Back to the Future: Knitting & Crocheting Trends: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow...

Life moves in a circle where fashion trends travel around from generation-to-generation like the DeLorean in our cherished Back-to-the Future saga.  Knitting and crocheting are no exceptions to this reality. 

  What's that?  You still have this iconic 1970s poncho tucked away in your attic, rescued from your childhood closet.  Mine was purple and cream, and when I inevitably lost interest in wearing this fun alternative to a sweater, Mom sewed up the middle and voila, I had a comfy afghan no longer measured by the fashion scale of the times.  My new afghan was always in season when I sought physical and emotional warmth. (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

New Millennium Poncho

Our New Millennium poncho has a lot more sass, but yesterday's influence gives a nice shout-out from the cowl neck.  

 (Red Poncho - Purple Kitty Yarns Free Pattern)

(moddeals.com - Beige Poncho) 

Back to the Future 2015

(Back to the Future II)

Tim Flattery, concept artist and designer who created a 2015 
Back to the Future Part II that levitates, sports hoverboards and electronic gadgets for instant necessities.   You can see from his illustrations that he nailed a lot of it.  But, we're still patiently waiting for the flying cars and the robot-run gas stations.  

As for hoverboards, Hendo Hoverboards blazed this new frontier six months ago for use in warehouses and factories.  It's just a matter of time we're zipping to the minute mart for nachos on one...welcome brave new world.

Wearable Technology

(Wearable Technology- The KipstR wristband tracks 

when you fall asleep, and sets your TV 

to record the rest of the show.)

Flat Screen TV

(Newsweek.com - CBS.com)

(Sharp Aquos LED TV)

Video Photo Album

Digital Photo Album

(Sears)

 Kitchen

 (Newsweek.com)


Here's Snaidero-USA version

 (Snaidero.com - Acropolis)

  Back-in-the-Day

So I started thinking about 40 and 50 years ago in the 1960s & 1970s.  Our yesterday knitters and crocheters are not so far behind us.  In fact, what was yesterday found new popularity in new generations who never touched a transistor radio or polaroid camera.

Let's hop into our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday DeLorean and see where a few of today's knit and crochet fashion firsts came out to play.  And how we added our New Millennium swag.    (Chrissy Growing Hair Doll - Hub Pages)

I had a few of these vests I crocheted with a lot of help.  And yes, First Tuesday-Third Wednesday members, I crocheted them with the help of a very patient angel called Mom.  My hands remembered knitting after a (clearing throat) years hiatus, but my hands experienced amnesia when it came to crocheting.  2015 is when I give my memory a swift kick.  You read it here first. 

Sadly, knitted and crocheted vests and shells haven't sashayed their way back onto the New York and Paris runways.  Their replacement--shrugs and boleros--are now a favorite go-to for today's picky fashionistas and busy Joans. 

 (Pinterest.com - onestopplus.com)

(Let's Knit - Free Broomstick Crochet Shrug Pattern)

(Easy Lace Knitted Shrug - Free Pattern - Lion Brand.com)

(Crocheted Bolero)

 

 (The Retro Stop)

But wait...shrugs and boleros didn't just spring up in the New Millennium, our great grandmothers also crafted and wore these timeless pieces that turned a boring dress into a fashion show-stopper.

We can pump up our chests for technology innovations, so let's give it up for our knitting/crocheting trail blazers who created the patterns and shared them with the world.    

The Future Awaits 

What can we expect in our knitting and crocheting world 20 years from now?  

Most likely what was popular now will become popular again--but taken up a notch.  You do remember the circle analogy.  

Like the wheels on a Mini Cooper, we go round and round.  Since I don't have a time machine in my knitting bag, I'll let my laptop keys do the surfing and see what we find.

Without tapping my enter key, I can hazard a guess that technology will enter our craft world in an even bigger way in the future.  (We love to have our tablets with us during our First Tuesday-Third Wednesday get-togethers.) 

I see computerized stitch counters and markers.  A computer-driven machine that creates our beautiful cables.  But won't we lose something dear in the process?  

There's something about the rhythm of the needles, the passing through the yarn--and the excitement we feel when a pattern takes shape that a gadget can't duplicate.  Do we really want machines deleting this treasured process that gives us many hours of enjoyment? 

Do I need to press the return, or hop into the DeLorean and see what our knitting/crocheting world will be like 20 years from now?  

I agree.  We'll see it when we get there.

 (The Jetsons)

So sit back and enjoy 2015, and all the joy you'll craft into your life.   A quote to live by:  Today is a good day for a good day.

Happy New Year!

First Tuesday-Third Wednesday Knitting & Crocheting Club

(cable knitted chair cover)

 (free pattern)

 So far so good, snow drifts have stayed away and the temperatures are no sweat thanks to our hand-knitted/crocheted caps, scarves and headbands.  

Did you like that segue?

We've extended the time for our Love Headbands and Caps for the children at Shriner's Hospital and the blocks for our Compassion Afghan.  Don't forget to bring your lovely creations for girls and boys to our February get-togethers.

 (Knitted Valentine Envelope)

Our next gatherings are Tues., 2/3 at Glenside Library and Wed., 2/11.  Feel free to wear red or pink to celebrate Valentine's Day. (If you so incline.)

                                  January's First Tuesday

We had a wonderful time.  I enjoyed your stories:  Alice, Elise and Linda.  Our humble group has fascinating members, so starting with our next blog, we'll profile those who are willing to share, throughout the year.   It's completely voluntary.

Speaking of interesting folks, we had quite a few visitors and little visitors (there to see the movie, Frozen) drop in to say hello, and to find out what we were up to.  It was great!

Congratulations, Linda on your first headband!  I'll have the photo up on the blog shortly.  I'm still learning my phone.  If you took a photo, please email it to me. 

We'd also like to welcome Crocheter Kathleen to our fabulous group of passionate knitters and crocheters.  We meet monthly the first Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:45 at Glenside Library and the Third Wednesday at Elkins Park Library.  You can stop by at any point during this timeframe.  We hope to see you next month.

Well, that's it for now...short and sweet.

Happy Knitting!  Happy Crocheting!