There are several stylistic differences between this book and the ones published by Patons and Baldwins which are roughly the same age. This book looks a little more slick, with larger print, and the models look more like professional models and a little less like locals the photographer calls on when needed.
It would be interesting to know what the process was for sourcing knitting patterns at this time - did "ladies magazines" and advertising booklets like this have their own designers, did they source from yarn companies, was there a pool of independent designers? Because if not published by a yarn company, there doesn't seem to be any consistency as to whether a patterns specifies a brand of yarn or not. It makes sense for Lux not to specify one brand of yarn in its patterns, as it is trying to convince you that it is perfect to clean all yarn brands and types. However, it does contain a mixture of patterns with no specific brand and with branded yarn recommendations. So how did they get the patterns? Are they reprinting with permission from other sources? Soliciting? Is there an agent for knitting pattern creators? It's the little mysteries like this that are part of my fascination with vintage magazines.
Being essentially a branded booklet, there are few ads, and those are for Lux soap, with the exception of the final page which has an ad for Clark's and Coate's threads. "Anchor" stranded embroidery cotton has been around for a long time!
52 pages (including the cover pages) with 15 photographs (plus 2 on the covers) - compare the models here with those in the 'Lacy Jumpers' patterns from 1933 to see what I mean about the professionalism of the models. Only a few ads, but there are several "helpful hints" that really want you to use Lux. Also, the individual styles don't carry names, which is a change from what we've seen so far. Also, there are some lovely hats to be seen on the models.
- Knitted Jumper in Fancy Rib - knitted in 4-ply. Page 5 of this patterns has a little box to tell you how to wash silk garments and stockings (guess what product you should use?)
- Lacy Jumper with new sleeve interest - they call this one "Hostess", and the table of contents gives it as "Lacy jumper with new sleeve" that confused me a little - old jumper, new sleeves? No, just a nice sleeve pattern. Done in 2 ply and "Crochet this charming jumper in fine, pastel wool and it will look like a French model".
- Knitted Coat in open pattern - "all the best wardrobes feature A Light-Weight Coatee" (and that is not a typo from me.) 3 ply wool.
- Crochet Cape and Beret - "They're all the rage in America". Has a somewhat strange opening: "Granny looks over her spectacles to see her beloved 'tippet' on so many smart young shoulders! But now it's called a cape and worn about town and for sports by up-to-the-minute maidens." Worked in 3-ply fingering.
- The correct way to wash things you value - funny how no matter what you're washing, there's only one brand of soap that is suitable...
- Angora-trimmed dressing jacket - "Snuggle into this cosy jacket for breakfast in bed and look like a million dollars." Because everyone needs to dress for breakfast, even if you have to do it before you get out of bed. Knitted in Silversheen wool and Beryl Angora, and requires pearl buttons, snap fasteners and a small buckle. For breakfast.
- Daisy Jumper in Crochet - remarkably, despite the opening comments ("Here's a novel idea for a lacy jumper! Just make lots of little daisies and crochet them together") it doesn't come out looking like you made a top out of Nanna's old lace tablecloth. Uses Shetland Floss wool, and requires a small Daisy Knitter as well as crochet to join them, and a knitted waist. Page 23 has an insert telling you "How to Wash Woollens, Flannels, Blankets" - you'll never guess how.
- Man's Sleeveless Pull-over - knitted in 4 ply wool. A previous owner has knitted this pattern, and has marked it with pencil - again, the pages are fragile enough I don't want to try erasing them. But apparently she knitted it in orange, which makes me wonder about the reaction of the man who received the finished result.
- Knitted Angora Jumper - I don't know why the titles in the table of contents are so different from the titles at the pattern itself, in this case "Knitted in fashionable Angora, Puff Sleeved Jumper with a jaunty air." Knitted in angora wool, in two contrasting colours, one for the bow which "can be demure or cheeky, as you please." The model is rocking a Greta Garbo vibe.
- Baby's Outfit in Crochet - in 3-ply baby wool. Baby patterns don't really change much, and this is a pretty standard layette. However, the title takes the cake - "Enter His Majesty! A Cream Woolly Set in dainty crochet, for the son and her." Excuse me, but I think I just hurt my eyes rolling them at that.
- Baby's Outfit in Knitting - worked in 2-ply wool and a small amount of Angora. This uses the diamond leaf lace pattern, and I really like the look of this one. I don't think people really expect babies to look like little white lacy snowballs any more, though. Small mystery - it states to use 'composition' needles, and adds "do not on any account use aluminium needles" - I have no idea why.
- Toddler's Knitted Sun Suit - "Let the sun make him a big, strong man..." Um, yeah. Knitted in Patons & Baldwins 4-ply Crocus wool. This actually looks comfortable and practical for a toddler of either gender.
- Little Boy's Jumper with Elephants - why this has to be for a little boy, I don't know! It is very cute, and I can see lots of kids loving it. Knitted in 2 colours of 3 ply wool. Has buttons at the shoulders.
- Instructions for Grafting - amazingly, you don't need Lux soap to do it!
- Crochet Handkerchief Edgings - "to be worked in Coats' Mercerised Crochet Cotton, No/s 70-100." I don't understand the cult of prettified hankies, but they are rather nice. Definitely from the school of women-who-have-too-much-time-on-their-hands (because if you don't keep them busy with unnecessary fancy work, they might start getting involved in voting and politics and workplace economics and...that would be dangerous. Yes, I know it's just a pattern for pretty hankies. I'm feeling rather cynical due to Certain Conservative Twits talking about Greta Thunberg's speech to the UN.)
- Crochet Mat in two colours - your standard lace circular doily, worked in Coat's Mercerised Crochet Cotton No. 60, in shades F513 (Orange) and F441 (Buttercup).
- Embroidered Work-bag in Cross Stitch - requires "Anchor" stranded cotton in F699 (Goldfish), F6057 (Emerald), F599 (Cardinal), F580 (Nigger Brown - no, I'm not making that up), netting in Dark Mustard colour, material for lining and with 13 inch wooden handles.
I really don't know what to say about that colour name. Different times, sure but... sigh. No, today I don't have words. You can assume I'm not ok with it, and fill in the emotional maelstrom yourselves. And yes, I did consider *-censoring the word.