Stitchery and Scraps

The lesson for today's post is 'sewing for the home can be fun'! Better Homes and Gardens shows you just how much of a hoot sewing, weaving (or knitting with a loom), and summer stitchery can be in these four pages from Stitchery and Crafts.

Surely if weaving (or knitting, rather) had been this simple in Penelope's day, her plans would have been foiled much sooner, and history would be forever changed. Also, she would have been able to make many fashionable shawls in a jiff!


From afar, these cushions look pretty neat with their boxy geometrics, bold colors, and textures that seem to pop off the page. Up close, however, you realize just how useless they really are and that they resemble the bottom of those cheap Easter baskets.


It would be worth it to toil all winter long just to have your summery stitches all ready for those warm days out by the lake. You'd better get started now; you'll need pillows, rugs, runners, cushions, fabric awnings to hang off the bridge, covers for your wire-framed chairs, parasols, table cloths, covers for directors' chairs and tree swings, and, of course, your ottomans. You might need to quit your job to get them all done in time!

Stitchery and Gasps

Crochet is the most venerable of all forms of needlework. But don't take my word for it. Better Homes and Garden's Stitchery and Crafts has this to say on the matter: 'Crocheting is a venerable art.' See? The art of crochet might have hit rock bottom in the 1970s, but in the 1960s it was still a fresh way to create unique details and breathe new life into your various doodads.

Odd tufts of yarn is a perfectly acceptable way to create texture and intrigue in a room. If your furnishings are a curious mélange of styles and colors, red tufts on the wall will draw the eye away from the general decor and create a sense of panic and confusion that will silence any critiques of bad taste in a jiffy. Crocheted designs can also be attached to store-bought pillows and cushions. The middle cushion, for instance, has a handmade trivet glued to it.


Ancient bearded god or fancy trilobite?


Sheets with personalized embroidery say all the things that mere words cannot. The blue sheet set on the right, for instance, says, 'I breed rabbits.' My favorite part of this page though is the doddering, bespectacled cat on the bedside table of the first picture.

Check back soon for more crafts-related wonderment!

Stitchery and Laughs

Here are some more knitted and quilted wonders from Better Homes and Gardens' Stitchery and Crafts.

These quilted beauties for your boudoir display all the colors that matter. The copy on the page concedes that there is no color scheme or actual design to the various quilted accoutrements. So you can have full control over your vanity stool cover and swing chair cushion!


'In the past, creative knitting was limited by the scarcity of yarn,' says the book. Lucky for us all, the yarn boom of the 1960s and 70s made it possible for amateur knitters and crocheters everywhere to blanket the world in knitted covers and crocheted mats.. and crocheted cushions and knitted pouches. These days, everything rightfully belongs hidden underneath a tastefully crafted cover. Just think of all those ingenious toilet paper holders! This page has some pillows that look like they were made from some pretty nice sweaters and some knitted placemats and chair cushions made from Cliff Huxtable's sweaters.


This is, apparently, a picture of the interior of a new age-y center. Maybe this is a room where you go to recharge the balance of your life force. I think there is some sort of spiritual significance to the placement of the plants. The knitted pieces on this page include a dust-attracting wall scarf (or, perhaps someone is knitting a scarf for an elephant) and a blanket for the chic swing chair. I'm not sure what the appeal of the swing chair was. Is it because it kind of resembles a cracked eggshell, and curling up in it evokes memories of a fetal state? If so, that's pretty new age-y.

Stitchery and Gaffes

It has been said that life is a great quilt of experiences, of joys and sorrows, and the thread of humanity binds us all together. This is one of the two most poignant quilting-related quotations that have been said. Lucille Ball, in all her wisdom, urged women to 'use a make-up table with everything close at hand and don't rush; otherwise you'll look like a patchwork quilt,' but that probably doesn't resonate as much. If careless cosmeticians would create a look that resembles any of the quilts in these pictures, though, there would probably be a few tearful ladies. For your viewing pleasure, here are some bedspreads and other quilts from Better Homes and Gardens' Stitchery and Crafts.

Here we have the sort of sparse, faceless bedroom that any child would love. Especially any child who would envy the fittings of hospital rooms and prison cells or are excited by signs on restroom doors. Basically, the design is a little creepy. I prefer the second project: 'platter' party supplies, including a tote for carrying records and a matching cushion to sit on.


This quaint children's room has an adorable circus theme. The bed linens and rug are bright and cute, and I believe there is a giant popcorn machine in the corner behind the photographer. The problem, however, is the horse's head. Regardless of whether the horse's head is right in your bed or just on a shelf of the bedside table, it's never a good sign. The living room in the bottom picture is far less scarring, luckily. Note the use of harvest yellow predating the wild popularity of the color by a few years.


I think the bold geometric pattern of this quilt and the vivid green wash of the walls (which looks as if it might glow in the dark) would cause sleeplessness and, possibly, eventual madness. The headboard looks like it was fashioned from a car seat.


The top photo shows one of the few quilt designs that could leave a positive impression on the reader. Amazingly, it looks like it's made of hundreds of sand dollars! Or, maybe, it was made of hundreds of potholders.


The thing about this bedchamber is that it clearly is supposed to be the most tasteful and luxe of their designs, a majestic room fit for a queen. But it only succeeds in being cheaply flamboyant. The pom-pom trim was a nice touch, though.

Stitchery and Crafts

To the discerning eye of the kitschy cookbook collector, Better Homes and Gardens is the pinnacle of quality. No matter the occasion, meal, or ingredient, Better Homes is always filled to capacity with fascinating, frame-worthy works of art. It should come as no surprise that every picture in their various non-food volumes is just as sensational. Their decor guides abound with tasteful mid-century modern furnishings that would look perfect in a fashionable apartment. But it seems to be their craft books that provide the most varied eye-pleasers. For the next few weeks, I'll be highlighting some of the most dazzling works from Better Homes and Gardens Stitchery and Crafts, published in 1966. It promises to be a 'complete guide to the most rewarding stitchery and craft projects for the whole family' and includes examples of the artistry of weaving, appliqueing, knitting, paper designs, mosaics, and bazaar ideas.

This is the front cover. On a cool spring afternoon, mother and daughter work on their tapestries and rugs in the barn. Mother wears her sweater about her shoulders to combat the slight chill in the air and daughter sips a soothing cup of tea whilst admiring her regal handiwork. But, as is common for all of these publications, there are usually hints of something more sinister in the background. Notice the great rudimentary farming tools strapped to the wall. There is, perhaps, a shovel and a hoe. Much to my horror, I notice that the last implement is actually the severed hand of Struwwelpeter! Clearly he got what he deserved, but it was still a shock to see it hanging there. This visual sets a macabre tone for the rest of the book.


A few lovely burlap sacks and a gorgeous striped tote bag. I would buy that striped tote bag if I saw that in a store. It's beautiful!


Where is Mrs. Bates? Though this rocking chair does have a bright and jaunty cushion, this picture is still reminiscent of Psycho.

There will be more alluring (or alarming) craft items in the coming days, and if you're interested in seeing more 1960s Better Homes and Gardens handicrafts (specifically of the yuletide variety), you can revisit last December's month of crafty Christmas cheer!

Borden's Comedy Hour

Here's a delightful little pamphlet entitled Cheese Puts On A Variety Show. It's an advertisement for Borden brand cheeses. While there are a few recipes, the pamphlet mostly has descriptions, serving suggestions, and drink pairings. The best part is the illustrations of the packaging of the time. Unfortunately, the pamphlet is undated, and I'm not even sure of its decade of publication.

Ladies and gentlemen, Cheese Puts On A Variety Show.. starring Sonny & Cher, The Osmonds, Tony Orlando and Dawn... and the Borden's Cheese dancers! (As always, click on pictures for enlargements!)


If your favorites are Grated American cheese and Borden's delicious cocktail spreads, then here are 'All your favorites at their best'!


The lineage of the 'royal family of Borden's fine Cheeses' can be traced back to the easily digestible Chateau and poignant Early American varieties, as well as recipes for Brick, Pimento, and Limburger Sandwiches.


Borden's continental cousins include Buffet Cheese, Roquefort, Camembert, and America's 'most distinguished cheese', Liederkranz.


Borden's isn't all American cheeses! Here's a bit about Borden's imported cheeses: Gruyere, Edam, Gouda, Brie, and Gorgonzola.

So-Good Meals (1963)

So-Good Meals is an odd mishmash of themes from the editors of Better Homes & Gardens. Is it a book detailing men's tastes or a kid-friendly cookbook? Maybe it's for dieters or busy wives who have to prepare a week's worth of food ahead of time. Or could it be for the penny pincher who has to serve 'leftovers' to make ends meet? Why, this slim 60 page cookbook is all that and more! Plus, only a book filled with slightly above par cuisine could be titled So-Good Meals, and the only way you can determine the authenticity of the titular claim is through the Better Homes & Gardens seal of approval. And, as if the title weren't alluring enough, the front cover promises to teach you how to 'eat at home and like it'! Note: This book might be 'So-Good', but apparently it's not good enough to charge more than 99 cents for it (that's less than a penny per 'tasty way to please your family'!).

Front cover features something called Chicken Garden Skillet


The first part of the book concentrates on Meals Men Like, and you know what that means: beef roasts, burgers, ham steaks, veal birds, and lamb chops! Here's the world famous Betterburger. What's the go-with that makes your Betterburger rate 'super'?


If there's one thing we've learned from the few cookbooks I've posted here, it's that a little creativity goes a long way towards establishing a memorable meal. That inspired flight-of-fancy needn't be all gelatin molds and oddly shaped foods; a snappy menu title will keep the compliments coming! Case in point, this menu is called Come-and-get-it Ham Supper. Don't you wish you could come and get a plate of this Swirled Ham with Marshmallow Sauce? I mean, Mustard Sauce. The Sweet Potato Balls are especially ingenious (the text says they 'look like a party', but I think they look like hedgehogs), and the menu calls for a Curly Wurly favorite, Perfection Salad! Men might like this meal, but everyone else will love it, too!


Watch out! The kids are cooking! The two less handy kids join forces to figure out the Saucy Franks, but the real artist of the family is constructing the eye-popping Totem-Pole Relishes. From the introduction to the Kids Are Cooking section: 'Now you're about to fix dinner for the family. Be safe ... cook with care. Talk it over with Cook, Sr. ... O.K. Kitchen, here we come'!


'Almost two sandwiches in one. Good!' It is good, indeed. In fact, dare I say it, Cheeseburger Towers look So-Good! (Much better than the Betterburger)


The Russian Winter Garden Loaf (aka Vegetables Laid Bare), which, oddly enough, 'tastes just like spring'!


Here's a great do-ahead dinner from the Dinner Loaf-style menu: Pineapple Ham Loaf. I think the caption says it all: 'This handsome glazed loaf is bursting with real ham flavor, boasts parade of broiled pineapple slices and cherries'! And, who doesn't love a parade (and real ham flavor)? Goes well with succotash.


And some head cheese, the ideal August repast.

Bananas - How To Serve Them, part 3

If you haven't gone bananas from all the bananas yet, here's the final installation of the great 1941 booklet, Bananas...how to serve them.

'He put my banana in Jell-O again?' Did you know?: 'Nature seals bananas in a germ-proof package'!


Banana Milk Shake - This is the cutest page of the entire book. The recipe yields a shake large enough to share, but if you have an appropriately sized stool, straws that resemble stilts, and some time to kill, why would you want to?


Serve your hairy grubs and other creepy crawlies with Hawaiian-style Pineapple Sauce! If you want your sauce to ooze with tropicality, drip in a little green food coloring 'to tint the sauce a delicate green.' Add toothpick parasols, and you've got yourself an Insta-Luau (whole roasted pig optional)!


Finger sandwiches make great snacktime in Geometry class. Or, use them for elementary school-age word problems: 'If Jack's sandwich has five banana slices and Sylvia's has four, how tall is Rodolfo?'


Don't Skip These 'How-To-Do-It's'! Includes the enlightening 'How to slice bananas section,' as well as fluting methods. 'How to keep bananas from turning dark,' also looks like a school project: one of those national science projects everyone has to do! You can just imagine the poster board covered in pie charts detailing the effect of the fruit juices on banana coloring!

Once again, if you're interested in viewing more of the illustrations from the booklet, have a look at my Flickr set devoted to these sprightly bananamen!