Last updated on August 27th, 2023 at 11:46 am
Here, I’ve collected some images of antique and vintage knitting tools, knitting needle gauges, knitting looms and miscellaneous other knitting-related items I found interesting. I don’t have a lot here as my focus is primarily on crochet, but I hope you find what I do have below useful and helpful. For more antique and vintage knitting needles and tools information, I definitely recommend checking out Webster’s Knitting Needles Notions’ article, A History of Knitting Tools – what a fantastic collection!!
Miscellaneous Antique and Vintage Knitting Tools
The K-Tel Knitter was widely advertised in the 1970s; so far, the earliest reference I’ve found to it is in 1971. These really didn’t stand the test of time because it’s more like crochet but slower and clumsier and not much like knitting despite K-Tel calling it a knitter. The best I can figure, you make a series of slip knots with it repeatedly. A tool very similar to this is currently sold in Michael’s and other stores under the “Fauxchet” name. Image source: Etsy user WellIWasSavinIt
K-Tel Knitter Television Advertisement – from youtube channel KTel Classics (how cool is that!)
Antique and Vintage Knitting Needle Gauges
Looking at knitting needle gauges that are from around the same timeframe as a vintage knitting pattern can often be helpful in determining – or at least estimating – what size knitting needle a pattern uses. I list these alphabetically by manufacturer’s name and then from older to newer within each manufacturer, if I’m able to determine general age.
Abel Morall Knitting Needle Gauges
Abel Morall’s metal vintage knitting needle gauge most likely from the 1950s. Image from Etsy user FillyGumbo.
Another Abel Morrall metal knitting needle size gauge, also believed to be from the 1950s. Image: Etsy user MuzzysCurios.
Aero Needle Gauge
This most likely dates to the 1960s or later. Image: Etsy user HailstoneHeritage
Beehive Knitting Needle Gauges
Beehive was Baldwins’ trademark up until 1920 when Baldwins merged with Patons becoming Patons & Baldwins. The sizes on this knitting needle gauge are using UK Imperial sizing and to the best of my knowledge, match standard British knitting needle sizes in use right up to the time the UK made sizing knitting needles in millimeters the standard. [Note to self – double-check when that was.]
Size 3 = 6.5mm
Size 5 = 5.5mm
Size 14 = 2 mm
Size 16 = 1.5mm
Size 19 = 1mm or possibly a bit smaller
Boye Knitting Needle Gauges
“Boye” knitting needle gauge. Dates to between 1936 and 1962. Boye registered the logo with “Boye” in a circle within a larger circle in 1936, and Boye stopped using quotes around “Boye” in 1962. Image from Ebay user osterwoman10.
Crescent Manufacturing Company Knitting Needle Gauges
Crescent Manufacturing Co. Knitting Needle Gauge
E. Lambert
“Standard Filiere” knitting needle gauge. This is most likely made of bakelite or other early plastic material; it’s possible it’s made of bone but I really don’t think it is.
Rinso
Rinso Knitting Pin Gauge (back). I believe this was a give-away with purchases of Rinso laundry soap. Image from Etsy user PatricksEmporium.
Rinso Hemming Gauge with Knitting Pin Gauge (front)
Susan Bates “Knit-Check” Knitting Needle Gauges
While I may be wrong, I don’t believe that Susan Bates has changed their knitting needle sizes since the mid 1940s through today. There’s a high probability that any pattern from the 1940s onward that mentions using Susan Bates knitting needles are the same size as modern Susan Bates knitting needles.
Susan Bates “Knit-Check” No. 4099, “U.S. standard sizes”. Image from Ebay user osterwoman10. This most likely dates to the 1950s. Size 15 is definitely 10mm.
Another Susan Bates “Knit-Chek” knitting needle gauge, No. 4099, also most likely from the 1950s. Image from ebay user thedairymansdaughter.
Susan Bates Knit-Chek No. 14099 Knitting Needle Gauge. I believe this dates to the late 1960s or possibly early 1970s. It definitely is from after 1964 since it shows a 5-digit ZIP Code. Image from ebay user TheRebelsTreasure.
Susan Bates “Knit-Check” No. 14099. I suspect this dates to the 1980s. It definitely is from after 1964 since it shows a 5-digit ZIP Code. Image from ebay user saranjalis_attic.
Susan Bates “Knit-Check” No. 14099. This is modern one, as shown on Joann Fabric website in October, 2022.
Vintage Knitting Looms
Fleisher’s EME Fast Knitter Knitting Loom
How cool is this!! Found on Ebay, listed by horsefeathers patterns and it sold, fast! It states patent applied for on the box but I’ve not found the original patent application (yet) to learn more about it.
The two loom sides assembled together:
Vintage Flower Looms
Antique Tape Measures
Did you know that an inch hasn’t always measured an inch? Are you working on a pattern from the 1800s? Chances are very good any inch measurements they list are anywhere from 1.5mm to 4mm per inch different than a modern inch!
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