Modern Trends

I recently had the good fortune of stumbling upon the mother lode of vintage craft books and instructional pamphlets at one of my old thrifting haunts. It seems no one else in the town I grew up in has any use for titles such as "Nylon Net Novelties" and "A Flair With Felt". Their loss is our gain, Dollfaces, as I plan to share many of them here and in my new Vintage Crafts set over at Flickr.
The cover image of this one is particularly striking.


If, like me, you were curious as to the construction of hairpin lace, here is a brief introduction.


I am in love with the Technicolor photographs.




Here is a really clever idea, one which I think still looks quite fresh-- lampshade cozies which "cast a charming lacy shadow". Should any of you crafty ladies or gentlemen desire your own designer lampshade, crochet away, Dollfaces, with the patterns for these three shade covers downloadable here.


The back cover illustrates a form of embroidery that I've seen on many vintage linens, but had no idea was called "Swedish Weaving". I just love learning new things, don't you?


I may even add a Swedish Weaving project to my ever-growing list of crafty to dos. My dad's side came from Sweden, so I'm betting I'll take to it like a duck to water.

(from "Modern Trends", Copyright 1954, Coats & Clark Inc.)