Dutch Boys' Clothes: Knits


Figure 1.--This Dutch boy wears a knit outfit of sweater and matching pants. The omage is from a 1960s catalog.

One very popular type of garment in the Netherlands were knit outfits. Knit sweathers were of course popular throughout Europe. I am not sure when knit sweaters first appeared, probably in the late 19th century. Another popular European style was knit sweaters and matching short pants. In the Netherlands, however, these knit outfits were worn with both short and long pants. They are usually easy to identify in old photographs because they were more form fitting than regular pants. These knits outfits were usually made in sizes up to about 10 years of age. Only limited chronological information is available. HBC has not noted these knit sets before World War II (1939-45). They were particularly popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Chronolgy

HBC still has limited information on the chronology of Dutch knit clothing. We believe that the first important knit garment was the sweater which apparently appeared in the late 19th century. A Dutch contributor reports that knit wear became popular after 1900. Knits were very popular in the 1920's and the 50s. HBC is not sure precisely when knits besides sweaters began to be worn in the Netherlands. After World War II (1939-45) knit sets or suits were popular. HBC does not fully understand the time line involved. Possibly knit wear grew in popularity durijng thethe German World War II occupation because obraining clothes became increasingly difficult. Perhaps mothers and grand mothers were forced to make their own clothes and the knit styles thus bcame popular. A Dutch source reports that he does not know just when knit garments became popular in the Netherlands. He does report, however, that they were very popular in the the 1950s. Most mothers did knit suit for their boys. Home-knitted sweaters, shawls, caps, socks and gloves were quit common untill the mid-1980s, but they have not totally disappeared. Some grandmothers still knit them, especially for younger boys.

Garments

One very popular type of garment in the Netherlands were knit outfits. Quite a variety 0f different knits garments were worn by Dutch boys.

Sweaters

Knit sweathers were of course popular throughout Europe. I am not sure when knit sweaters first appeared, probably in the late 19th century. The Dutch winters can be quite cold. There are also a lot of chilly spring and autumn days, located as the Dutch are on the North Sea. Thus sweaters have proven to be very popular garments in the Netherlands. I'm not sure when Dutch boys began wearing sweaters, but they are clearly being comnonly worn by the 1920s (surely appearing much earlier). They are still very popular today. HBC has, however, little information on sweater styles and patterns.

Knit suits

Another popular European style was knit sweaters and matching short pants. In the Netherlands, however, these knit outfits were worn with both short and long pants. They are usually easy to identify in old photographs because they were more form fitting than regular pants. These knits outfits were usually made in sizes up to about 10 years of age. Only limited chronological information is available. HBC has not noted these knit sets before World War II (1939-45). They were particularly popular in the 1950s and 60s.

Popularity

Knits were indeed a very popular part of the Dutch boys outfits, according to a Dutch contributor. They seem tio have been espically popular with mothers. I'm not sure how popular they were among boys themselves. Notably it is mostly younger boys who wear knot outfits--mostly at ages where mother's deciede what their sons wore. The only important knit garmernt that older boys wore were sweaters. A HBC reader notes, "I have noticed that knitwear appears to have been especially popular in the Netherlands. Interestingly, the hand worked knit styles apear to resemble our more modern styles."

HBC Images

The Dutch knit images on this and other HBC pages come primarily from weekly newspapers. Many of these papers had a small pattern section. Other images come from sewing publications where mothers purchased instructions. Thus these are not garments mothers purchased in stores, but rather they illustrated the final result of clothes made from available patterns. Notably many of these patterns came with options. Thus a pattern for a knit set might have thecinstructions for either long or short pants. The mother or grand mother could decide which she wanted using the same basic pattern.






Christopher Wagner





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Created: February 21, 2001
Last updated: November 17, 2001