Vintage Tuesday: 80s Wit Knits
February 9, 2010
Oh the 80s is just such a gold mine for bad fashion isn’t it? Funnily enough crafting had started to lose some of it’s cool by the 80s so there isn’t a massive craft trend that I’ve spotted so far – apart from the bedazzler which I’d kill to get a book or some pics of!
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Wit Knits is an entire book of “lively and original designs” direct from 1985, a time when I was just 10 years old and sporting more flourescent jumpers and socks than I care to admit. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a couple wearing matching knitted jumpers (or vests), my memories of the 80s were more leather jackets and electro rock, falling asleep regularly to the sound of dad’s band practicing which made the whole house vibrate. Not a witty knitted number in sight I’m afraid!
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Got any 80s crafty memories to share?
Hello. My name is Claire. I have a sock toy addiction. It began two years ago when I was pregnant and nesting. At first I dismissed it. I hadn't sewn in years. "Craft Schmaft" I said. Well it seems this crafty thing is here to stay. This blog brings you the delights of making sock softies, fabric finds and crafty inspiration from round the interweb.
February 9, 2010 at 9:18 PM
oh my god!! Not only are those jumpers so bad they’re not even allowed to be retro, all those models are tv “celebs” here!!! My family think my husband will look like Giles (the guy in the last pic in the yellow train jumper) when he’s older, I hope he won’t have the same taste in woolen outerwear!
February 9, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Oh god I thought the first one with the pineapple was gold then I scrolled down and saw the one with the frog, love that chest hair
February 11, 2010 at 9:16 AM
He he…Yeah Cass I have to say that that the frog/chest hair is just way too scary published any bigger than that!
February 10, 2010 at 4:15 AM
OMG!! I wish I had that banana sweater. Too funny!!!
February 11, 2010 at 9:17 AM
The pattern is all your if you’re game
February 10, 2010 at 8:10 AM
lively and original, that is the funniest I’ve seen in a long time! that guy is hilarious!
Corrie:)
February 11, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Well you really can’t argue with the originality of them, can you he he he!
February 10, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Chest hair, frog vest, elton john inspired glasses and the subtle use of neck bling- gold!
February 10, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Macrame!! That’s my 80s craft memory, we all did it at school and my mum has a lifetime supply of macrame and wooden bead keyrings as a result of my efforts
Those photos are hilarious! My mother-in-law recently tried to give me her old knitting machine (I declined given how enormous it is and how unlikely it is that I will get into machine knitting) and the pattern books were full of things like the photos you’ve posted.
February 11, 2010 at 9:05 AM
Oh of course… the Macrame – I actually thought that was a 70s thing, or maybe my mum had just given up on it by the time she got to 1980 and had 3 kids under the age of 5. Will hunt down some Macrame Amelia!
February 13, 2010 at 7:44 AM
oh Claire you have stumbled on a gem of a book! my favourite is the guy with the pineapple – what a terrific prop, he is having so much fun isn’t he!
February 13, 2010 at 7:57 AM
Firstly, this is the third attempt at writing this
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Macrame! Yep – that is a strong memory for me.
Hobbytex was another that I loved to do with my Mum! It was like fabric paint in a big ballpoint pentube thingy. I still have a pillowcase that I made.
I also had a fantastic Ra-ra skirt (denim ofcouse), the oversized T-shirt that had FRONT and BACK written on it in fluro!! Frankie Goes to Hollywood gave us that little fashion look – remember him??
Don’t forget the huge permed hair!!!
Ahh, I loved the 80′s.
February 23, 2010 at 12:02 AM
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