Knitting for victory

V for Victory on the back cover

My dress still isn't finished (but I have at least acquired some suitable buttons!) so, as World War II and VE Day have been in the news this week, I'm looking at a wartime issue of Vogue Knitting Book.

The artwork harks back to some of Vogue's Surrealist covers

There's no date to be found anywhere in the publication, but as it's the 21st issue of something which appears to have started in 1932 and was published twice a year, my guess is 1942.

Marking 21 issues

Given that Vogue Pattern Book had no colour photography and limited colour printing the year before, I was surprised by the number of pages in colour.

One of several colour pages

In fact, in places it's hard to believe that this was produced in wartime, amid shortages and rationing.

I wonder how easy it was to get the 15oz of wool required for this

Elsewhere however, it's more obvious.

"Wear white at night" to be seen in the blackout

Keep warm without a fire

The notion that a garment must be knitted in a specific yarn has been abandoned, and there is a chart listing possible alternatives if the first choice isn't available.

Interchangeable wools

The hybrid sewn and knitted dress which featured in the March 1942 issue of Vogue appears here as well, along with another example.

V9246 (l) and V9392 (r), both with knitted bodices

In both cases, the knitting more or less replicates the fabric option.

V9246 showing the knitted and sewn versions

V9392 in fabric

In case the sewing element is beyond the reader's skills, help is at hand via Vogue's Book of Smart Dressmaking.

Shown above a slightly ominous advert for Cuticura ointment

Like the magazine itself, some of the advertisements ignore the war.

No mention of coupon or wool requirements here

While others acknowledge that supplies of item being advertised may be hard to get.

Re-use your Lavenda wool if you can't get new

Save your precious soap flakes for 'best'

For me though, the most mind-boggling thing in the whole magazine is in the Weetabix ad. I know that milk was rationed, but things would have to be desperate before I would consider eating Weetabix dry!

Many things can be eaten dry, but that doesn't make it a good idea