I took up knitting about eight years ago. That’s when I started to collect vintage knitting patterns and couldn’t resist the patterns by The Jester Wool Company of Leicester. These are very distinctive as unlike all the others the pictures of the garments are drawn not photographed. The children’s patterns come in booklet form with a charming little paragraph about the child in the pattern, and precise washing instructions for Mum. I have tried to find out more information about The Jester Wool Company and the only thing I have found is an advert for Jester Wools that shows the trademark Jester alongside the words, ‘I’ve robbed the rainbow to make you Gay. Jester Wools for Gayer Garments’. The patterns appear to date from the early fifties and obviously the word ‘gay’ had different connotations then. If you have any information, please let me know. The children’s illustrations are very much in the Janet and John tradition and reinforce that wonderful cosy view of a fifties childhood.
Jester advert, 1953
I tried to find you some info but came up empty handed. I love vintage patterns and although my mom collect from way back then she also has no info on them 🙁
http://craftyprojectsilike.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much for your comments and for trying to find out more info! I enjoyed your blog and just love your amazing crochet! I’ll post more Jester soon.
– am clearing a house and have a publication catalogue with 59 of the lovely patterns in it.
Hi Veronica, I have only just come across your comment regarding the Jester knitting patterns. I’m afraid this is a very late reply but I’m hoping I may not be too late to enquire if you still have this publication catalogue? I am very interested as I’m still trying to find out more information about this company. However I would like to thank you so much for posting your comment and it has encouraged me to keep on searching!
Kind regards, Karen
Hi Veronica,
If you already have my previous reply from earlier this morning, please ignore this one. I have only just come across your comment as I had given up on the Jester for a while, but your reply has encouraged me to keep on searching. I don’t suppose you still have this publication, or can remember anything about it? If you can, I’d be really pleased to hear from you. Thank you so much for posting! Kind regards, Karen
Hello , I have only just found this reply . E mail me on veronica.wright@yahoo.com if you would like to . I think that these would have been reps copies . They are the original patterns . Kind regards Veronica
Hello. I’ve been researching The Jester Company for a couple of weeks because of their link to rug-making. There isn’t much information about them (I’ve ordered some more of their advertising materials), but I have published what I could find here. It includes details of their liquidation in the early 1990s.
http://messybeast.com/rugmaking/rugmaking-5-jester.htm
I also have a small pack of their mending wool that I’m donating to donate to a museum of 1940s life.
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