Every now and then I come across a knitting pattern model who went on to become a famous singer, actor or model. Rowan knitting magazines from the 90’s feature a very young Kate Moss and in 2004 a 22 year old Eddie Redmayne. I also have a Cleckheaton pattern from the 80’s with the jumpers modeled by Deborah Conway.
It’s fun to come across someone “before they were famous” in a knitting pattern, but once they become famous their knitwear modelling days are over. It seems that achieving fame makes a person too cool to appear in a knitting pattern book, but this wasn’t always the case.
Today’s Retro Monday pattern is Hollywood Knitwear published by New Idea magazine. It features some very famous actresses – while they were famous, not before – like the cover girl below Ann Sherridan.
Below on the left is Barbara Stanwyck and on the right is Bette Davis.
Here we have Judy Garland modelling a crochet vest.
I don’t think I’ll ever make anything from this pattern book, but it’s nice to see handknits presented as glamorous enough for Hollywood stars.
