Figure 1.--.

Knitwear was most popular for babies, but a great deal of patterns existed for boys and girls of all ages. We think most of these companies are American, but are not yet sure. We have very little information about the companies that have published these different catalogs and patterns. This is a list of some of the major companies offering knitting patterns and a sampling of the patterns that they offered.

Advance

The 1930-40s, 50-60s with good attentiin to children and teens.

Anne Adams

American Thread Company

Nylon, Star Book No. 99, 1953, American Thread Co., 15 pp. Women's knitted cardigan, pullover and crocheted shawl, cardigan, pullover and bedjacket. Men's knitted sleeveless pullover and socks. Kids crocheted cardigan and bedjacket. Infants' crocheted sacque, hat, booties and mitts.

Annie's Attic

Delicate Dresses II. Annie's Attic. 1990. Toddler dresses, irish lace bow, dressy sock trims, pinafore, dress gloves, beret, purse. crochet.

Bear Brand

Bear Brand-Bucilla Baby Book, Vol. 328, 1940's, 47 pp. Infants: Knitted: sacques, booties, hats, leggings, cardigans, mittens, buntings, blankets, soakers, romper, pullovers Crocheted: blanket, sacques, booties, hats, soaker. Children's': Knitted: pants, cardigans, hats, dresses, pullovers, skirt, shorts, mittens, scarf. Crocheted: hats.

Bear Brand Hand knits for Children. #331. 1946. 37 pages. Pullovers, cardigans, jumpers, skirt, vests.

Bear Brand Baby Book. Infants to 4 yrs. revised Vol. 339. 1950. 55 pages. Knitted: blankets, booties, caps, sacques, soakers, buntings, leg warmers, mittens, scarf, pullovers, coats, vests, cardigans, pants. Crocheted: blankets, booties, caps, sacques, mittens.

Bear Brand Hand Knits for Young America for Boys and Girls, sizes 6 to 14, vol. 348, 1955, Bernhard Ulmann Co. Inc., 47 pp. Knitted: cardigans, skirt, jumper, pullovers, vests, hat, socks. Crocheted: pullover, cardigan.

The 2 & 4 ply raglan designs for 2 to 5 year olds. 1950s 12 pages.

Beehive

Handknits for Boys and Girls by Beehive, sizes 6-12, Book 92, 1960's, 29 pp. Knitted: pullovers, cardigans, vest, hats, mittens, briefs, skating set and coat.

Beehive Picture Knits sizes 4-12, #427, 1970's, Patons, 21 pp. Kids' knit cardigans.

Pre-School Fashions for sizes 1-6 by Beehive, Book 110, 1970's, Patons, 22 pp. Kids Knitted: pullovers, cardigans, leggings, mittens, hat.

Children's Fashions for size 6-12 by Beehive. #7116. 1980's. 23 pages. Cardigans, pullover, suits for girls.

Beehive Chieftan

Beehive Chieftain/canadiana 32/ Sailor boy sweater 2-4-6

Bernat's Handicrafter

Bernat's Handicrafter: handknits for Infants, and Youngsters up to 14 yrs., Vol. 14 No. 4, 1945, 64 pp. Infants: Knitted: skirts, shorts, etc.

The Toddlers Six from Bernat (sizes 2,3 and 4), Booklet #158, 1970's, 7 pp. Kids: Knitted: cardigans and pullovers.

Botany

Botany hand knit bulkies for children. sizes 2 -16. Vol 14. 1960. 39 pages. Cardigan, pullovers, 3 piece sets, coats.

Bouquet

Children's Cardigans, No. 457, 1980's, Bouquet Yarns, 2 pp. Two knitted cardigans. fold in half.

Brunswick

Brunswick Space Youth, Vol. 79, 1970's, 59 pp. Kids: knit dresses, pants, hats, gloves, socks, shorts, pullovers, swimsuits, leggings, bag, vest, skirt.

Bucilla

Bucilla Babies, Vol. 10, 1977, 27 pp. Infants: Knitted: overalls, romper, cardigans, blankets. Crocheted: cardigans, blankets, hat and pullover.

Burda/Style/New Look

Burda was a German sewing pattern company. Theu also had knit patterns. Perhaps the Burda patterns were marketed in America under the Style/New Look brand.

Butterick

Butterick is a major American company profucing sewing patterns. They alsomoffere knitting patterns. One source suggests that knitting patterns were offered beginning inthe 1930s with good attention to children and teens. We can not yet confirm this. We know they began offering sewing patterns in the 1860s.

Chadwick's

Classic Sweaters from 3 to 6" Chadwick's #246 (1948). Kindergarten Classics! Adorable sweaters for boys and girls in classic styles.

Classics from 8 to 16 Chadwick's #247 (1948). Nifty sweaters for bigger kids!

Children's Classics from 4-14. #216. Chadwick's red heart. 4th edition. 23 pages. girls' and boy's: cardigans, pullovers, vest, hats, socks, mittens, gloves, scarves.

Du Barry

Elenka

Elenka Icelandic Type Yarn Boys or Girls Cardigan, No. 2801, 1980's, White Buffalo Mills Ltd., 2 pp.

Fashion Hollywood

Good attention to children and teens.

Fleisher's

Fleisher's Hand Knits for Boys and Girls, 6 to 14, vol. 100, 1956, 51 pp. Knitted: pullovers, cardigans, vest, skirt suit, socks, mittens, scarves, jacket, jumper, ice skating outfit, hats and Crocheted: vest, jacket.

Gretchen Baum

Playtime Sweaters for Children by Gretchen Baum: Knitting Instruction for twelve Cardigans and Pullovers for ages three to twelve, complete with graphs, Vol. 21, 1948, Nomis Yarn Co., 30 pp.

Hilde

"Pre Teen Fashions in Wool" Hilde #101 (1963) Cute knit and crochet fashions for bigger kids.

Jack Frost

"Jack Frost Sweaters for Boys and Girls" #41 (1942 or 1946 editions) . More charming sweaters for bigger kids.

"Jack Frost Sweaters for Boys and Girls" #46 (1944). More charming sweaters for bigger kids. Sweaters and mittens for boys and girls. Pullovers. cardigans, vest, and mittens. #46. 1947. 29 pages

Jack Frost Baby book. #61. 1958. 14 pages. knitted: Hats, cardigans, sacques, leggings, mittens, blankets, bootees. many matching sets.

Knit-o-graph

Knit-o-graph 209 Sailboat slipover for boys sizes 6-12. 1954.

Knit-o-graph 870 clowns and balloons cardigan. sizes 4-10. 1950.

Knit-o-Graph 930 dog and dog house cardigan. sizes 4-10. 1951.

Lacey's

Lacey's Children's Book. 2-4 and 6 yrs. #21. 1949. 15 pages. Pullovers, cardigans and vests for boy's and girls.

Lacey's Speed knits for children #33. Sizes 4-6 & 8 yrs. 1965. 16 pages. mostly sweaters.

Lacey's Baby book #25. 1970. 1st edition and revised ed. 15 pages. crocheted: bootees, bonnets, blankets, sacques. Knitted: bootees, bonnets, blankets, sacques, soakers, shorts, cardigans, mittens.

McCall's

McCalls is another company which began as a ladies and fashion magazine and began producung pattens as well. One source suggests that they began offering knitting patterns in the 1930s, but this needed to be conformed. Good attention to children and teens.

Mary Maxim

Mary Maxim 8373 snowflake ski pullover. no date 8-10-12

Nell Armstrong

Doreen Baby Book by Nell Armstrong, No. 95, vol. 95, 1947, 3rd ed, 15 pp. Knitted: cardigan, hat, sacque, bonnets, pullovers, cardigans, blankets, snowsuit. Crocheted: sacques, hats, bonnets, booties, cardigan.

Doreen Baby Book. No. #92. by Nell Armstrong. 1949. 5th, 22th edition. Easy to make crochet and knitted baby items. Knitted: hats, bootees, sweaters, mittens. Crochet: hats, bootees, sweater sets.

Doreen for Tiny Tots by Nell Armstrong, No. 700, vol. 97, 1948, 15 pp. 1st & 4th editions. Kids: Knitted: coat, hat, cardigans, pullovers, pants. Crocheted: cardigan.

New York Pictorial Review

Reynolds

Reynolds New Icelandic Fashions for the Young at Heart, Vol. 76, 1970's, 15 pp. Kids: Knitted: pullovers, hats and ponchos. Women's: Knitted: ponchos, pullover hat.

Simplicity

Simplicity is one of the leading companies offering sewing patterns. They also offer knitting patterns. We note simplicity knotting patterns in the 1930s, but are not sure when they began.

Spinnerin

Spinnerin # 101 Ideas Lesson #2, Vol. 2, 1962, 31 pp. Kids: Knitted: pullovers, cardigans. Women's': Knitted: pullovers, cardigans. Men's Knitted: pullovers and cardigans.

"Classic Manual" Spinnerin #151 (1964). Infants to 8 years, great selection of sweaters and accessories in all yarn weights. There are some cute sweaters in this book.

Spinnerin #152. 1963. 54 pages. Classic Manual Part 2 - casual fashions for the younger set. from 8-14 years. boys and girls sweaters. No infant patterns.

Spinnerin Boys Will Be Boys, ages 4 to 14, # 189, 1960's, 47 pp. Knitted: Cardigans, pullovers and vest.

Star Baby Book

Star Baby Book #153. 1950s.- Crocheted and knitted: booties, sacques, bathrobes, toys, mittens, carriage covers up to 2 years. 31 pages.

Star Crochet for your baby and knit too! #130. 1950s. 31 pages. Bathrobes, sweaters, bootee/saque/bonnet sets, toys, jumpers, blankets.

Vogue

Vogue is a high society fashion magazine. They also became an important company producing sewing patterns. They also offered stylish knitting patterns.

Vogue knitting - Special issue for children. sizes 4-14. over 57 designs for all seasons. Cardigans, pullovers, coats, beach sweaters, nautical sweaters, country sweaters, classics, infants' Layettes. 82 pages.

Other

Baby Hand Knits #71. Polar yarns and Rembrant. 1949. 21 pages. Infant blankets, hats, jackets, soakers, pants, booties, buntings, sunsuits, jumpers, mittens, sun suits.

Created: November 25, 2002
Last updated: November 25, 2002