Pink wool crocheted baby blanket
<p>Pink crocheted baby blanket made by Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938) of Middletown, Dauphin County, PA, USA, possibly for her youngest daughters Lottie Cleland (1892-1905) and Louella Cleland Weirich (1895-1983). Louella probably also used the blanket for her own daughters, Gloria Weirich Milspaw (1922- ) and Mitzi Weirich Caldwell (1927-2018).</p>
Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938)
1880
36" x 40"
2020.014
Pineapple crecheted edge on round, worn cotton doily
<p>Doily with crocheted pineapple edging made by Alice E Cleland, (1864-1938) in Middletown, Dauphin Co, PA, USA, probably for her own use, and probably in the 1880s.</p>
Cleland, Alice E
1880
Worn thin cotton doily, 23" diameter with 5" ivory crocheted pineapple edging
2020.018
Red wool crocheted lace from girl's petticoat
<p>This wool lace was made by Alice E Cleland (1864-1938) in Middletown, Dauphin Co., PA, USA in the 1890s and was used as an edging on a petticoat (a long skirt) worn by her daughters Lottie E Cleland (1892-1905) and Louella Cleland Weirich (1895-1983). There are still traces of the thread (a buff color) which attached the lace to the petticoat.</p>
Cleland, Alice E
1890
Crocheted wool, 97" diameter, 3" width
2020.015
Lady's camisole with filet crocheted top, drawstrings, and armholes
<p>Filet crocheted camisole made by Alice E Cleland (1864-1938) Middletown, Dauphin Co, PA, USA for her own use. The filet crochet contains a Greek Key design, bordered by mesh lace and scallops. The camisole itself is of soft cotton. The edges are held together with drawstring ties, and there are drawstrings around the armholes for a "better" fit. Honestly, I never thought I would inherit my great grandmother's underwear.</p>
Cleland, Alice E
1890
41" around, crochet lace 10.5 ", 13" over shoulder
2020.016
Embroidered linen dresser scarf with filet crochet edging
<p>Large dresser scarf made of linen, embroidered with flower basket and butterflies and edged with elaborate filet crochet. Made by Alice E Cleland (1864-1938) in Middletown, Dauphin Co. PA, USA about 1890. I inherited this family piece, made by my great grandmother.</p>
Cleland, Alice E
1890
Linen part is 41" x 15" with eyelet stitch. Filet crochet 5.25" at shortest point, 9" at longest part. The linen is worn through in several spots. The embroidery features a basket of softly colored flowers and a bright gold and black butterfly.
2020.017
Crochet Bonnet
This is a crochet baby bonnet that my Great Grandmother Mabel Jensen wore as a baby. She was born in 1900. It is unknown who crocheted it, but it is definitely crochet and wool. It is in excellent condition.
1900
2018.006
Doily with croched border
<p>A cotton cloth doily with an elaborate needle lace (?) border. Made by Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938) in Middletown, Dauphin County, PA, USA sometime between 1890 - 1900. Cleland was an excellent and prolific needlewoman, who must have been working constantly on crocheting.</p>
Alice Eichelberger Cleland (1864-1938)
1900
14" diameter
2020.010
Knitted Baby Layette in Two Sizes
<p>The green set is made in a newborn to 6-month size and the pink set is larger, perhaps 9-month to 1 year. Both are knitted in baby or sport weight yarn in a feather and fan pattern. They were made for Marilyn Huset by her maternal grandmother, Lulu Billig Royston.</p>
Lulu Billig Royston
1950
2020.001
Cotton handkerchief with varigated blue crocheted edge
<p>Christy Lockard crocheted edges for dozens of hankies for her family and friends. For this handkerchief she used a variegated blue thread. Lockard (1894-1982) lived in Middletown, Dauphin County, PA, USA. Most of her crochet work was done between 1950 - 1970</p>
Christina Weirich Lockard (1894-1982)
1950
Square cotton handkerchief
2020.012
Handkerchief with yellow crocheted border and inset
<p>The crocheted edging and insert on this handkerchief was made by my great aunt Christy (Christina Weirich Lockard 1894-1982) as a Christmas gift for family and friends. She produced dozens of them during the 1950-1970s.</p>
Christina Weirich Lockard (1894-1982)
1960
Square cotton handkerchief with yellow crocheted border and inset
2020.013
Mr. Elsner's Knitted Kitties
<p>Mr. Elsner was one of few men who arrived in my hometown of Schwarzenbach an der Saale, a town in Northern Bavaria, Germany, from the Russian Prisoner of War camps after World War II.</p>
<p>He couldn't go to his home in East Germany, which was newly occupied by the Russians. His wife managed to arrive in Schwarzenbach before he did. They were among many refugees in the town.</p>
<p>German soldiers were known to knit their own socks, and Mr. Elsner may have learned to knit during his military service or in the POW camp.</p>
<p>Soldiers received a cigarette allowance, but Mr. Elsner didn't smoke. Instead, he bartered his allotted cigarettes for knitting supplies and other goods.</p>
<p>In Schwarzenbach, he knitted little toys, like these garter stitch kitties. He gave them to children, and the white kitties were gifts to my two older children, Suzann and Eric.</p>
<p>My youngest son Van and I stopped by Mr. Elsner's apartment for the last time, when we visited Germany in 1974. I never knew his or his wife's first names. They were very nice people.</p>
<p>Mr. Elsner's work inspired Suzann, then around 8 years old, to try her hand at knitting a kitty herself. The blue kitty was the result.</p>
<p>The white kitties by Mr. Elsner are about 6 inches tall, with features embroidered in black and knitted black tails. One is stuffed with foam rubber, which is deteriorating and may soon be replaced with polyester fiberfill. The blue kitty is the same height, with a tail braided with yellow, coral, and blue yarns, probably from a variegated skein.</p>
Mr. Elsner
1960s
about 6 inches tall
2019.033
Knitted Afghan, 1966
<p>I made this afghan back in 1966, at least started. I was working in delivery rooms at the time and a coworker had made one. She shared the pattern with several of us. I believe it was called Dutch tile. I don't recall we ever knew who designed the pattern. I made it out of wool purchased from Lee Wards. I made it for myself and it was used for years. The gold color faded some as it was thrown over the back of our couch.</p>
Paulson Mary
1966
approx. 48 by 82
2021.007
My First Knitted Sweater
<p>I knitted my first sweater, a pullover, at age 17. The pattern appeared in <em>Ladies Circle Needlework</em> magazine's Fall-Winter 1968 issue. It was likely made in Red Heart or a similar yarn of a worsted weight. I still have the sweater and the magazine. I'd been knitting for almost 10 years by then and doing a sweater was certainly a learning experience. I've made many sweaters since, but this one has a fond spot in my knitter's heart.</p>
Huset, Marilyn
1968
2019.029
1970s Yellow Mohair Sweater
<p>Description: Hand knitted Yellow Mohair Sweater, 1978, with V-neck, ties, cap sleeves. </p>
<p>Construction Details: knitted in flat pieces (back and front), seamed at sides and shoulders, with sleeve edges and neckband picked up after seaming to finish. Allover texture pattern consists of vertical panels of stockinette stitch framed by columns openwork lace. Knit 2, purl 2 ribbing at hem, garter stitch sleeve edges, neck edge, and toes. Gauge 27 stitches and 29 rows = 4". </p>
<p>Condition: Excellent. </p>
<p>Recollections: </p>
<p>My mother, Paige Negus, made this yellow summer sweater for me in 1978. I never wore it much -- the color was not very flattering, and the yarn was not comfortable to wear next to the skin -- but I've kept it year after year because it is so beautifully made, and because I recall my mother re-knitted it several times to make it come out just right.</p>
<p>Recently we found the orginal pattern for this sweater among the craft magazines my mother has saved. Published in the Spring/Summer 1978 Issue of American Home Crafts Magazine (shown), it is identified as "Cap Sleeve Blouse", pp. 83 and 100. The pattern recommended using Plymouth Indiecita Alpaca yarn, but I am sure my mother substituted Mohair because it was less expensive. The Magazine offers an interesting glimpse into 1970s crafting -- with knitted, crocheted, and sewn garments, quilts and shirred rugs made from recycled and scrap fabrics, sand painting in bottles, stenciled floors, embroidered peasant blouses, and much more.</p>
<p>Now my mother spends her crafting time on needlepoint and cross stitch, but then she made a lot of our clothing to save money. She loved to knit and she was absolutely passionate about sewing. This sweater reminds me of her love of making, the beautiful things she created for all of us -- me, my sister, my father, and herself -- and the many hours we spent during those years sewing, knitting and crafting together.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
Negus, Paige
1978
Jennifer Lindsay
Length: 23" Bust 33"
2019.012
Crocheted Donkey from 1980s
Sometime during the 1980s, my husband Alan and I were visiting friends in San Antonio, Texas. We went to a grocery store, and there among the vegetables were ceramic donkeys pulling carts. They were planters. They were very cute and not too expensive, so I bought one. After that, I would see other donkey figurines and some were so artistic! I would buy donkeys that were different or prettier than what I already had. Knowing my fondness for donkey figurines, my daughter Suzann crocheted this little donkey for me, probably for my birthday or Mother's Day, sometime in the 1980s. She used gray boucle yarn for the body and a smooth black yarn for the hooves, mane, tail, and features. The bows on the tail and neck are mohair-blend yarn. She still has the pattern. It is "Little Gray Donkey," by Bev Dillon, in Crocheted Critters, Leisure Arts Leaflet 109, dated 1977. I appreciated the little crocheted donkey and it is still around after all those years. I put it in the guest room where my grandson sleeps when my eldest son's family comes to visit.
Thompson, Suzann
1980s
about 8 inches tall
2019.032
Knitted mohair lace 3/4 length cropped sleeve cowl neck
<p>This lovely creation was made for me by my beloved grandmother and cherished friend, Helen Rudewicz Pawlak Horan. It is an absolute honor to have received this tremendous gift from such a beautiful person in my life. When I'm wearing it, wrapped in all its feathery weightlessness and gentle warmth, I feel as though I am embaced in her comforting spirit.</p>
<p>I remember her working on it for a long time, taking great care and attention, being challenged by the fine and fuzzy mohair yarn, and loving the accomplishment of seeing her work take shape. We would sit together and talk while she knit. I also feel like so many of the stories and wisdoms she shared are captured in her stitches. </p>
<p>My grandmother - "Chuchee" as we all called her - was also a fan of watching the game show <em>Wheel of Fortune</em>. She liked to solve the puzzles and adored the glamour and grace of Vanna White. Some years after my grandmother had passed, I was wearing this piece at a knitting trade show when Vanna White approached me to admire it. She was delightful and her comments were so very complimentary. As we talked, I mentioned how much of a fan of hers that my grandmother had been and how parts of this garment were probably knit while watching Vanna as well. Without missing a beat, Vanna said, "Well then, this for your grandma..." and she pulled me up on stage and proceeded to do the famous Vanna presentation move - gracefully guiding her arm up and down to accentuate my grandmother's knitting. What a surprising and fun tribute.</p>
<p>Somehow the magic of knitted treasures is that they just keep on giving ... thank you Chuchee (and Vanna).</p>
Helen Rudewicz Pawlak Horan, 1912 - 1994
1990
48" in length x 24" in width
2019.015
Crocheted rose brooches
My mother used to make hundreds of these rose shaped crocheted brooches in different threads and colors to give as a small gift. The back side is covered with a felt round cut cloth and a pin is mounted.
Teruko Hattori
1990’s
Don’t know
2019.004
Floral shaped brooch
My mother made this in the early 90’s and gave to me as a Christmas gift. I don’t know if it is chrocheted or just tied loosely. She is a very freely creative person of her own ideas, often playing with materials not following any teacher or textbook. Thus, I don’t know how to categorize this.
Teruko Hattori
1990’s
wool thread of 4 colors, a button, back covering cloth made of grosgrain type, a brooch pin
2019.005
Crocheted layered floral brooch for summer
Another of my mother’s made brooch consisting of 3 layers of crocheted frilled circles with the top one made into a spiral shape. The back is covered with a cotton cloth and is mounted with a pin.
Teruko Hattori
1990’s
3 colored cotton lace threads
2019.006
Crocheted summer snood and wrist covers
A cotton multicolored snood and wrist covers my mother made for me when I suffered from chronic pneumonia for extra warmth but of sweat absorbing material of cotton. Primitive works but I liked the combinations of colors.
Teruko Hattori
1990’s
Snood about 30 cm in diameter, wrist covers 20cm x 10cm with grey rubber tape at the end, material: 6 mixed colored cotton lace threads about 1mm in diameter
2019.007
Basket knitted 2 samplers and a pouch made out of such with a string
Morhet was once very keen on learning this knitting pattern and made quite a few samplers of the same shape, in different but matching shades of colors and patchworked, appliqué to woolen cloth made bags of tartan patterns, and these small pouches. ;It was all in the 1990s that she was enthusiastically active in knitting after a long try of embroidery and basket weaving, etc. All her works are if her own design, choice of colors, and the purpose was giving out, for charity, or for gift.
Teruko Takahashi
1990’s
15cmx15cm square samplers made from 2mm blue to purple shades thread, the pouch knitting the two squares together and adding a matching purple cotton string for carrying
2019.008
Phone cases, a pouch, a tissue case
My mother’s made mobile phone cases when they were folding types. Also a mini tissue paper cover, and a small pouch with floral ornaments.
All from cotton lace threat, white or beige, adorned with flowers, beads, woven cloth with a pompon, and crocheted in floral patterns.
Teruko Takahashi
1990’s
Maximum 15x10cm small bags and pouches
2019.009
Reversible Crocheted Snood
<p>This was made for late autumnal wear. Has lots of holes for crocheting connecting diamond shapes. It’s reversible; mixed colors and solid red. </p>
Teruko Hattori
1990s
12cm x 102cm
2019.025
Knitted Vest, Colorful Stripes
<p><strong>Materials: </strong>Shetland-style, American-made 100% wool yarn, fingering weight, <span>brand currently unknown. The pink tweed may have been an early Rowan yarn. Silver Mercury dime b</span>uttons with shank, ¾”. </p>
<p><strong>Story:</strong> In 1991, I knitted this vest for my boyfriend, now husband of 28 years.<span> </span><span>It was a challenging project, with more colors and more finishing details than I had previously undertaken. </span>Starting in late summer, I knitted along diligently, but was sick during the holidays and couldn’t complete the vest before we exchanged holiday gifts. Nevertheless, like so many of us have done and still do, I boxed and wrapped the unfinished pieces carefully, eagerly anticipating his response. On opening his vest-to-be, my boyfriend made a number of nice, thoughtful comments, but he was much less enthusiastic than I had hoped.<span> </span></p>
<p>I handed it to him a few weeks later, finished, and his face lit up: “It’s done?<span> </span>I can have it?” When I mentioned my concern that he didn't like it, he said, “Well, I’ve gotten a few knitted things in pieces over the years, and usually, after I open them, I never see them again, so I find it’s best not to get too excited about unfinished projects!”<span> </span></p>
<p><strong>Design History:</strong> UK designer Sasha Kagan, (<a href="https://www.sashakagan.co.uk/">https://www.sashakagan.co.uk</a>), created the vest pattern and published it in an early booklet of Rowan sweater designs that I cannot now locate.<span> Sasha Kagan described t</span>his same design, called “Leaves,” as “based on a Fair Isle pattern” on pp. 81-82 of <em>The Sasha Kagan Sweater Book: 48 Beautiful Handknits by a Top Fashion Designer</em>, published in 1984 by Ballantine Books, New York, ISBN #0-345-31871-4.<span> </span></p>
<p><span>T</span>he instructions specified using the intarsia technique for the colorwork, with the back and two fronts knitted separately and later seamed at the sides. The horizontal stripes were straightforward enough to knit this way, but I knit the hundreds of little leaves with separate strands for each, tying each one off at both the beginning and the end, a process that would have been made easier by using the stranded colorwork techniques typical of traditional Shetland and Fair Isle knitting. <span> </span></p>
<p>In the 1990s, colorful sweater designs were very popular, however, most designers and pattern publishers recommended using intarsia even when stranded knitting would be faster and more convenient because most kntters were not familiar with "knitting in the round" and "steeking the openings," two essential elements of traditional stranded knitting. Today, knitters are much more familiar with the history and techniques of stranded knitting. This shift occurred later in the 1990s as designers like Alice Starmore, Ron Schweitzer, and still later, Kate Davies, among others, as well as yarn designers and manufacturers like Jamieson & Smith of Shetland, and Betty Lindsay and Bonnie Hassler of Yarns International in Bethesda, Maryland helped to popularize these traditional materials and techniques. </p>
<p><strong>Notes:</strong> This project reminds me how love inspires so many of our most creative and adventurous feats in handwork and in life!<span> </span></p>
<p> </p>
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Jennifer Lindsay
1991
Dimensions: 27” long, 46” wide, V-neck depth 11”, Armhole depth 11.5”
2020.023
Design Proposal for I-Cord Embellished Sweater
To propose knit/crochet projects for publication, I have made many swatches and sketches since the early 1990s. This one was probably for a publication of Bond America, a company that marketed and sold a hobby knitting machine and a mechanical knitting nancy, which cranked out I-cord very quickly. I used both machines to make the swatch. The design was never accepted for publication, but that's how it often goes for freelance designers. The background is knitted with a tan mohair-blend yarn. I used many types of red yarn for the I-cord.
Thompson, Suzann
1997
approx. 10" x 10"
2018.014