Knitting football jumpers in a more innocent era, or rather a full decade before licensing deals snagged everything imaginable, from mugs to underpants. In fact, this was knitting before The Australian Football League even existed.If you would like to knit one of these for your little football fan, let me know -- I am happy to post the instructions on flickr.
From the knitting collection of Betty Collins, who died last year at exactly the age of 81. I don't know whether Betty followed the football much herself, but I do know that she was a wonderful woman.
9 comments:
Love seeing the old Fitzroy jumper. These really bring the memories flooding back! The old innocent days of VFL. Oh ans it was essential that these jumpers were always knitted in slightly the wrong tones of the colours, wasn't it!
Love seeing the old Fitzroy jumper. These really bring the memories flooding back! The old innocent days of VFL. Oh ans it was essential that these jumpers were always knitted in slightly the wrong tones of the colours, wasn't it!
Hi Julianne!
I'm glad that you like them. Yes, now I remember dimly those old jumpers -- kids at school often wore dodgy interpretations of their team's uniform. (Even though in this pattern book Patons claims that their yarn is specially dyed to match the teams' colours.) You still see some funny odd scarves and hats walking into the G, but I think it's getting rarer. Maybe someone should start a movement within the craft movement to bring some homemade back into Aussie Rules.....do away with all the nylon!
I know the handweavers and spinners guild have home knitted football items for sale (the proceeds go to a chairty that supports Parkinson's research) but I'm all for the resurgence of old school anti corporate football apparel! Wonder if we would get a letter from the AFL lawyers!! I'd love the fitzroy pattern for a dear friend who has never recovered from the relocation of his team!
I'm all for a craft lead resurgence of anti corporate football apparel! I know the hand weavers and spinners guild do have some (the proceeds go to a charity supporting Parkinson's research. Wonder if we'd get a letter from bigwig AFL lawyers? I'd love the fitzroy pattern Sandra. I have a dear friend who has never recovered from the relocation of his team.
Hi Julianne,
From my own experience working for a company that made AFL apparel (Davenport in the mid 90's: boxer shorts, ties, socks and I vaguely remember a silk scarf design that didn't get far) lawyers don't care what you do as long as you are not making lots of money out of it.
(Disney, Warner Bros etc would have a field day on etsy if they bothered to go after the the crafty people who use their characters without licence!!!!)
Meanwhile, here is a link for your friend:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35213081@N04/sets/72157626976940107/
I'd love to see it when it's done. :)
Great to meet you Julianne.
My Mum knitted all our school jumpers, too. Curiously they were the Hogwart's colours! True! Grey with gold and maroon stripe in the bands. wish i still had mine. jxx
Hello Jen!
Oh gosh I remember neighbouring schools with similar colours! (My school was a benign grey, green and white.) How lovely it would be to still have your mum's work, though back then I imagine that a school jumper might have had less pleasant associations.
I've made one son a hawthorn jumper but I would love the pattern for the Carlton logo. Do you have it?
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