Different takes on tradition

Alot of my own work is about the re-interpretation of various craft traditions, so it always interests me to see other people's takes, especially with the flavours of decades past. A few things from my library that have caught my eye today: Above Playful early 70's crochet "paisleys can create a dramatic afghan or a unique evening top." Or just look gorgeous as they are. The Art of Sewing/Exotic Styling, series editor Carlotta Kerwin, Time/Life Books, London, 1975. A bit Cathy of California too, I reckon.

Reinterpretation (or misinterpretation?) of traditional Aran knit on a prize catch, above from Mehr Freude mit Handarbeiten, Munchen, 1979. I have the Serbo-Croatian edition which was translated as Sve o Rucnim Radovima and must have been sadly demode by the time it was ready for the shop shelves of Yugoslavia in 1983.

NOTE: At a previous workplace we had this picture up on the wall and it was the source of endless mirth. Try it.

"It's 80's, but in a good way!" I say to myself when I occasionally find treasures like this knitted tartan from Mon Tricot - 1500 Patterns, ed. Evelyne Prouvost, Paris, 1984. (Thanks Mum.) Except that come to think of it, it looks exactly like the winter skirt I would have been wearing to school at around the same time.

Funny that.

Despite that hitch, I still like the idea of a knitted tartan and might tackle it one day in a rival school's colours. The book advises that the vertical lines be completed after knitting in darning stitch. Surely they just mean those single yellow and red lines going up the sides?! Otherwise it might be a bit too confusing. For me.

By the way, Gracia and Louise's new zines are too cool for words, do take a peek here.