Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Wool has been renowned for its excellent properties for thousands of years, by people from all over the world. Not only good for thick winter woollens, it can help keep you cool in summer, as well as being durable and resistant to water, fire, ultraviolet light, stains and odour. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Children’s jumper with fair isle pattern in shades of cream and orange. Pale orange tweed yarn on chest and shoulders is flecked throughout with red, yellow, blue and green. Vent at centre front closes with three cream plastic buttons. .2 is a swing tag with manufacturer care instructions retail tags size 8 .3 is a sample tag with manufacturing information, including sizes, prices, and colours available .4 is a swatch sample for Magnolia/Navy/Blue Tweed colourway[tag stitched into back neck] KATHRYN REGD PURE NEW WOOL/ SIZE 8 HEIGHT 190cm MADE IN AUSTRALIAchildren's knitwear, children's clothing, knitwear, clothing, jumper, manufacturing, fashion textile production, machine knitting, variegated yarn, variegated, colourwork, stranded colourwork, fair isle, fair isle colourwork, fair isle knitting

This book was produced by the Lincoln Mills and contains fair isle knitting patterns for womens garments.Fair Isle DESIGNS / IN / Stylish Handknits / BY / LINCOLN / MODEL No. 1333 / SEE PAGE 4 / BOOK No. 682 / 8D.handicrafts - history knitting - fair isle, lincoln mills (australia) limited, handicrafts - history, knitting - fair isle

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for womens garments in fair isle knitting.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 262 / "DUNKELD" - See page 5 / P&B / WOOLS / FAIR ISLES / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting - fair isle, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting - fair isle

This knitting pattern leaflet was produced by Lincoln Mills and contains a pattern for a womans jumper made in fair isle knitting.LINCOLN / Model No. L1238 / PRICE 2D.handicrafts - history knitting, lincoln mills (australia) limited, handicrafts - history, knitting

Beret knitted during WW2 from darning wool. Darning wool was the only wool not rationed during the 1940's in Britain. Wool was sold only cut into lengths so was often used for fair-isle knitting.Knitted Fairisle beret. Knitted during WW2. Made with assorted colours of darning wool.costume, female headwear

One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This is a 'Bestway' English knitting leaflet and contains a pattern for a child's fair isle jumper designed by 'Ena'.BESTWAY / 2034 / 3d. / FAIR ISLE JERSEY / LONG AND SHORT SLEEVES. 4 to 6 YEARS / 3 ozs. and 1 oz. each of 3 colourshandicrafts - history knitting - fair isle, handicrafts - history, knitting - fair isle

This knitting pattern book dates from about the 1940s. Garments made with a Fair Isle pattern, especially sleeveless vests for men, were popular at that time. In the early to mid 20th century in Australia many of the woollen garments worn were handmade. Today this is not the case and hand-knitted garments are rare. Miss McClure had a lingerie and babywear shop at 114 Liebig Street before the building was demolished in 1953. This book is of minor interest as an example of a 1940s knitting pattern book and as a memento of Miss McClure’s shop in Liebig Street at that time. This is a booklet of 16 pages. It has a white cover with a red edging and black and white photographs and black printing on the front and back cover. The pages contain instructions for knitting six garments.Fair Isles For the Family Miss McClure Liebig Streetmiss mcclure, liebig street, history of warrnambool, knitting pattern books

One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.Knitting samples Merino - size 11 needles Moss stitch and stocking stitch Corriedale - size 9 needles Lacy patter Corriedale - size 6 Needles Stocking Stitch Perendale - Size 9 needles. Cable Stitch Size 8 Needles Commercial Wool and Unspun fleece wool (Corriedale) combined. Fair Isle with Commercial wool Mohair An Unspun Fleece Wool (Corriedale) Combined Mock Fair Isle using lifted stitches and limited Fair Isle (unspun) Fleece Wool . Size 10 needles Tubular Knittingknitting knitting - fair isle, hucker, mrs joyce, knitting, knitting - fair isle

This knitting pattern leaflet was produced by Lincoln Mills and contains a pattern for a knitted vest for women in fair isle.LINCOLN / Model No. L1105 / PRICE 2D.handicrafts - history knitting - fair isle, lincoln mills (australia) limited, handicrafts - history, knitting - fair isle

Thirty six page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and images. The colour cover shows a woman wearing a green, red and white patterned knitted top.front: [printed] Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 240 / SCOTTISH FAIR ISLES / "CLACKMANNAN" / See page 118 / P&B / A PATONS & BALDWINS' "GIANT" PUBLICATION / 10 1/2D.fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

Thirty six page knitting pattern book featuring black and white text and images. The colour cover shows a woman wearing a green, red, purple, yellow and white patterned knitted top.front: [printed] Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 262 / P&B / WOOLS / "DUNKELD" - See page 5 / FAIR ISLES / 1'-fashion, design, knitwear, home made, wool, pattern book, patons

This book was produced by Coats Patons and contains knitting patterns for mens jumpers and cardigans.Knitting pattern book, 20pp. Cover printed in colour with a photo of a man wearing a white, black and tan fair isle jumper and holding a set of skis. Contains photos and patterns for mens knitted jumpers and cardigans.Patons / BOOK / 848 / MEN ONLY: IN PATONS SKOL / 35cknitting handicrafts - history, coats patons (australia) limited, knitting, handicrafts - history