I always think that an afternoon spent with my favourite TV shows feels a little less lazy when I knit at the same time. It looks like this was true in the 50’s and 60’s as well – if the number of patterns I have that are designed for TV knitting is anything to go by.
Television was introduced to Australia in 1954 and available in most states by 1962. Today’s Retro Monday patterns show that Patons didn’t mess around with leveraging off this new form of entertainment. They quickly published patterns marked as especially suitable to knit in front of the telly – recognisable by the line “with TV designs” printed inside the beehive logo.
Although the booklet pictured above contains the promised “TV designs”, the cover design isn’t one of them. Not every pattern is suitable for TV knitting.
In the patterns below you can see the little television set logo that tells you the cardigan and vest on the right are approved for TV knitting. (Also, if you look closely at the guys in the picture on the right they look like a father and son).
The jumper in the picture on the left is not approved for knitting in front of the telly – probably because it features a textured stitch.
Generally speaking, stocking stitch designs get the little “ideal for TV knitting” logo, but anything with lace, texture or colour work doesn’t.
I think that most things can be knitted in front of the telly, including fair isle and lace if they are repetitive enough. I’m sure TV sets in the 50’s required a lot more focus and concentration than they do today, being smaller, grainier and with black and white pictures. So Patons probably knew what they were talking about.
Although it’s not officially approved for TV knitting, I’d really like to make the bowling pin cardigan while binge-watching a suitably retro movie or three. I think I’d make it in light blue rather than that putty colour though.
How about you? Do you knit while you watch the telly, and is there anything you consider off-limits for knitting in front TV?
Knitting in front of the TV is the best! I was fascinated when I discovered the ‘T.V. Designs’ on the knitting books I was collecting. At first, I thought it might mean they were designs from famous people on TV, or something; then I looked closer and discovered the true meaning.
I knit anything in front of the TV, from plain, to cables, to lace and fair isle. This does mean I don’t look at the screen that much, though!
Speaking of designs from famous people on TV, I recently found a “A Country Practice” knitting booklet at an old op-shop.
I knit in front of the telly too – and unless I’m doing a lot of shaping I can generally knit without looking at my work.