KNITTING CRAZE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 119, 22 May 1931, Page 8

KNITTING CRAZE

SWEEPING AUSTRALIA

LIKE WAR YEARS

(From "The Post's" Representative.). *; SYDNEY, 10th May.

A knitting craze is sweeping Australin. It appears to liavo started in Melbourne,' and swept that city like a grass fire. Sales of wool commenced to jump in February, and aro now higher than during the knitting craze that followed the war. Of course, during the war almost every woman knitted for the soldiers. Now overy woman seems to. bo knitting something for herself. One day last week a big Melbourne store had 4750 customors who wanted wool, "and 197' girls were kept busy all day attending to their requirements. Nearly all the , shops have had to cngago extra hands in the knitting wool department. Department managers say that the boom is largely n fashion craze, the culmination of a fancy for knitted wear that has been steadily rising for the past three seasons. This year it hns grown beyond all expectations, indicating the most fashionable year for wool on record. It is considered that the knitting craze is a thrift measure only in part, as the demand for knitting wools started as early as last Christmas, before women thought of buying winter sweaters and cardigans. Jumpers, cardigans, vests, and men's pullovers are the most popular garments for home knitting. Countless small orders for wool arc also put in for bcrot and senrf sets and for tea cosies. Books of instruction for making all these things sell out with extraordinary rapidity. Koyal blue, orange, bottle greon, and bright reds are the colours most in demand. Most of tho wools are Australian spun, and one big Melbourne mill: reported last week that its output had increased 30 per cent, in the last few weeks. AH this must be very cheering to tho grazier.