How're You Doin' Toots?

Brightener-Upper Vest from Gay Teen Ideas, Book No. 213, 1944

Who can resist a fashion party game for the 1940’s CosmoGirl? For that matter, who can resist a 1940s pattern book that includes advice, quizzes and recipes for Gay Teens?

Here’s the Quiz, without a single, sequined word changed:

See how good you are at scrambling accessories. You get 7 points for each correct answer. A score of 63 is passing, 77 or over shows you’re practically psychic when it comes to fashion. The answers – and no fair peeking – are upside down on the opposite page.

1. What’s white all over, sprinkled with sequins and as warm as the admiration it’s bound to provoke?

2. Identify a South American neighbor who’s very much at home on North American lapels.

3. Which two, made for each other, make sparkling companions when you take them on a date?

4. When is it perfectly legal to pass yourself off as something you’re really not?

5. If you have a twenty-two inch waist and want to call attention to it, what do you do?

6. To what other two uses can you easily put the crocheted pompon shown (opposite) on a shoe?

7. What’s not really a hat but goes to your head anyhow?

8. What’s one of the most successful methods ever discovered for giving an old blouse a new interest in life?

9. What would your best friend like for her new compact?

10. When wouldn’t your mother object to your “going steady” with a French sailor?

11. What’s got strings on it and goes everywhere you do like Mary’s little lamb?

12. What adds drama to a dull neckline and is a smart piece of “show business”?

13. When is a beanie STOP LOOK news?

14. How many of these accessories could you personally use? How many would you like to make?
Click on image to see it larger.

I failed to get a passing grade! Sob!

Try it yourself, and let me know how you did. Remember, it’s not enough to know which square holds the answer; you also need to know what it’s called or why it’s special. Anyone caught cheating will be sent to the Eastern Front.

P. S. If any of these accessories strike you as a “must have,” let me know. I may be able to feature it in another post.

For the complete pattern (and more snark!):

A young diarist writes “Wore the new vest. I finished it last night. Midge was delirious about it!” Based on the evidence in these pictures, I’m thinking Midge isn’t the delirious one.

Brightener-Upper . . . flower blooming vest, sweet, sunny, all-seasonable.

Materials: CHADWICK’S RED HEART KNITTING WORSTED, 8 balls (1 oz. balls) for Size 12; 9 balls for Size 14; 10 balls for Size 16.

Bone Crochet Hook No. 7.

18 decorative hooks.

4 yards of Redy-Cut Felt Braid.

1 package of Redy-Cut Felt Appliqué No. 102.

Don’t you love the way the girls are both peering at the boy’s hand. Is it just me, or do their expressions suggest he’s just pulled a particularly unattractive toad out of his pocket?

BLOCKING MEASUREMENTS:

SIZES: 12, 14, 16

Bust: 31’’, 33’’, 35’’

Waist: 25’’, 27’’, 29’’

The quiz above suggested a 22 inch waist was ideal, but evidently the designer of this vest was willing to give girls a little more breathing room.

Length from top of shoulder: 17 1/2’’, 18 1/2’’, 19 1/2’’

Side Seam: 6 1/2’’, 7 1/2’’, 7 1/2’’

Width at back between armholes: 12 1/2’’, 13 3/4’’, 15’’

Depth of armhole: 11’’, 11’’, 12’’

Who says pressure to conform to an ideal body type is a modern phenomenon?

GAUGE: 1 shell makes 1 1/4 inches; 2 rows makes 1 inch.

SIZES: 12, 14, 16

The sizes are repeated here just in case your teenaged brain has already forgotten them. Probably because that sailor you’ve been going steady with just sauntered past.

BACK . . . Starting at bottom, chain 42 sts (42 sts, 50 sts) to measure 13’’ (13’’, 15 1/2’’).

1st row: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, * skip next ch, in following ch make (dc, ch 1) twice and dc (a shell made); skip next ch, sc in following ch. Repeat from * across. There are on row 10 shells (10 shells, 12 shells). Ch 4, turn.

2nd row: Dc in 1st sc (half a shell made), * sc in center dc of next shell, make a shell in next sc. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in last sc, ch 1, dc in same sc (half a shell made). Ch 1, turn.

3rd row: Sc in 1st dc, * shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat from * across, ending with shell in last sc, sc in 3rd st of turning chain. Ch 4, turn.

4th row: In 1st sc make dc, ch 1 and dc, * sc in center dc of next shell, shell in next sc. Repeat from * across. There are on row 11 shells (11 shells, 13 shells). Ch 4, turn.

Of course Freddy is still the champ! He’s a ducky shincracker who called you a dilly instead of “some of Hitler’s work, no doubt”.

5th row: Dc in 1st dc, sc in next dc, * shell in next sc, sc in center dc of next shell. Repeat from * across, ending with dc in 3rd st of turning chain, ch 1, dc in same place as last dc. Ch 1, turn.

6th, 7th and 8th rows: Repeat 3rd, 4th and 5th rows. Now repeat 3rd and 2nd rows alternately over these 12 shells (12 shells, 14 shells) until, ending with the 3rd row, piece measures 6 1/2’’ (7 1/2’’, 7 1/2’’). Ch 1, turn.

To Shape Armholes: 1st row: Sl st in 1st sc, sl st in next dc, ch 1, sc in center dc of same shell. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Repeat last row once more. There remain on row 10 shells (10 shells, 12 shells). Work straight in pattern until piece measures from 1st row of armhole shaping 11’’ (11’’, 12’’). Break off.

Besides, during WWII, what red-blooded teenaged girl wasn’t khaki whacky?

RIGHT FRONT . . . Starting at bottom, chain 22 sts (26 sts, 26 sts) to measure 6 1/2’’ (8’’, 8’’).

1st, 2nd and 3rd rows: Work 1st, 2nd and 3rd rows of Back. There are on row 5 shells (6 shells, 6 shells). Ch 4, turn.

4th row: In 1st sc make dc, ch 1 and dc (this is side edge, the front edge is kept straight), work in pattern across. Ch 1, turn.

5th row: Sc in 1st dc, work in pattern across, ending with sc in center dc of last shell, dc in 3rd st of turning chain, ch 1, dc in same place as last dc. Ch 1, turn.

6th row: Repeat 3rd row.

7th row: Sc in 1st dc, work in pattern across, ending with a shell in last sc. Ch 4, turn.

Now I know why these girls are delirious over this vest. It’s the massive amounts of coffee they had to imbibe in order to stay focused on this crochet project. Well, the coffee or the cocaine.

8th row: Dc in 1st dc, sc in center dc of next shell, work in pattern across. Ch 1, turn. Work straight in pattern over these 6 shells (7 shells, 7 shells) until, ending at side edge, piece measures 6 1/2’’ (7 1/2’’, 7 1/2’’). Ch 1, turn.

To Shape Armhole and Front Edge: 1st row: (Side edge) Sl st in 1st sc, sl st in next dc, ch 1, sc in center dc of same shell. Work in pattern across, ending with sc in center dc of next to the last shell. Ch 1, turn.

2nd row: Repeat 1st row of armhole shaping of Back. There remain on row 3 shells (4 shells, 4 shells). Ch 4 to turn on Sizes 12 and 16. Ch 1 to turn on Size 14.

On Size 14 only: Repeat 1st row of armhole shaping of Back once more.

There remain on row 3 shells (3 shells, 4 shells).

On all sizes work straight in pattern until piece measures from 1st row of armhole shaping 11’’ (11’’, 12’’). Break off.

LEFT FRONT . . . Work exactly the same as Right Front.

And now for the fun part! Hours and hours of sewing and blocking. Better make sure you have enough coke on hand to get you through the night.

Sew underarms and shoulder seams. With right side facing work a row of sc evenly around armholes. Then work sl st in each sc around. Finish entire outer edge in same way. With matching thread, sew felt braid along entire outer edge and along edges of armholes. Apply felt appliqués as illustrated, or to suit individual taste. Sew hooks evenly apart along front edges. Make a tight chain 1 1/2 yards long and lace front edges together. Make a knot at both ends of chain.

Wait just one darn minute! Do you mean to tell me this is the only guidance I get? That I’m supposed to simply “wing it” when it comes to appliquéing the front of this vest?

I protest! I demand –

Oh, look, a poodle!

Click here for the printable pattern.