Figure 1.--These coordinated knitted snowsuits were styled for brothers and sisters. Notice how the suits are basically solid colors, but with some detailing. Some suits had no detailing at all. These were a 1972 English pattern available from Golden Hands in sizes 4 to 6 years.

The snow suit was generally a two piece garment of matching long-sleeve tops and long pants bottom. Very young children might wear one-piece outfits, but the two pice styles were wore common. Many suits came with matching mittems and caps. These snow suits were made in a great variety of styles, colors, and knits. They could generally be worn by boys or girls. In fact some knitting magazines showed brother-sister outfits. Often the only difference being the boys' and girls' suits was the choice of hat--sort of a tie-on bonnet for girls and a "toque" or balaclava for boys. Color may have been another factor. Boys seem to have worn these suits up to about age 8 years. The choice of models suggest that for the older sizes, these suits were more common for girls. One reader reports that often girls were used for modeling knitted suits. We are not precisely sure why that was. The popularity of these knitted snow suits varied from country to country.

Chronology

We are not yet sure about chronological trends assocuated with these winter snow suits. I have seen some protraits in the late 19th century. We note 1930s knitting magazines with numerous patters. The image seen here was a 1972 English pattern (figure 1).

Styles

The snow suit was generally a two piece garment of matching long-sleeve tops and long pants bottom. Very young children might wear one-piece outfits, but the two pice styles were wore common. One piece suits varied, but we note some with zip tops. The two piece suits generally had pullover tops. Many suits came with matching or coordinated mittems and caps. These two basic types, one and two piece snow suits, were made in a great variety of styles. The most common stylistic variations were with the treatment od the collar, but the wrist and waistband could also be designed and detailed in a mumber of ways.

Colors

We notoice these knit sbowsuits in a large range of colors. Blue and white were two popular colors. Girls might wear brighter and a wider range of colors. Notice here that the boy wears a standard shade of blue his sister a brighter shade. Often the top and pants matched, but they could also be done in coordinated colors as seen here (figure 1). We note quite a few of these suits done in blue for bots, usually a dark or mured blue, with varied color detailing.

Patterns

Boys and girls often wore very elaborately paterened sweaters. For snow suits we note that it was much quite common for the outfits to be large one solid color, although many had some patterened detailing. We do not note snow suits, however with the same destinctive patterns worn for sweaters. This was, however, not the most common. Almost always if there was detailing, it was on the top rather than the pants. Color and style might be added by colorful accessories such as the caps. We are not sure yet how patterns varied over time and among countries.

Knit Patterns

One way of detailing these snow suits other than color was varying the style of the knit. Notice here how the effect of cuffs and and a waistband or created by varying the knit.

Gender

Knitted svow suits could generally be worn by boys or girls. In fact some knitting magazines showed brother-sister outfits. Often the only difference being the boys' and girls' suits was the choice of hat--sort of a tie-on bonnet for girls and a "toque" or balaclava for boys. Color may have been another factor. The choice of models suggest that for the older sizes, these suits were more common for girls. One reader reports that often girls were used for modeling knitted suits. "I gave you a sample of knitted sets specifically for boys. Many more are available, but are for boys or girls, often the only difference being the choice of hat--sort of a tie-on bonnet for girls and a "toque" or balaclava for boys. I have volumes of baby patterns, but they are not only for boys." We are not sure that the trend to show few boy models for sbow suits actually reflected thecrelative prevalence of these suits, but it is possible. Our readr writes, " Photographs of boys in knitted suits are not all that common, I don't think. Some reasons could include that more affluent people ordered ready made woven clothing, and did not dress their older children in knitted outfits as much (this is a maybe). Poorer or rural women who knitted alot may not always have taken many photos (another maybe). A practical problem with knitted pants or leggings for boys is that the knees wear out fast, and they need constant mending. Many mums put their boys into sweatpants or overalls OVER their woollies, (except for outings, perhaps) so in a photo no one knows what they really have on."

Ages

Boys seem to have worn these suits up to about age 8 years. They look to have been most popular for boys up to abbout age 6 years. The pattern seen here, for example, was for children 4-6 years of age (figure 1).

Country

We are not precisely sure why that was. The popularity of these knitted snow suits varied from country to country. We have noted these outfits from Canada, England, Germany, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries. We do not yet have sufficent country information to adequately assess invidual country trends. The snow suits shown here are from an English knitting magazine. We do note that snow suits seem to have been especilly popular in Canada. We have noted fewer snow suits in France, even though knitwear was pipula there. An important factor appears to be climatic.

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Created: January 28, 2003
Last updated: January 28, 2003