Antique Needlework Pattern Library

By Kirstin

May 9, 2008

2 comments


Just stumbled across a treasure trove of patterns. The Antique Pattern Library scans antique books, magazines, and articles full of patterns for crochet, knitting, tatting, embroidery, needle lace and other kinds of needlework. Their ongoing mission is to preserve and make available to the public (for free!) our needlework heritage.

The American Red Cross knitting book in their catalog caught my eye. It's got patterns for a U.S. Navy - Iceland sweater, a watchcap, and a child's sweater among other things like a pattern for a head bandage cap and a walking cast toe sock ! I'm not quite sure what the last two might look like, as there are no photos on those particular pages, but there are several photos on the other pages.

Some of the cataloged files are in French or German, but many have clear illustrations that you'd be able to understand even if you don't speak these languages.

There's a Yahoo group that supports this database of pdf files and they are always looking for wonderful old needlework books to add to the catalog. I'm going to keep this in mind as garage sale season gets underway. I love that there's a group out there preserving all this wonderful history.

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Comments (2)

Several things: first, google is putting all sorts of books, magazines, etc. online, and I think that's where I found a lot of great OLD patterns. Next: lots of librarys all over the country are being "brought up to date" and throwing out old books and magazines...lots of craft mags. that will be lost forever. If you hear of a library near you in this state, rush over and ask what they are getting rid of. The San Francisco Public Library tossed out so many old books, while I was out of town, of course. Books are being lost daily and old craft magazines are being burned up. Very sad to one like me, but happily when I moved from Chicago I left my old magazines to a craft co-op I started called the Oak Park Women's Exchange, and the gals came and took what they wanted. They 'went to good homes.'
At the moment, I am wondering what I should do about all my craft books when I finally go (I am 84), as my daughter cares NOTHING about crafts and the library obviously doesn't want them. I guess I should contact google and see if they want them to put online...ah, at last a good idea, they are close. Thanks for allowing me to try it on you.
Peg Cartwright
Peggy Cartwright united states United States 18 March 2009 3:30 a.m.
can anyone help me identify an old needlepoint piece? There seem to be two "skimmers' warm saltwater birds, each holding a stick on which a young turtle is holding by his beak. Is there an historical significance to this design - or are the birds, which are mostly lost in the image, another type of bird? thanks for any ideas folks, what you think or where I can go to get an ID on this. ~V~
Victoria Lenne united states United States 4 May 2009 12:26 p.m.

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