Times change, and nothing proves it more than crafting trends from a half-a-century ago. That's what I love about finding ephemera at thrift stores and antique malls. What seemed perfectly normal then-- from marketing lingo to photo styles-- today can seem a little...
Surprising...
unnatural...
and, um, one step away from needing to call child welfare services.
Fortunately, the 1947 craft guide, "The New Baby Book," doesn't disappoint.
I believe the ladies at
Threadbared discussed some of the items in this book once, but having come across it at the Salvation Army for $0.99, I just felt it merited another, more detailed look-see.
I mean, right off the bat we begin to see the publishers of this book had a somewhat skewed view of the practicalities of parenthood...
"Babies are such fun to dress," the inside cover proclaims, and shows a cartooned tot standing, diaper dangling and waiting to be ensconced in love and crochet.
For anyone who has dressed a small child, they know; as sweet as the little tykes may eventually look-- the actual
dressing process is not always exactly a cakewalk.
Those without children, or who haven't done extensive baby-sitting, you can get a sense of the experience by taking a willful aquarium octopus... then try putting it in an eight-armed jumpsuit. See how that works out for you.
I think you'll reflect on the fun of the experience in a somewhat different light. Even if the mollusk does look just
too sweet in its matching knit bonnet.
Of course, the
New Baby Book remains blissfully unconcerned about the many varied moods of your average child. Like here, for example.
Here smiling Dorothy is happy in her sweetly-crotcheted dress. But then we have our little friend on the left. The one in itchy wool Leiderhosen and one step from weeping. Oh, the small one is trying to keep a brave face, but the stress... it's noticeable.
"Why is it so hot, Mommy? Why am I so itchy? And why, oh why, am I wearing such short pants when I have such long sleeves? "
We apparently print his picture anyway. Crying children are entertaining in the Depression era. Toughens you up... Gets you ready for those times you'll have to walk to school in three-foot snowdrifts uphill both ways.
Get used to it, sonny.
Yet the New Baby Book also seems to feel strongly that bibs should be used for children well-beyond the baby-food phase...
The little girl on the right is already old enough to walk to school uphill both ways. But here, for some reason, we have the scene before she and the boy on the left "show us how the piggies eat." Let's just see her bring that bib out during school lunch. I bet it will be a
big hit.
The New Baby Book folks also seem to be trying to use mind-control on the children. See, because the children are old enough to read, they know the bib says, "I like carrots." Eventually, if they read this enough at every meal, they will believe it.
By the way, how easy it is to launder a food-encrusted bib made of wool?
And while we're talking about knitwear and washing, here we have some early Doublemint Twins modelling the latest in beachwear...
Aren't they adorable? Sure, they are
now. But what will happen when the sand and surf get into those lovingly-knitted bikinis? I mean, sweaters made of natural fibers tend to stretch out and sag or even shrink when exposed to water and...
Well, perhaps these swimsuits are different. Perhaps they're made of some exciting, new-fangled water-resistant yarn?...
Um, no. No, they aren't.
Nevermind.
So, hey-- have you ever wondered whatever happened to Rosemary's baby?...
I think this is what they did the moment the toys started levitating around the crib.
"Tie 'em in and keep 'em warm," says the caption. Safety first, right? No crib deaths to worry about here. Though based on the look on that child's face, it appears more like we're protecting the parents from the
kid.
This must be how Hannibal Lecter started off life. "I'd like Gerber's minced liver, mashed fava beans and a nice milk. SSSSSLLLLPPPPTHHHHPPP!"
They remove the face mask, like now, for when he eats.
Below we have distracted Little Miss Muffet by giving her a complicated physics problem to work out...
This was necessary because for the previous 37 takes, she removed her knit booties, hat, sweater and was considering a serious career in nude modeling. It would be artistic and not likely to involve anything fiberous.
Seriously, what kid would keep that hat and those booties on for more than five seconds?
Of course,
this poor dear below is just a disembodied head...
The other boys there in the illustraton have been using him to practice their softball throw. And they've been just tossing him back and forth, again and again.
He'd be okay with all the exercise but, truthfully, he does get a little airsick. In fact, you can see how nauseous he looks here.
Let's all sing a rousing chorus of "I ain't got no body," shall we?
Now this little girl, she looks happy because her mommy's told her she's going to be a star someday...
She poses like this in all the family's photos. She's done it for years. Her mother is sure if she keeps up this catalog modeling eventually she'll be discovered and get a movie deal like Shirley Temple. She sings and dances, too... Mary, you want to just give a nice little demo for the people now? Go on, don't be shy...
Of course, when she gets to be ten and still hasn't broken into the business, Mom is bound to be disappointed. Imagine, investing so much time and energy, and Momma's never going to get that mink coat after all.
Mom will mention it. Once every couple of days or so. "We'd have been rolling in dough, if you'd just tried a little harder, Mary. Put a bit more effort into it. Thought of your parents and their needs. Didn't you want your mommy to have her mink?"
Mary'll end up a diner waitress with dice earrings and low self-esteem in the City of Broken Dreams.
This next one is a bit reminiscent of a nightmare I had once....
Possessed children dressed as Santa's elves had crawled down my chimney and were coming to do me in.
Is that a sandpail shovel I see her holding? But she's wearing woven wool from head-to-toe!
And if it's for playing in the snow then, um, where IS the snow? Have we sent little Suzie out into the yard to dig in the cold hard earth?
Or did Suzie steal the sandpail shovel prop from those Doublemint twins, after they had to go in and wring out their sagging, waterlogged bikini bottoms?
I can't figure it out.
But lastly-- "gay and gifty" are these items below...
Here we have a knit dolly, a clown and.... what's that item on the right?
Why a baby bottle cozy! What do small, gooey fingers need more than a beautifully crocheted baby bottle cozy to smear with formula and drool?
It's destined to be a beloved family heirloom.
Well, that's all for today, my friends.
Otherwise I hope you see your smiling faces on (or whatever facial expression you might bring with you) on Wednesday, when we uncover Christmas treasures, lusterous fun, and more.
