What to do, what to do?
I was contemplating what to post today since so many people may be inside for Spring Break or in quarantine because of this virus. As I’m sure you are, I’m concerned for my health, that of my family and my neighbors, so I’m trying to follow the guidelines to keep us all safe.
Which means I’m going a little stir crazy not being able to go out like I usually do. Waiting, hoping and praying all will be well soon. We are resilient. I think this to shall pass, but just not yet.
Crafters ~ Unfinished Projects or New
Most crafters usually have a couple unfinished projects laying around and now would be the perfect time to pull them out and work on them. I’m currently crocheting a baby blanket for a new little one joining us in May.
I thought about maybe a How-To book or pattern to learn a new skill. Then I recalled the Antique Pattern Library was given permission from the publisher to scan and share all the Workbasket Magazines.
Workbasket Magazines
Workbasket was started by a husband and wife team, John and Clara Tillotson from their kitchen table. The first issue came out in October 1935. An 8 page bulletin with step-by-step directions for lovely needlework. It was a direct mail business for a subscription that started with 5,000 names and continued to grow through 1966 to over 2,000,000 readers.
The magazine sold in 1990 but continued until the last issue in May or July of 1996. The name and owners have changed several times since then.
The old issues take us back in time. The projects and advertisements give us a glimpse into an earlier time in America. It’s in tune with how we lived, what we did in our leisure and what was the popular needlework craft at any given time.
Browse Scanned Copies
You’ll find many of the earlier magazines complete and fully scanned. Later years still have several that need complete scanning. All of the 1930’s magazines are there for you to look through and find projects.
On the main Workbasket page you’ll see that some of the 1940s magazines are complete, but only a few of the 50s and 60s. This is a continuing project, so it would be a good idea to check back often to see if there are any new magazines added.
Even though some say scanned at the top, it’s only the cover for now.
As you click on a magazine cover with the date showing, there’s a detail page so you can see all the pages that are included. If you click on one of the pages it will open in another window where you can save or print it. If you’d like all the pages in the issue, you’ll find a PDF file option to download on the Overview Page.
You’ll find enough to look at to keep you busy for days. You may even remember an old pattern from one of these magazines and could possibly find it here. I don’t think there is a more comprehensive place on the web to find these magazines scanned in their entirety.
Ebay has plenty of sellers offering Workbasket lots. Take a look at the search here >> Workbasket Magazines
Enjoy Browsing
So have fun, enjoy the down time if you can and take a look at these wonderful magazines and what they have to offer for projects you can use today.
If you like this post, be sure to share it with your friends. And like our Facebook Page to get updates every time we post new patterns.
Enjoy!
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Hi Debra,
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away (1999), I started an AOL website which eventually turned into buying the domain name MyCraftBasket.com to promote Workbasket magazine and duplicates I have for sale. If anyone is interested, you will find history of the magazine other info on my website.
So excited to see the Workbasket Magazine project. My grandmother was a long time subscriber and made the sampler quilt in 1982. I’d like to do the same since a cousin inherited the quilt she made. Will check back often to see the progress. Wish there was a way to help with this!
I’m trying to find a copy of Tougher Scrubbers, Workbasket February-March 1994. I have one from Ravelry but it is nit a clean copy. I had all from the late 1950’s thru to the last issue in like-new condition. Sadly, when we moved from Illinois back to our home in Texas, the movers either failed to pack the large box containing them or lost it. I don’t have to tell you how sick I was and still am! I had a scan if this use pattern but it also seems to have walked off! If anyone has a tip,on where I can find it, I would appreciate it.
Oh my, I certainly would be upset if that happened to my collection of vintage books. At the Antique Pattern Library, it says 1994 issues are on the way, not sure how long that means. It looks like Amazon and Ebay have 1994 copies available for purchase. Hope you find it.
Thanks!
Debra
Thank you! for the direct link to the Archive.org. My search skills on that site are pretty dismal and I enjoy reading these old magazines.
The Internet Archive has the issues from 1971-1995. Looks like they used microfilm, so not as top notch quality as Archive.
https://archive.org/details/pub_workbasket
Sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. Yes Antique Pattern Library has them in color too. Thanks! Debra
How can I start a subscription to workbasket
Unfortunately the Workbasket magazine is no longer printed. The last issue, after it was sold to KC Publishing, was issued in 1996. From the website, mycraftbasket https://mycraftbasket.com/workbasket-magazine —
“The magazine was sold to KC Publishing, Inc. in 1990. The magazine spanned 61 years. The last issue was published in May or July of 1996. Unfortunately The Workbasket Magazine as we had come to love ended publication.”
All we have are now are the old issues.
Thanks for your comment.
Debra
Wow, I was amazed to find this site! My mother used to get the Workbasket magazine, and she made some of the crochet patterns, such as scarves, afghans, and stuffed animals. She made me a crochet dragon which I believe came from this magazine. It was called Dexter Dragon, and would have been sometime around 1970-1973, I think. She made a pink one for me, as I really loved pink at the time. If anyone remembers this pattern, and maybe still has it, I’d love to have a scan of it! I loved that dragon and kept the pattern for a long time, but it disappeared in one of my many moves over the years. I’ll check back here periodically to see if it gets uploaded (assuming it actually was a Workbasket pattern, as I’m not 100% sure).
Great. Glad you found the site. Maybe try a search for a “vintage dragon crochet pattern” and see what comes up. You might find it or a similar one. Thanks for your comment.
Ravelry has a pattern from Woman’s Day in 1972. It’s called Dexter Dragon. No photo, but it might be the one you want.
Gee whiz! I was wanting scan mine when I had them. I wish I knew you before I gave away some twenty years worth.
It’s always hard to let go of my old craft books and magazines, but realize my house would be over run if I didn’t.
Thanks for your comment.
Debra
My grandma and mom used to get this magazine, they taught me to do many of the crafts but all their magazines got burned in the fire and now I trying to find them because I enjoy making the crafts, not the new stuff but the vintage ones I remember in my grandma’s house…. I am now 60 and really would love to get these magazines
Yes they are wonderful little books that bring back memories. You can find many of the originals on Ebay and Etsy.
EBAY: https://ebay.to/38y6LSp
ETSY: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=workbasket%20magazines
Or download the issues from the Antique Pattern Library. They don’t have all the issues available yet but plenty to save and print from.
Thanks for your comment.
Debra
Debra there are better Workbasket digital files on Archive.org
https://archive.org/details/texts?and%5B%5D=Workbasket&sin=&sort=-publicdate The entire magazines are scanned on Archive.
APL scans just a few pages or so of each Workbasket. I enjoy reading even the old advertisements, and the (very corny) “Women who make CENTS” article (don’t plan on making any ‘cents’ from those tips, but read for novelty purposes 😉 I do enjoy many of the releases on APL however.
Thanks for letting me know. I’ve probably seen them there at one time or another and forgot. 😃 Love Workbasket magazines where ever I find them.
We most certainly do not scan just a few pages. The entire Workbasket is scanned, advertising coupons included.
The reason you see only the title page of some issues (and I’m thinking of changing that to the contents page) is that I’m severely behind with editing. We have six volunteers scanning and I’m the only one editing at the moment, so that’s the bottleneck.
It’s good to know archive.org has some too, because then those issues will go to the back of the queue. After all if an issue is available elsewhere, then I will include a link to that location and that should serve just as well. Our purpose is “to make available” and if it already is available, no need to spend much time on it. (That’s why the Encyclopedia of Needlework is not in our catalog as well.)
Best wishes,
Sytske Wijnsma
Library Director of the Antique Pattern Library