Local knitblogger Christy is having a caption contest to celebrate her blogiversary! Caption the cute cat picture by November 11 and win some yarny goodness.
Gwen’s having a contest to welcome back her knitting mojo and celebrate being almost done with her holiday knitting. Leave a comment before Friday, November 17, about what you’re knitting for holiday gifts and whether you think you’ll finish in time and you could win some lovely Tess’ Super Sock Yarn.
Sue is having a comment contest – leave a comment before November 23 and you could win a copy of the book Toys To Sew or the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits.
Check out the new goodies Scout has for sale! Love the kitty shawl pin! And I’m curious as to how the Namaste Jetsetter knitting handbag compares to the Jordana Paige Knitter’s Satchel – anyone know?
Reading Update
Blood Debt and Blood Bank by Tanya Huff – the last two of the Blood Books. Blood Bank contains some very clever and enjoyable short stories, two of which should be read before Blood Debt.
Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton, book 13 of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. This one is odd, considering how the series has been going recently. It’s short (under 300 pages), compared to the 752 pages of Incubus Dreams (book 12). And it’s a lot more like the early books of the series, which is a good thing.
Shakespeare’s Trollop by Charlaine Harris – a Lily Bard mystery. I’m not managing to read these in order and I’m ok with it. Another solid mystery about Lily Bard, who lives in Shakespeare, Arkansas, trying to keep to herself but becoming part of the community anyway.
So, can anyone shed some light on what the heck the point of bedjackets was?! And if you were wearing a bedjacket, presumably in bed, would you need to be wearing slippers at the same time? Yes, another thriftstore find. Check out how well this booklet held its value. 😉
I like the lace pattern used for this one, but those slippers…
I actually kinda like this bedjacket, too, although I would call it a cardigan. I wouldn’t put the ruffles on the cuffs, but the construction is intriguing. However, once again, those slippers… *shudder*
This next one….. *blink blink*
And without the fringe, this isn’t a bad shawl. But, um…… are those slippers or small fuzzy dogs?!
Love her “you woke me up for what?! Well, hurry up then” expression….
And the back cover… priceless. I think this is a blurb for some early superwash yarn?? Whatever it is, “no sighs about size” gave me the giggles. Heh.
Right. *blink blink* is right. I don’t know what the point of a bedjacket was. Sorta right up there in “wtf?” value as the smoking jacket.
And those slippers. Got. To. Go.
Hey Chris- If anyone could make a bedjacket look beautiful, it’s Mayhem.
Though, that may be the epitome of kitty-cruelty. I think I’ll put one on Kitten-Chow to pay him back for his bad behavior.
I think that cape one is so that you’ll be properly dressed for dreams of saving the day as a super hero. Maybe Wonder Woman designed it…
May, the preteen fashion queen!
I am cringing over here. No, really. Honestly.
Anyway, I think that Mayhem has been hanging around the big kitty and is picking up his habits. Next thing we know, she will be grumping at the camera saying “hmph”.
Thems be some scary slippers, really scary, are you sure they aren’t mutated cat toys? Bed Jackets hmmmm…maybe blankets were shorter back then, thus requiring something to keep the top half toasty?!? Some things, should just stay in the 50’s.
I confess I love the ruffly cardigan-looking one. It’s totally something I would wear over a dress. Sexy!
Bedjackets were worn over your pjs when you were out of bed so no one would *gasp* see your breasts.
Signed,
Grew up with these dumb things
I always associate bed jackets with the glamour of The Thin Man movies – wearing a bedjacket while having breakfast in bed after a long night of sparkling conversation and fizzy champagne.
I think we should bring back bed jackets! I think a ruffly little bed jacket would look awesome over my sock monkey flannel pjs.
Those bedjackets freak me out. I weep for those folks who never knew the comfort of a big ol’ sweatshirt on a cold Sunday morning. Nothing with ruffles for this girl!
I think they could be quite useful for those gals who wear nighties with short sleeves or no sleeves and spend a lot of time reading, watching TV (or knitting), sitted upright in bed, like MIL who is in a “home”. You know, it keeps the shoulders and arms warm like the rest of you which may be under the blanket! I ended up making her a shawl.
Well, if you’re sick in bed but well enough to be sitting up for visitors or to eat or read, or whatever, your legs would be under the blankets, but your shoulders would not–and if your health is fragile, that’s not healthy!
And, the slippers? I suppose you need to go to the bathroom every now and again . . . or maybe they double as bed socks for chronically cold feet? (grin)
Bedjackets were used in the olden days mostly by people who were confined to bed for one reason or another — where people would normally have worn a robe or “housecoat” if they were up and around but still in their PJs, a bedjacket was used when they were sitting up in bed. It’s as much for comfort (or more) as anything. The main intention of my recently completed Shirley Shrugs is basically as a bedjacket — my mother complained of cold shoulders when she did her reading in bed (I already knit her a pair of gauntlets to remedy the cold hands/forearm situation during the same activity — a nightcap could be next).
My mother had several bedjackets and I remember her wearing them when she had her hysterectomy. The slippers are for when you get out of bed to go to the bathroom. 😉
I’m pretty sure those slippers are beggin to be the Christmas gag gift. “Aren’t the PRETTY? Don’t you LOOOOVE them??”
I come across bedjackets at estate sales now and then, usually the quilted variety. Are all the slippers crocheted? I couldn’t be sure about a couple of them (w/ the larger views).
Bwahahaha…I love it when you bust out the vintage knit catalouges.
Umm, I think there is a “bed-poncho” and “bed-capelet” or two in that list. How uncomfortable would those be, riding up around your neck at night???
I think the only place I would wear a bedjacket was if I was entertaining company from a hospital bed.
I think all Chaos’ bib modeling has set him up perfectly for being a bedjacket model!
The third picture down, the one you called a cardigan, looked so familiar, then it hit me. White Lies Designs has a somewhat updated version. The more I look at it, the more it looks like a circle jacket:
http://whiteliesdesigns.com/patterns/lcardigans/502.html
Those bed jackets are wonderful. I would wear the circular one. Too bad my lifestyle doesn’t include lounging in bed jackets.
A BEDjacket? Maybe that’s to further ensure that your husband doesn’t get a peek at your goods as you’re getting ready to slip into your separate beds at night.
What if Bear Brand yarns got in a fight with Lion Brand yarns – who do you thnk would win??
Hmm, why couldn’t they just wear cardigans?
Love the vintage patterns! You always find the weirdest things!! 🙂
(sigh)
You are all just too young! You don’t know glamour!
I’m saddened that young women today think that it’s enticing to wear a sweatshirt to cover up with…where is your sense of ROMANCE??????
(someone get my smelling salts, please????)
(((hugs)))
Back several years ago, I underwent 3 surgeries to remove tumors from my breasts. The first surgery was when I was about 25 maybe 26. Anyway, my mother-in-law sent me a package, in it was a bed jacket. A horrible blue polyester fuzzy bed jacket that felt like I was wrapped in plastic. I had to pretend I liked it, but fortunately she never visited during recooperation time and thus I never wore the stupid thing.
I still can’t figure out why people wear them. I don’t wear a jacket outside, why would I wear one in the house.
i like the vintage patterns. i especially love the third one.. it looks good enough to make it public..
Wow – the whole idea of “Wonderized” yarn. So retro-future. You just know that Wonderized yarn is made in a shiny new all chrome factory entirely by robots. And then knit up by ladies who actually had bed-jacket wearing kind of lives. Crazy!
One of those chicks looks like she’s been in Rush Limbaugh’s stash of goodies. Guess she wants to be good and trashed for hubby’s return to the bedroom. 🙂
So, are you going to confess what thrift store you’re finding these things at or is it a closely guarded secret? I’ve never in my life found anything that great at a thrift store except for an awesome Virenza sweater when I was 16.
Personally, I like the Namaste bags alot more. In person they look like nice handbags and the satchels look too vinyl-ish to me.
Spicy Kitty says “Black cats rule!” 🙂
Hey Chris, thanks for all the heads up on those contests. I may have to do something similar to help destash! I settled blog issue by simply getting paid account where I am. I figured I WOULD pay somebody $20 for the year to get rid of the advertising headache and just be done w/ it all. I’ll have to scan some of my old pattern books. We have a Vogue pattern book from 1940’s at LYS. I really liked a couple of the sweaters, but, honestly, I could never see myself knitting up a SUIT on #1’s! Oh, and the vest booklet from the 60’s w/ twiggy-esque model, that one I have and should scan pics!
ohmygoodness!
I really like that bedjacket/cardigan one.
I always thought that bedjackets were for the days when central heating wasn’t around. And hospital stays.
Mayhem really wants to model a bedjacket. I think you should knit her one.
That is an adorable kitty shawl pin!
I’m liking the bedjacket/cardi too (third one down)…I like the horizontal ribbing on the arms…
I love that the yarn is “wonderized!”
Oh May, be careful what you wish for. 😉
I would probably wear the ruffle bedjacket out as a cardigan. I always assumed a bedjacket was for sitting in bed reading. I guess that was before they had big baggy sweatshirts. 🙂 The slippers on the other hand… I think I’d wear a pair of wonderized socks first. LOL!
I have some nifty patterns from the 1940s…including convalescent sweaters and amputation covers. But some of the patterns are still pretty modern – it’s just calculating for the yarn that’s a bit difficult.
The Jetsetter is 20 bucks less? 😉
I agree, they’re not to sleep in, they’re to ‘sit up in bed’ in.. or have breakfast in bed. Some of those patterns have inspired the trendy shrugs that are out there! I could totally use the laughs off seeing Mayhem in a floucey bedjacket 😉 Do I also sense a little teenage kitty sarcasm there?
photo numero tres looks like many of the current fashions – the shrugs.. too funny about the bed jacket thing. I always thought they were for bed-ridden folks who “got a chill”
My mom had a bedjacket (quilted flannel) when I was a kid. She used to wear it while reading in bed, but she was not wearing slippers at the time. She remembered them being much more common when she was a kid (the time of your book it looks like). I think women were expected to be more often “indisposed” than today. I read or knit in bed, and I have contemplated the bedjacket idea, but not like the ones in your post. I think those would scare my husband.
My grandmother had a bed jacket. She used to wear it over her long PJ’s and wore an afghan over her legs while crocheting on the couch.
Are those “smart” slippers as opposed to “unintelligent” slippers?
I’m just sayin.
So are bedjackets sort of equivalent to sweatpants? Except I presume you’d wear them IN bed (which I do sweatpants, sometimes, but don’t tell anyone). Perhaps they’re for sitting UP in bed…knitting or reading or mixing coctails or somesuch?
p.s. That cover model reminds me a bit of Uma Thurman. Will the weirdness never cease?
Oh my… that 3rd one down (the darker one) is exactly like the cardi I tried on at Burlington Coat Factory, but I decided not to get it as I could knit it myself… I haven’t been able to find a pattern for something similar… I need to come over and kidnap that booklet from you!!!
Cheers Eva
Cough. I actually would like to wear a bed jacket. I do confess that I have something like a bed jacket. It gets cold in this house – I considered wearing a mitten to bed last night and have worn a hand knit pair of socks on more than one occasion along with having the electric blanket on. So I can imagine wearing the knitted shoes, too 🙂
Sure beats wearing an ugly ratty sweatshirt to bed. Hm. I wouldn’t mind a cute bedjacket. I can even see myself wearing one to my chilly office…
You could singlehandedly bring back the bed jacket! Yes you could :o)
I am not old enough to remember the 50s, as I was born in the early 60s, but I remember my mother telling me when I first learned to crochet as a child and we were looking through her old Workbasket magazines that bedjackets were worn mainly by new mothers, to put over a nightgown (like a waist-high robe, if you will) when friends and family would come to see the new mother after childbirth, and she was still in bed during the recovery period. (And no, the slippers were NOT worn in the bed, necessarily, unless it was very cold weather…) :-))
Bed jackets are great for the elderly and infirm -people with limited mobility. They can sit up in bed and still be warm and at least make an attempt to feel stylish. In nursing homes bedjackets are great as the person is usually in bed or has an afghan over their legs but since they often have circulatory problems their shoulders get cold. If you know someone who is bed bound or in care -make them a pretty one -you will be blessed by the recipient AND care staff!