This post was meant to be posted a couple of weeks back, but as
bloomin’ usual I have felt like doing very little! Well, better late than never,
eh!
I’m sure everyone knows by now how much I like knitting, and most of you probably know how I idolise the mannequins that grace the covers of the patterns that I treasure so. If not, then I absolutely adore them! They are always so perfect looking- I guess that’s why they are models!
I have been coveting and collecting these little pieces of knitting history for about eight years and I have always wondered, right from the very beginning, about the mannequins themselves. Who are these glamorous gals that captivate me so? Surely they have names, right?
Well, it hasn’t been at all easy trying to find out about
these girls let me tell you! So popular and photographed perhaps, but ruddy
difficult to trace! Like I said before, its taken eight years to get this far
and I’m slowly but surely making a list of names- Hooray!
So, it gives me great pleasure to unveil my new blog venture
….
Yes, I’m going to reveal their names one by one! Oooh,
exciting! (Well, it is for me because they are my idols!)I’m going to start with the latest name I have found, and as it happens it’s also the name of my favourite!
S'pose I better reveal her name then....
So Tupperettes or Tupp'eenies
(Tupperettes sound’s medical!), let me introduce to you my favourite model in the whole wide world,
Miss Peggy Chester. (I think
a trumpet fanfare would be a good ideal here- for dramatic emphasis
and all!)
This jumper is a must- wonder if I could make it now that I can crochet...?
Peggy Chester.
These four snaps of Peggy can be found in my first knitting pattern book. 15 or so knitting books and eight years later...!
***
I had mixed emotions when I first discovered her name- it’s
really silly and very sad, but I was totally taken aback by the discovery (Yes, I’m really
daft!). So much so that tears welled up instantly on sight of her name. I’m
actually getting a bit foggy now- there really is no hope for me…. Tupney, for
goodness sake woman- she’s just a model!
It was one of those double take moments, where one couldn’t
quite believe what one was seeing!
This is a very lovely little snippet of information and all, but....
I now want to know what service her husband was in... when they got married... his name... yes, I'm nosey!
Now, I may have her name (she says jumping with glee!) but finding anymore information
about her has been a very tricky affair indeed. All I have found, so far, is that she was one
of the mannequins chosen to showcase British fashions abroad in South
America during the war. Peggy may have also been one of the mannequins that also gave a private preview of the fashions to the King and Queen, but I can't be certain of this and may be making it up!
Isn't she just perfection?! Beautiful and elegant ♥
Ms Chester can also be found in adverts- Players, Vantona and WI dressmaking courses spring to mind. I've also seen her as an extra in film shorts too...
I shall leave you with one last knitting pattern featuring the Lovely Peggy and a tip top tune to match!
I could go on posting images of her as I have so many examples- but I must stop and sort things out :(
So there you are,
Mannequin no. 1
Of course, it goes without saying, if you know anything else about Peggy Chester or are a relative and don't mind sharing more information about her (?) then I would absolutely love to hear from you! (Well I like to hear from you Peggy related or not!)
Have a great weekend everyone,
One very happy Tupney xxx
(P.S. Happy RAF Friday- normal services will resume next week!)
