Crocheted Window-Pane Dress

If this isn't the most mod little thing... Well, I think it is -- I just love it!  Instructions etc. for making this retro  mini are below. From Coats & Clark Fashion Forecast book, No. 199; copyright 1970 -- that I'm giving away!

Basics In Vegetable Cookery

Cooking suggestions (including by vegetable color!), methods of cooking and serving vegetables, and three recipes from Food Preparation, Extension 4-H Bulletin #32, reprinted June 1947, by Ina Row & Eva Blair, Extension Nutritionists and Mildred Schenck, State 4-H Club Agent. (A 4-H Club booklet put out by the University of Minnesota, Agricultural Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, University Farm, St. Paul 8, Minnesota.)

Cleaning Dish Cloths

To cut through grease and generally ease cleaning of dish cloths, soak the dirty dish cloths in water to which a little ammonia has been added. (Another tip from the 1967 American Farm & Home Almanac, edited by Ray Geiger.)

Beginner Sewing Machine Stitches Help

From Vintage Clothing Construction Helps, advice for beginning sewers which begins with the recommendation that one practice learning to stitch straight on the sewing machine by using an unthreaded machine on paper. Then, once proficient:

Before stitching on garment, check the tension on the machine and the length of the stitches. In the correct stitch, the upper and lower thread should lock at the center fabric (figure 2).

Here's figure 2:

This vintage booklet was by Margaret Fobes, Alice Linn, and Ethel Gorham, Extension 4-H Bulletin #13, February 1944; a 4-H Club booklet on sewing clothes put out by the University of Minnesota, Agricultural Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, University Farm, St. Paul 8, Minnesota.

Rid Your Rooms Of Tobacco & Smoke Smells

This tip or recipe for making your own "homemade" deodorizer comes from the 1967 American Farm & Home Almanac, edited by Ray Geiger.

Time Saving Trick For Sewing On Snaps

A nifty tip from the March 1956 issue of The Workbasket (Vol 21, No. 6) on working with snap fasteners. I guess you could "chalk" this one up to experience *wink*

The Fashion Forecast Is Retro -- And Free! (Enter My Giveaway Contest!)

Weeks ago I promised a giveaway here at Things Your Grandmother Knew -- well, here it is!

I'm giving away a copy of  Coats & Clark Fashion Forecast book, No. 199; copyright 1970.  It has patterns and instructions for knitting and crocheting pullover and cardigan sweaters and vests, a pouch shoulder bag, a mini-dress, caps, scarves, a beret, suits and other two-piece dressing.  Here's a scan of the front and back covers:

(Before you get into the whole "how to enter" thing, I also wanted to let you know that I'm also giving away a copy of God In My Kitchen: Fifty-Two Thoughts For Homemakers (1958) at my other blog.)

There are many ways -- options -- to enter.  Multiple entries are allowed -- but not necessary.

To Enter:

* Follow me on Twitter: @DPopTart. (Please leave your Twitter username in your comment so I can check.)

and/or

* Tweet the following:

I entered @DPopTart’s contest to win a FREE copy of a retro knitting and crocheting book! http://bit.ly/rclmed

(Remember to come back here and leave a comment with your tweet for me to verify.)

You may tweet your entry once a day.

and/or

* Friend me on Face Book: Deanna Dahlsad. (When making the request, note that you are entering the contest.)

and/or

* Post about this contest at your blog or website — if you do this you must include in your post to this contest post or to Things Your Grandmother Knew in general.

(Please include the link to your blog post in the comments section so that I can find your post.)

and/or

* Post your entry as a comment — if you do this, please make sure I’ve got your email address, because if you’re the winner I’ll need your email address to contact you regarding your shipping information.

Here’s the giveaway fine print:

* Giveaway is open to US residents only
* Be sure that you leave your email so that I can contact you
* Contest ends October 16, 2011; entries must be made on or before midnight, central time, October 15, 2011. Winner will be contacted by October 18, 2011, and has 48 hours to respond; otherwise, I’ll draw another name.

Vintage Baking Recipe For Mothers

From Happy Holiday NSP, a cook book celebrating the Northern States Power Company's Golden Anniversary (50 Years of Public Service, 1909 - 1959), this charming little "recipe" appears on the last page:

Preheat oven; check to be sure that there are no rubber balls or plastic soldiers lurking on the shelves. Remove blocks and toy autos from the table. Grease pan. Crack nuts. Measure 2 cups flour; remove Johnny's hands from the flour; wash flour off him. Re-measure flour. Crack more nuts to replace those Johnny ate.

Put four, baking powder and salt in sifter. Get dustpan and brush up pieces of bowl Johnny knocked on floor. Get another bowl. Answer doorbell.

Return to kitchen. Remove Johnny's hands from bowl. Wash Johnny. Answer phone. Return. Remove 1/4 inch salt from greased pan. Look for Johnny. Grease another pan. Answer telephone.

Return to kitchen and find Johnny. Remove his hands from bowl. Take up greased pan and remove layer of nut shells in it. Head for Johnny, who runs, knocking bowl off table. Wash kitchen floor, table, walls, dishes. Call bakery, place order. Take to aspirin. Lie down.

Few things have changed! The type of toys, maybe. And, with cell phones and cordless phones, we don't need to leave the room to answer the phone. But some things certainly do remain the same. *wink*

Do You Know What Grandma Called "Organic?"

Probably not her food -- even though it was! Back in grandma's day, there was no need to label food organic or otherwise; food was just plain organic. Until DDT ect. came along, anyway. I'm not saying science and agriculture haven't produced some wonderful things -- and things we can safely eat. But now, unless you grow your own, it's actually more expensive to eat organic. A head-scratcher, right? Anywho...

Chloé Jo Davis, of the fabulous GirlieGirl Army, and her friend Alexandra Jamieson are brainy vegan Mamas with a common goal: helping the world eat cleaner! In the debut of their new monthly series, Little Sprouts/ Big City, they talk about getting deals on organic foods for your family.

Little Sprouts/ Big City: Alexandra Jamieson & Chloé Jo Davis Share Tips On Healthy Eating On The Cheap from Chloe Jo Davis on Vimeo.

Vintage Tea Ring Recipe

Making a Tea Ring with the basic roll dough recipe from the 1943 The Photo-Method For Rolls, by Virginia Roberts, Occident Home Baking Institute.

My Giveaway Contests

As a collector and lover of antiques and vintage things, I’ve got a lot of "stuff." Too much stuff. So I’m giving a lot of it away. Not only on Listia (my review here), but at most of my blogs.

I will be posting a contest here at Things Your Grandmother Knew soon -- but meanwhile, here's a round-up of all the other giveaways:

Enter to win one of five copies of The Suburban Diva's humorous mommie book.

Have even more time to read and pamper yourself now that the kids are in school? Enter to win a copy of The Bombshell Manual Of Style.

Tell me about antique and collectibles hunting in your area, and you'll be entered to win a vintage barbecue cookbook.

Go here to win a kitschy vintage postcard.

Thanks, and good luck!