Historical information

This book was owned by the late Dr Elizabeth Kerr and was donated to the Museum by the executor of her estate, Margaret Cameron. It was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains knitting patterns for mens, womens and childrens garments. This book would appear to have been produced at the time of the Sputnik launch in 1957 - unusually the garments have been given names like 'Supersonic', 'Satellite', 'Thor', 'Nikes', 'Rocket', 'Vanguard', 'Canaveral', and 'Electra'. Prior to the launch of Sputnik by the Soviets on Oct. 4, 1957, there was little awareness of satellites; also, the Vanguard and the Thor were American rockets launched from Cape Canaveral during the same era. As far as is presently known, Patons 'Jet' wool first appeared in the mid 1950s - the name probably represented modernity and was a reflection of the public interest in rockets / jets / supersonic aircraft / space travel which occurred in the post World War II era and which culminated in Sputnik and the formation of NASA in 1958.

Inscriptions & markings

No. 583 Featuring PATONS JET TRIPLEKNIT / Patons / KNITTING BOOK 583 / WITH T.V. DESIGNS / 2'-