When I moved south of the river last September (I mention this move a lot, don’t I? I clearly haven’t quite come to terms with being a South Londoner yet), I was somewhat disappointed to discover that there was not a single second hand bookshop in walking distance from my house.
Yes, I have two amazing independent book shops, so I’m not really complaining, but what with the whole maternity leave, not-earning-any-money malarkey, I did miss the brilliant, cheap second hand bookshop on Stoke Newington Church Street.
So, you can but imagine my delight to discover a teeny, tiny second hand shelf in Rye Books. (Which is, itself, something of a tiny, but absolutely excellent bookshop.)
Whatever delight you originally imagined, now double it, nay treble it, nay multiply it by a hundred, because this was what I found on said shelf:
Knitting in Vogue, volume 2, from 1983. “Patterns from the ’20s to the ’80s for men and women.” And all fronted by what seems to be a dewy looking Andie MacDowell in a pastel pink number. Perhaps she knitted it herself?
Want to take a look inside? Of course you do…
The inside cover shows you how well-represented the 1980s are going to be, with this fetching pair in their fetching polo-necks:
In fact, every pattern has the original photo from the decade it was released, along with a re-shot 1980s photo where the knitting has been “brought right into the current era” (okay, despite the quotes, those are still my words, but I bet it’s what they said to each other as they were brainstorming the photoshoot…)
Needless to say, I prefer the original photos, especially those from the 1920s to 1940s. Especially those with dashing men riding bicycles in knitted wonders, looking catalogue-tastic.
The big delight of the book though, wasn’t just how wonderfully retro all the pictures are, but the fact that I actually want to make every single pattern. There’s not a dud in here. Say what you like about the ’80s, but they clearly knew how to pick out a good knitting pattern. Here are a few more that look outright amazing…
Knitting in vogue? I certainly think so.
But tell me, which of these patterns should I cast on first?
Wolves in London 
What a marvellous find! Having a slight conniption on your behalf that you don’t have a second-hand bookshop within walking distance. Remind me not to move to your neck of South London. Think we are much better served in South West London!
I know! I thought a second hand bookshop was a staple on pretty much every high street. I’m having to make do with my one shelf in Rye Books and the books section of my local charity shop. Though, with finds like this I shouldn’t really moan, should I?!
Hello! You have a wonderful blog and we have to have similar interests. I’d love to take some horticultural courses but still wondering what should I do with my life. In my wonderings and to keep my nerves calmed I knit. I am looking for this vogue magazine because I want to make the sweater the man on the bike is wearing. I was wondering if it would be possible for you to send me a photo of the pattern? I would really love to have it. I made a sweater with another pattern and I have to unravel it totally because it was huge but blue my favourite color. This one seems like a very good 2nd option for that yarn. Thanks a lot.
JImena.
Enjoy your day.