knitxcore.: Vintage Halloween Inspiration: Magazines!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Vintage Halloween Inspiration: Magazines!

Pack O fun: October 1965.
"Pack-O-Fun: October 1965"

I found a lot of these vintage "Pack-o-Fun" magazines on Etsy recently for a great price! They usually cost about $6-$9 on eBay, and I only paid that much for a lot of 4 of them

They're all so fantastic! There are so many amazing projects I would have never thought of. I have plenty of "modern" and "hip" craft books and while I love them to bits, nothing beats a good vintage magazine. They are little kitsch and maybe really cheesy (and that's probably why I love them); without all of the pretense of the modern craft community. If you want to tape candy to a paper cone, do it!

They have inspired me to be less shy about all aspects my aesthetic.; not everything has to be sleek and streamlined. I like a sort of kooky, folk art style and these seem like the perfect thing to make me feel more comfortable with my personal place is in the crafting community.

That seems incredibly sentimental. I forgot I was talking about the magazine for a second.

Pack O fun: October 1965.
I'm hoping to make this witch soon!

Pack O fun: October 1965.
Party Favors!

I guess the reason I'm thinking about this so much is because for the past two days, I've been working on a secret tutorial for a blog that I'm a guest on next Monday. It's decidedly "kinder-craft" looking; googly eyes are involved. I've been wondering all day if it's too cheesy to share. After flipping through these books, I took a few minutes to reflect on the history of crafting and the importance of these kitschy little tomes.

If anything, I'm now severely excited to share the tutorial with the readers of "sparrows and arrows" and I'm almost positive that their readers will love it as much as I do.


Pack O fun: October 1965.
The best costume ideas!

I'll post a reminder when it's time to go check things out! It really is the cutest Halloween decoration in my house!

<3
Robbie

PS- There are close-ups of the illustrations on my Flickr page! If if you would like a close up of any of these directions leave your email in the comments!

Coming up...
-the finished Bird Mask.
..
-MORE Vintage Halloween Inspiration
-a pile of Finished Fabric Pumpkins
-A Haircut
-and maybe a finished sock?
...Stay Tuned!!!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those masks look like so much fun! I can't wait to see some things you create from these magazines!

Anonymous said...

They're amazing! I like that they call it "scrap-craft". It's like these days a lot of crafts have been institutionalized instead of just being a make-do affair with stuff that's left over from living. "Scrap-craft" makes me happy in my little thrifty-heart. ^_^

Anonymous said...

They're amazing! I like that they call it "scrap-craft". It's like these days a lot of crafts have been institutionalized instead of just being a make-do affair with stuff that's left over from living. "Scrap-craft" makes me happy in my little thrifty-heart. ^_^

Sian said...

i want a pack o fun! they look amazing... i want to make that cat... am not sure what it is - a cat standing on a piece of paper? or lasagne? whatever it is i want to make it.

Sian said...

..oh and am looking forward to the tutorial!!

Jessi said...

oh how fun! I love the illustrations

Kim W. said...

hiii there! i just found ur blog and wow awesome!!! another fellow knitter! /high five! ;) xkim

p.mcg said...

those children with their box masks look scary :s

Anastasia said...

Embrace the kookyness! Folksy is important, I think. These are all so fun c: My grandma had a ton of old old magazines like these and I wish I'd hung onto them!!