During the period between 1900-1930, crochet was a popular pastime and for many women it was more than just a hobby; it was an economical means to create linens, dainty laces for their lingerie, yokes for their nightgowns and more.

Crochet Patterns closely mirrored the lifestyles of the women during these years, both in fashion and in home furnishings. This was the time when America was transitioning between the Victorian Era and the Modern Era and we see an evolution in crochet patterns as well; prior to this time period crochet patterns had been more elaborate and involved; they progressively grew simpler as women became enamored with modern conveniences and the promise of "quick and easy".    

At the beginning of this time period corsets were still popular, and many patterns were available for crocheted corset covers. Paul Poiret's couture dress designs of the 1920's and the rise of the flapper led to a decline in the popularity of the corset; as a result, fewer corset cover patterns were published in the 1920's and thereafter.

Interesting lifestyle trends can be observed by studying crochet patterns; during the 1910's & 1920's you still occasionally see patterns for "carriage robes" (blankets used while riding in a carriage); as the automobile gained in popularity carriage robes became quite outdated, and it is rare to see crochet patterns for them that were published after the 1920's.

In this guide we will take a look at some popular publishers and designers of the crochet patterns of this time period.

Designers:

Mary Card: Mary Card was a prolific designer of crochet patterns and pattern books. She became a contributor to Needlecraft Magazine starting with the Feb. 1918 issue, in which the Editor referred to her as "The most expert designer her native land-Australia- has ever known". After that glorious introduction, her designs continued to appear in Needlecraft magazine into the 1930¹s. Following that, her career took her to England where she designed for Weldon's. Her designs were often intricate and are notable for their incredible attention to detail. Mary Card still has a considerable following. There is high demand among collectors for finished pieces that were made from her patterns, and also for the patterns themselves.

 

 Anna Valeire: Anna Valeire was an expert needlework designer and her interests included tatting as well as crochet. In many of her books you will find both crochet and tatting patterns. She designed many intricate and lovely patterns for beaded bags, lingerie,yokes, edgings, insertions and medallions.

 

Anne Orr: Anne Orr was another talented needlework designer whose interests included crochet as well as cross stitch, embroidery and other techniques. Dover has reprinted several of her books and so her designs are relatively easy to find on ebay.

Other notable crochet pattern designers of the time include Louise Nacke, Marie Antoinette Hees, Sophie La Croix, and Mary Fitch.


Books:

Quite a few of the crochet pattern books that were published during this time period served as advertising for manufacturers and distributors of crochet thread and related yarns and products. These include Royal Society, Richardson's and J & P Coats.

 


The Needlecraft Publishing Company published a series of Priscilla Books with popular needlework techniques including filet crochet, Irish Crochet and crochet beadwork.

 

Magazines:

 Ladies' Magazines from this time period can be a great source of crochet patterns. Some to look for:

Needlecraft: This magazine was devoted to a broad spectrum of needlework techniques, but crochet patterns were well represented in every issue along with knitting, lacemaking, embroidery, dressmaking, cooking and more.

Star Needlework Journal: Another popular magazine that covered a broad variety of needlework techniques and usually included many lovely crochet patterns.

The Modern Priscilla:  This publication generally had needlework patterns, projects, techniques, tips, lessons and inspiration, plus fashion illustrations showing the latest trends of the day. There was also a cooking section with recipes for good old-fashioned home cooking. Some issues also had instructions for oil painting and porcelain painting. The photos below are from the August 1905 issue of The Modern Priscilla.

 

The Delineator:  The Delineator was published by Butterick Publishing Company and fashion was the primary focus of the magazine; the magazine existed because it was a good way for Butterick to advertise their sewing patterns. Nevertheless you can occasionally find crochet patterns among the contents.

Of course there were many other crochet patterns available that are not mentioned here, but hopefully this guide will give you a good starting point for your crochet pattern searches on ebay. Happy hunting!