HJS Studio Patterns

WWII Other Warm Things

Holly Shaltz, Fiberist
PO Box 136
Boyne City MI
49712 USA

Print Version Here

Introduction

Sharon Earley of the American Red Cross in San Antonio, Texas, bought on eBay an old Bucilla Yarn booklet, entitled "Practical, Warm Hand Knits for Service Men," full of instructions for knitting items for military men during World War II. The booklet is Volume 318, dated 1940, and is marked 10 cents!

Sharon sent me scans of each page of the booklet so I could put them on my website as companions to the WWI knit patterns. Since the instructions are relatively modern, I've simply retyped them verbatim. Please read the World War II Pattern FAQ if you have any questions.

This page includes Earmuffs, Wristlets, Kneecaps, and Muffler (Scarf). All the accessories the well-dressed soldier would need!

I’ve made the kneecaps, by the way. If your knees ever ache, they’re warm and soothing! Also, the wristlets would be a great introduction to knitting in rounds on double-pointed needles—-no seams to sew up; just knit the section with the thumb gap flat, then resume knitting in rounds.

Abbreviations used: st - stitch, sts - stitches, k - knit, p - purl, tog - together

Ear Muffs No. 205

Ear Muffs

Medium Size MATERIALS: Bear Brand or Bucilla Cassimere Sport Yarn, 1 ball, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Ladyfair Sweater and Stocking Yarn, 1 skein. 1 Pair Bucilla Steel Sock Needles, Size 13, Article 3494. Please see my WW II Pattern FAQ for information about needles sizes, or just use the size you need to achieve the gauge. GAUGE: 8 ridges=1 inch, 8 sts=1 inch

Cast on 15 sts, work even in garter stitch (k all rows) for 3 inches. * Next row increase in first st, k to the last 2 sts, increase in next st, k the last st. K 1 row even. Repeat from * until there are 35 sts on needle. Work 5 ridges (10 rows) even. * The following row, k 1, k 2 together, k to within 3 sts of end, k 2 together, k the last st. K 1 row even. Repeat from last * until 15 sts are left on needle. This completes the first earpiece. Work even for 6 inches. Make second earpiece same as first, ending with 15 sts on needle. Work even for 3 inches; bind off.

Sew ends together (back of band).

Wristlets No. 210

MATERIALS: Bear Brand or Bucilla "AA" De Luxe Knitting Worsted, 1 skein, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Standard Brand Knitting Worsted, 1 skein. 1 Pair Bucilla White 10-inch Knitting Needles, Size 4, Article 3845. Cast on 48 sts. Work back and forth in ribbing of k 2, p 2, for 10 inches. Bind off, knitting the knitted and purling the purled sts; break off yarn, leaving an end to sew with. Thread end in a darning needle and sew side edges of wristlet together for 6 1/2 inches, fasten off; leave edges open on the next 10 rows (thumb-opening, see illustration), then sew the edges together for remaining 2 inches and fasten off.

Wristlets

If thumb-opening is not desired, sew seam along the entire length of wristlet.

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Knee Caps No. 209

Knee Caps

MATERIALS: Bear Brand or Bucilla Cassimere Sport Yarn, 1 ball, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Ladyfair Sweater and Stocking Yarn, 1 skein. 1 Pair Bucilla White 10-inch Knitting Needles, Size 4, Article 3845. KNEE CAP-- Cast on 6 sts and k 4 ridges (8 rows) in garter stitch. Next row k 1, k 2 sts in next st, k to end of row. Repeat last row until there are 30 sts on needle. Work 20 ridges (40 rows) even. Next row k 1, k 2 together, k to end of row; decrease in this way in every row until 6 sts remain. K 4 ridges even; bind of, but do not break off yarn.

CUFF-- Pick up and k 60 sts on one side of knee cap. Work even in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for 30 rows (or to any desired length); bind off, knitting the knitted and purling the purled sts. Work cuff in same way on other side of knee cap. Sew back seam.

Muffler No. 213

MATERIALS: Bear Brand or Bucilla "AA" De Luxe Knitting Worsted, 1 skein, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Standard Brand Knitting Worsted, 1 skein. 1 Pair Bucilla White 14-inch Knitting Needles, Size 8, Article 3846. Cast on 46 sts. K even in garter stitch (k every row) for 46 inches; bind off.

Scarf