VINTAGE CROCHET

"Life is like a crochet project, sometimes you unravel and start over to create something beautiful.." -Unknown

This is my Vintage  Crochet wall quilt. It's created with my mother's crochet form the 1940's and 1950's, pieces she taught me to make when I was a teenager, costume jewelry that had lived in a drawer for fifty years. I had no idea what to do with all of  it. So about 5 or 6 years ago I created a wall quilt, and added  to it, periodically. It's a work in progress..... 

Some of the beaded pieces were gifts, handkerchiefs made of fine Lawn fabric edged with lace, old costume jewelry , from the same era,  dripping across the lace.

The main crochet doilies are from a tablecloth she and I worked on when I was in high school. It was never finished. I threw it into a shoebox, into storage, till 2019. The net ribbon is from her 1936 bridal bouquet. I found it in an old box, part of it rusted with age. I saved the main part to drape across the crochet with her kilt pin, Celtic cross and her seamstress tape measure she used in the 1950's. I've recycled as many vintage pieces ,as possible.

 

Nov 21, 1936 Nessie Shiels McConachie

In the early 1950's , my mother spent a few summer's teaching crochet to her nieces from Peachland, BC. This is an actual photo of them sitting outside the house making doilies for this Christmas Lace tablecloth. It took them a couple of summers.....

In perfect condition after all of these years. I use it as a drape over the banister.

"There is a certain magic in the rhythm of crochet..." 

                                                                  -Unknown

 

In the 70's I tried my hand at making a lace tablecloth, using a pattern from a 1951 (15 cent crochet book. ) I kind of gave up after a while, and for years, with all of our moves across country, I kept it in the sideboard, thinking someday I'd throw it out. But instead  turned it into the centre portion of the wall quilt. 

(Crocheting over tea in the back yard: My grandmother, Isabella Shiels, my mother, Nessie, and  their dog, in 1951.)

After 2019, I found more pieces I made with my mother....the white sapphire centrepiece, and added it to the quilt....it really isn't difficult to do lace crochet. it makes perfect sense as you do the rounds. Quite addictive.  Very peaceful.

"Crochet is not just a hobby, it's a passion..." - Unknown

(Nov 21st, 1936 Davy and Nessie McConachie . The simple wedding dress, veil, and  bouquet with net ribbon....)

1951 Favourites crochet book.........................taped, torn, retaped .....

"Each crochet project is an adventure waiting to unfold..." - Unknown

The centre of the piece is a soft, fine piece of lawn fabric that my mother edged, before teaching me to make the surrounding doilies......It was a hot July day, and we sat on the porch while she took her finest hook and created the edging, before we crocheted  lace.

"Crochet is a dance of yarn and hook; it brings joy with every turn...." 

- Unknown

15 Cent crochet books, found in another drawer, under tablecloths in the sideboard.....

My mother also did a lot of Tatting, something you don't see very often anymore. Her books were marked and dog eared from years of use.

In 1959, my mother sent away for a filet crochet pattern from the Vancouver Province newspaper. Free. Only 2 cents for postage from Toronto! Still in its original envelope. She kept it inside a mason jar with her my grandmother's hooks and tatting shell. It was never crocheted. Never used. 

One summer, I taught my daughters to crochet. Just like my mother and grandmother, we sat on the back porch with yarn and thread. There isn't a day goes by that one, or all three of us ,are crocheting with hooks shining away in the light of day and night....

My mother, Nessie, Grandmother and Grandfather, My dad, Davey, with an uncle and cousin. 1952. (photographs 2025 and vintage family photos)

THE SOCKS.....

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a Light to my path..." -Psalm 119:105

 It was the night Mother darned our socks. Those well worn socks.  By lamplight. As we watched. In  low burning light.

Trying to be good. This Christmas Eve. Pretending to sleep. Trying not to giggle. 

"Not believe in Santa Claus!You might as well not believe in fairies..." -F. P. Church

                                                        

1950's

Imagining an orange in the toe, nuts, maybe some candies, and a book. Oh let there please be a book! For each of us!

1950 Victoria

Stuffed into those socks. Those patched socks. Chosen with care. Fire crackled merrily, in the wood stove. It sang its own songs.

1940's Bethune. Davey.

 "In the same way, let your light shine before others..." 

                                                                                               -Matthew 5:16

1930's Bethune Xmas

Mother hummed, as she sewed. Father dozed  with his pipe.

It was a gentle peace. Like no other.

horse and snow

We tried to not think about Christmas morning.  The feast to come. …potatoes, shredded cabbage, mincemeat. Those socks…

Finally,  last stitch. Ready to place  on the kitchen table.

1938 December journal

Near the fire. Not too close, though.  Ready for the magic. 

Xmas 1920's

The four of us drifted off, in the cabin. Warm and safe.

xmas 1920 

Dreaming of simple treasures . Of excitement and wonder. 

As the years rambled on, needle and thread fell silent for good, and the pipe, unlit,  lay on the mantle.  

Isobel, Grandmother, Mum 1940's

The Light which  came into the world, came to us, in that small cabin. 

Stuart and Bill 1930's

A fire still sings,  each Christmas eve. 

1960's Victoria xmas

Those socks. Still patched and stitched  with thread.  Wait for us.

xmas eve

Filled with light.  Not so far away. Not so long ago…

1950's Bethune xmas

"There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every one...."- John 1: 9-13

Photographs ( family vintage) 2024

 

THE BOY who WENT to WAR....

"A soldier fights, because he loves what is behind him...." -Gilbert K. Chesterton

Stuart ( with Jesse the dog),Isabella, Robert, Bill

                                     May 29th, 1940  Bethune, Saskatchewan homestead

Regarding: DIEPPE AUG 19, 1942

FROM Signaller S.S. Shiels HQ Company   South Saskatchewan Regiment  DATE: 23/9/42

 Dear Sis (Nessie, my mother):

     Received your airgraph re Sept 5. I am OK. Excuse writing as I am in a cast from hips to neck and out to fingers of right hand. Had one bullet just miss back bone, and go through seat about 5 inches deep. Another hit centre of right back but glanced up smashing shoulder and have a neat hole through     “humorous”. 

     I took a prisoner and fetched him back, after being shot up, so you can judge from that the injuries are slight. When we evacuated amid a hail of bullets, ,shrapnel and dive bombing we could see green waves of Jerry pouring in for miles back. The official score was 5000 dead and wounded for them, and 3350 dead and wounded and prisoners from us. Believe you me, they have a healthy respect for Canadians. Will write as soon as right wing is working.

                                                                Love, Stuart.

1930's Bethune farm

"A boy doesn't have to go to war, to be a hero..." -E.W. Howe

Mar 21 , 1934

Robert, Nessie, Stuart, Bill 1930's

"Courage isn't having the strength to go on. It is going on when you have strength..." 

-N. Bonaparte

Hunting gophers, 1930's Stuart /Bill

 

farmhands 1930's

Stuart, Isobel, Nessie, Bill (back)

Isabella (Jesse) Robert (front)

"Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle..." 

                                  - Psalm 144::1 (Psalm of David)

Mar 21 1934 Stuart , ready to ride

Home on the range

"When you go to war as a boy, you have great illusion of immortality...."

-Ernest Hemingway

At rest after a long day's work...

May 29th, 1940

                   Stuart, Bill, Stuart's buddy with Jesse .....

"Courage is not the absence of fear.....it is something else mor important...."

- F.D. Roosevelt

Hitchin' a ride ......

.The long road to somewhere....

1941 Buddies. Not sure if any of the others came back from Dieppe......

Aldershot Barracks 1940...Ongoing poker game  24/7 while they waited to go overseas...

Bren gun carrier

       "The brave die never, though they sleep in dust....." -Minot Judson Savage

In Portobello Pub 1941.....

the Compound....

"Be strong of heart, and of good courage, nor be afraid of them...."- Deut 31:6

Stuart, as Signaler, with South Saskatchewan regiment..... 

From 1940's 

  written by E. Hilton Young (1879-1960)

My mother saved this from the Times Colonist (Victoria). 

Dec 31, 1911 (Bethune, Saskatchewan)-Feb 27, 1975 (Vancouver, B.C. Mt. View Cemetary)

Vintage family Photos, 2024

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy..." -Martin Luther King Jr.