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So I’ve been toying with adding a monthly feature to this little blog o’ mine. I love the idea of having a fun blog project due every month. I also hate the idea of having a fun blog project due every month. You can see my dilemma.
This feature would be a way to share another of my obsessions with people that I think would enjoy it. See, I have an unnatural need to buy every vintage ladies magazine I can find. I have piles of magazines from the 20′s to the 70′s (and don’t think I haven’t been eyeing the 80′s ones lately). They cover subjects like homemaking, interior design, crafts, embroidery, crochet, and yes – knitting. I’ve also got lots of old pattern leaflets of all kinds. I went through a brief pot-holder phase which culminated in my going cold turkey from eBay for almost 6 months.
Occasionally, when I’m supposed to be doing something for the good of the household, I just sit in the corner of a room pouring over the images and articles which range from beautiful to hilarious to mind-boggling. Instead of actually baking a cake, I page through a 1952 Ladies Home Journal and just imagine baking one then twirling around with it in the kitchen while wearing a fluffy 50′s dress. And pumps. You know how it is. Humor me, just nod politely.
Having just scored another great mag stash, I am inspired to share. And this new batch is a doozy. Mostly McCalls Needlework and Crafts from early 70′s, AND some terrific booklets from the Creative American Craft Series. No cake-twirling here, nosiree! Nothing cakey OR twirly about the 70′s, you’ll see.
So without further ado, I present my new and tentative feature: The Museum of Kitschy Stitches
For this first edition, we will be heading into the East Wing which houses the Seemed-Like-a-Good-Idea-at-the-Time Gallery.
This is Evelyn Richardson of Long Beach, CA. She is this week’s Guest Artist. “Hi Evelyn!”
According to the fine folks at the Creative American Craft Series, Evelyn’s enthusiasm for crocheted hats and purses led her to a unique brand of hand-crafting. That’s the understatement of the decade. Ladies and gentlement, I give you . . . Aluminun Can Apparel. All together now – “Thank you, Evelyn!”
And just how did she come to realize that cans were to become the medium through which her muse would speak? “Evelyn discovered that aluminum cans offered her a greater variety of color and design and were always available from her son and his friends who collected them on weekend trips.”
So her beer-soaked son, who I can only assume lived in the basement, led her to it. It’s starting to make sense now. And how does a woman living in denial of her boy’s rampant alcoholism manifest her concern? Why, with a lovely Coors Ensemble, of course.
Says here that it’s “nice enough for an evening out but still casual enough for that weekend get away!!” Probably no one at the opera will notice the sound of crunching metal as you fidget in your seat.
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I wonder what’s worse. Having a six-pack of freezing cold aluminum cans on your head . . .
or piping hot ones?
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And finally, what would humiliating clothing be without involving Dad and golf? I know mine would beg for another fish-shaped tie if he saw me coming at him with an empty can of beer sewn into a spunky visor or a kicky hat.
 I swear to you that the caption near the photo says “every man should have his own hat which tells everyone that he drinks”. My guess is that if he’s willing to wear it, everyone already knows.
Stay tuned for next time when we will learn that it is in fact possible to make skin-tight hot pants out of crocheted granny squares.
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PRICELESS! I love this pattern book.
) I’m actually almost inclined towards the beer can purse if only because I actually think that’s kind of fun and funny. Don’t tell anyone, though, I wouldn’t want that getting around ;o)
I’d avoid the 80s pattern books if I were you, I got one form ebay and it brought back floods of memories about giant shoulder pads. I’m not talking “shoulder pads,” I’m talking “SHOULDER PADS” in giant chunky knit sweaters. It’s something, I tell you.
I’m not sure, but I think…. oh, what the heck, let’s say, yes, I am…
VERY AFRAID of that kind of inspiration.
My goodness. I need a break. Someone get me a beer
It just so happens that on my desk RIGHT NOW is a copy of the March 1986 edition of Woman’s Day Super Special 101 Sweater and Craft Ideas. On pages 48 and 49 are, respectively, a yellow and black knit sweater with TAXI knit across it and little black checker cab squares, and a black sweater with ROCK & ROLL knit across the front in rainbow striped colors. How much will you give me for it? We’ll start the bidding at $10. What if I throw in some pattern booklets from the 70s I got from my mother in law? What a deal!!!
OMG. Hilarious!!!
-drew
That is AWESOME! I’m linking to you over at my blog just so I don’t accidently miss the next installment of this feature.
Back in the 70′s my mom used to make these doily things that were crocheted around plastic 6-pack loops that had been cut apart, but never in my life have I seen a thing such as this. I must show the world now.
Good Lord…My dad owned a floppy blue Budweiser hat…I remember it being in my toy box as a child. Says a lot about the 70′s, no? Of course, we also had the requisite oil painting of a woman with a bowl of fruit on her head in our kitchen, too.
I’ve linked over to your blog, too…Just too good to pass up!
Oh, the laughing… so much laughing! thank you.
OMGoodness, I saw the pictures and it so reminded me of my DH’s late memere. She was in her 90′s when she died and up until a a year before she died she “volunteered” at the local nursing home visiting the residents and playing cards with them. And she had a hat made out of playing cards much like the beercan hat. Giggles madly and remembers Memere’s silly hat.
UGGGGHHH. My mom crocheted those beer can hats for all her friends…. Dad emptied the cans for her. Oh how I detested those hats!!!
Now I will have nightmares again……. LOL
“This feature would be a way to share another of my obsessions with people that I think would enjoy it. See, I have an unnatural need to buy every vintage ladies magazine I can find. I have piles of magazines from the 20′s to the 70′s (and don’t think I haven’t been eyeing the 80′s ones lately). ”
I’ll be over with the dill pickles and pink lemonade!
You fellow former Star Hits reader,
Carrie
You are a very funny lady! I’m glad I discovered your blog.
This was the first time I’ve read your blog, and I’m SO glad I came across it. I laughed until tears rolled down my face !! Something you might like, if you enjoy kitschy things, is James Lilek’s book The Gallery of Regrettable Foods. It has all these great recipes (with pictures!) from the 60′s and 70′s. One example I’ll never forget is a jello mold made with HOT DOGS in it !! And the commentary is wonderful too.I’m sure a crocheted beer can hat would have been appropriate attire at any social gathering which featured a hot dog jello mold as refreshment.
Cindy B
I read this particular article and laughed my pants off. My co-workers read, too, and laughed their respective pants off. Unfortunately, a week or so later, one of them came running to my cubicle breathless to announce that they had seen a hipper-than-thou hipster in the post office with a beer can hat(pbr, of course). oh stupid hipsters.
I remember my grandparents making and wearing such can art. The new art is to make crafts out of Coffee packages. I am saving some for a friends as we speak. There is nothing new under the sun.
I totally loved this feature! I can remember finding these finished objects at flea markets and yard sales, slavishly made with acrylic yarns of course, and pitying the poor maker for the time spent on something so kitchy that it ended up on the yard sale table.
Does anyone know about using perle cotton to crochet mummify beer bottle caps which were then crocheted together into hotpads and other decorative flat things. I asked my grandmother why she coudlnt use soda bottle tops. She swalled the last gulp of her Rhinegold Ale and gave me the silent stare.
Holy Shameless Crafting, Batman. OMG, thank you so much for the laugh. I really needed it!!!! I will have to rummage through the “vintage” patterns I have…lol
good god… i must have one of those beer purses!!!!! and thanks to deborah for the flashback on the beer cap hot pads. i used to absolutely love playing with those when i was little…. funny…. wonder if that aided in my drinking habits…. i’d pay you dearly for a copy of that purse pattern!!!!
I have searched high and low for patterns for beer can hats. The only one I could find wasn’t NEARLY as great as these. And that purse is the best! Is there any way that I can get the patterns??
I was searching for black dog info and found this post. I agree totally!
Paul
Mrs. McYarnpants, Any chance you have the patterns for those beer can hats? I’d like to make one as a Christmas gag gift but the only patterns I’ve found so far are these: http://members.tripod.com/CarolynMurphy/canhat1.html
Don’t get me wrong, they’re ok – just not what I was hoping for. But the ones Miss Evelyn created (especially the Bud and Pepsi ones) are EXACTLY what I was hoping for.
I had a beer can hat. Well, it was a Pepsi Can hat, my mom didn’t think a beer can hat was appropriate for a 12 year old.
Waaay too funny! Makes you wonder what the blogs will contain in 30 years (will there be blogs in 30 years?).
What I find so amusing is yesterday, I rec’d an ebay item that contained, among other vintage fun stuff, (drum roll, please) The BeerCan Hat Pattern Page, Labeled: Crochet This Attractive Beer Can Hat. (wild applause). Sadly, this is the same page Debbie found at members.tripod…..canhat1.html; no purses or pepsi hats. My DH and I had fun laughing at the pattern; for some odd reason, he turned down my offer to make one for him. Go Figure.
I found your blog from the BellaOnline Crochet forum – and I’m bookmarking it for sure! thanks for your article on The Museum of Kitsch! Not everyone has your breadth of vision…
I would absolutely love to have the patterns for the beer can hats and the purse is to die for. Love your blog!!!
OMG!!!!!!! My mother MADE THOSE HATS!!!!
I have not seen them since the early 70s. Mom made Budwieser hats, Pabst Blue Ribbon hats, Coke Hats, Pepsi hats, 7-Up hats… She did not buy the pattern book. She looked at the picture in a magazine and figured it out for herself. She sold them at a local small flea market.
This was Deja-Vu, not in a good way…
We want YARNFACE! Merry Christmas to you Stichy, and to all of your listeners..
Great stuff! I have one of those beer can hats in my museum. Classics!
Great blog.
I too would love to have your patterns for beer/soda can apparel!! My mom wants to make some hats and I can’t remember how I did it 30 years ago!
Valo@clearwire.net
nice…..can i say, though, that at our parties in high school and college, that the “weird old guy” was always wearing a crochet and beer can hat. we made lots of fun. maybe they were this lady’s sons!
That is freakin’ hilarious. Just goes to show how creativity can sometimes go overboard!
I would like the pattern for beer can hats also if you have it thank you. love yours
any one willing to make these hats at an event? Phila, PA area
Enjoyed your site. If you have the pattern for the white beer can hat or the pepsi hat would love to have it.
I have your pattern for the red hat you have on site but wanted to make these up with soda cans for the kids and thought one of these patterns might fit better. Like most people had all these patterns at one time but…hope to hear from you and thank you.
I would love to have the pattern for the beer can baseball cap (beige in color on the golf picture) Enjoyed this site immensely