Knitted trunks are best - 1940's & 1950's knitted swimwear

I did a tour of my 1930's swimwear patterns in my last post and I'm finishing up my pattern tour today by travelling through the 1940's and 1950's.

July 1945. 'Bathing trunks and top'. A two colour halter neck top and bathing trunks with a solid colour trim. The top cleverly buttons onto the trunks.

July 1946.  'There's still time'. An all in one swimsuit with a contrast trim around the legs and neck. This is a super stylish yet plain option.

July 1946. A two colour swimsuit and bolero for an 8 year old. These were often referred to as sun suits and seemed to be very popular as I have quite a few patterns for them. They always consist of a swimsuit or trunks with a cardigan or bolero to match.

May/June 1947.

'Sunbathe or swim'. A brassiere top and briefs with contrast colour rope details and straps. Very nautical!

'Swimsuit with a tailored look'. A colour work swimsuit with a fitted mid panel and contrast trim. I wish the picture was in colour.

April 1948. 'Knit for your holidays'. Trunks and a bra top with a zig zag centre panel and twisted rope details and straps. Love that contrast panel.

April 1948. A child's colour work sun suit with a swimsuit and cardigan.

May/June 1948. 'Going to the sea'. A firm halter neck swimsuit in a three colour stitch. I think this one is lovely though I'm not convinced that those straps are up to much.

May/June 1948. Striped trunks with a contrast waist and leg trim.

June 1949. 'Going swimming'. A halter neck, blue and white diagonal stripe swimsuit. This one is very glamorous.

May 1950. 'Beachwear for the family'. Women's trunks and halter neck top. I think this is lovely, again, simple and stylish.

Men's trunks with a contrast trim.

Child's sun suits. Gorgeous picture knits featuring anchors, boats, ducks and fish set within a wave pattern.

June 1950. 'Your swim set'. A top and trunks in a lovely blue and white diamond pattern. This is just fabulous!

June 1951. 'Knitted trunks are best'. Men's trunks, plain colour with a contrast belt.

I couldn't find any more knitted swimsuits for adults past this date in my pattern collection. I am assuming that this coincides with the development and wider availability of manmade fabrics and their use in swimwear. I think these lovely woolly numbers have a distinct style and glamour!

For basking on the beach - 1930's beachwear

Lately, in my spare time, I've been having a very happy sort through my vintage knitting magazines on the hunt for knitted swimwear. After looking at the Patons and Baldwin 1930's swimwear patterns I wanted to find out what I had in my own collection. I also wanted to look at them to decide which I will knit to take part in the Pretty Old Patterns swimsuit knit along. I found so many that were interesting, and worth sharing, that I thought I would take you on a tour of my swimsuit patterns, starting in the 1930's.

Most of these are from Stitchcraft, the rest are from Needlewoman.

This 'peach of a swim suit' pattern could be obtained by sending the top of a Lux packet and a stamp off to Port Sunlight. It is quite common to find these Lux adverts with free patterns in vintage knitting magazines. Stripes were 'tops' for beachwear in the summer of 1936 apparently.

Also in June 1936 is this advert for P&B knitting wools featuring a rather fetching green and white diagonal striped bathing suit.

From June 1937 we have this halter neck swimsuit 'sea bathe'.

We can see more detail here, including the fine rib around the waist for shape and stability. The child is wearing a sunsuit with a sailing boat trim.

Here it is in close up, I think it looks smart on the two tone stripe background.

The same pattern spread also included these men's trunks, in four sizes.

'Fore'.

'Aft'

No words!

This is one of the most elegant, glamorous and covetable pieces of vintage beachwear that I have ever seen so I had to include it. From May 1939, it is a linen tweed beach coat, lined in green terry towelling, made from a Vogue pattern. I would love to wear this whilst paddling this summer!

Here is another Lux advert from June 1939 featuring a 'smart knitted play suit'. The 'snappy little shorts are very practical because you can wear them with a pullover or shirt whilst playing games'. Styling tips too!

'For basking on the beach'. August 1937.

'Checks are good for beach wear' This is a 'novel' tunic frock in crochet. I haven't come across a pattern like this before. I think it is rather fabulous.

This bathing suit has a trunk style bottom and then a button through detachable skirt to go over the top. It is from July 1938 and I really like it, so very versatile!

Although this is a sun top rather than a swimsuit I wanted to include it as it is such a jolly ensemble and you can make 3 of the pieces of this outfit. 

The sun top is backless and made of crochet fabric. A wide band goes around the chest and a narrower band forms a belt that buckles at the side.

It is also possible to make the beach bag and the sandals. Apparently these are the 'most comfortable beach shoes imaginable'! The crochet tops would be attached to either rubber or rope soles, with or without heels.

Another Lux advert, this is a hooded, wide sleeved wrap inspired by an Arabian garment. It is designed to stop the wearer from getting sunburn and to keep them warm when the wind blows. Lux also suggest that it may be worn as a dressing gown once the summer is over!

Lastly, from July 1931, we have a truly incredible beach outfit.

Oh yes! This bathing wrap was made from a Vogue pattern in raspberry colour towelling. The pattern also includes a swimsuit, in fine navy blue jersey, and a divided skirt. The wrap could also be used as a skirt. The embroidery is worked in pink. The fish are cut out of bright green gingham and then appliquéd to the wrap. I so wish there were colour pictures.

That year 'large aquatic motifs are favoured for beach attire, such as fish, seaweed, boat scenes and golden landscapes. What a glorious opportunity for riotous embroideries'.

Here is the fabulous fish.

The ensemble is finished with straw picture hats which have been embroidered with zigzags, the fish and thistles. Fish for beachwear I understand, thistles not so much. However, the whole outfit is just marvellous.

So, that was a quick trip through 1930's beachwear. The 1940's and 1950's are coming up next.

Patons and Baldwins archive part three - 1930's swimsuits

I've been saving these photos for a while, waiting for the sun to shine for long enough that I feel up to talking about swimwear. As the past few days have been scorchers and humid beyond belief, and I have been wishing that I could spend 24 hours a day floating about in very cold water, it seems to me that now is as good a time as any!

I have shown two lots of 1930's knitting patterns from the Patons and Baldwins archive here and here and explained how I came to see them. I grouped all the swimwear patterns together as it is a great way to see the variety in designs. In the 1930's swimwear became more like swimwear of modern times in that things like long sleeves and bloomers disappeared, bodies are no longer completely covered and the garments are more practical for swimming and more revealing for sun bathing.

The back is very low in many of these swimsuits, reminiscent of 1930's evening gowns. I assume the central strap helps give a bit more structure when actually swimming.

This is a nice two tone example, the way the dark colour carries on in a little diamond into the lighter colour is a nice touch.

I like the effect the stripe wool at the sides gives, it would give an illusion of a smaller waist.

I really like the little sun cape that goes with this swimsuit. It appears to attach by two buttons near the waist to make it easy to add and remove.

I like the harlequin top on this one. She must be serious about swimming as she has a bathing cap.

I was pleased to find some patterns for men's costumes, notice the large cutouts at the sides. The stripey yarn was obviously that year's trend!

This looks very similar to the first pattern, except that she is posing on a diving board.

I was also pleased to find children's swimsuits. This one looks lovely in the striped yarn.

I am assuming this is a crossover strap version of the previous costume

Looks like the side cutouts are slightly smaller on this one.

Never mind the costume, checkout the beach shoes!

Diagonal stripes were popular on 1930's knitwear.

Geometric patterns were also popular.

Do you have a favourite?

There are many, many garments on my to knit list, which, incidentally, never decreases and is regularly added to. Some of them are for me, some are possibilities for my Easy shop, some are commissions and some are just things that I want to knit out of curiosity, just to see what they would be like. Swimwear and underwear are the two main types of pattern that fit this category and I keep earmarking patterns that I will get around to trying one day.

So, luckily for me, Helen from Pretty Old Patterns has decided to run a vintage swimwear knit along. Hooray! This gives me a push to try out one of my patterns! Helen has made three patterns available if you want to try one or it is fine to use one of your own. You can read more about the knit along to help you decide if you wish to join in here.