add to your own vintage-style knitwear designs. An absolute must-have for anyone that wants to make vintage garments.

What yarn should I use for vintage knitting patterns?

A lot of vintage knitting patterns tend to use 4-ply yarn. My personal recommendations for vintage knitting patterns would be the following 4-ply yarns:

• Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino - a baby-soft 4-ply in a huge array of colours

• Patons 4-ply yarn - Patons has many different 4-ply yarns to choose from in lots of different colours. Patons has been producing knitting patterns for years, so it's a good choice for any knitting patterns you find from the 1980s and 1990s. 

• Sirdar 4-ply yarn - similar to Patons, Sirdar have been producing patterns for a long time, so it's a good choice for some of the older knitting patterns that you might find. 

Additional resources

Here are a few last resources that might be useful for anyone that wants to try knitting vintage patterns:
• All Things Vintage Ravelry group
• Amy Appel's Ravelry page - 1950s knitwear designs
• Susan Crawford Vintage Ravelry group