Deciphering a Vintage German Knitting Magazine… Send Help!

Описание: Hello welcome to my knitting channel :) In this episode, I'll be showing you some beautiful vintage knitting illustrations from a German Beyers Knitting Magazine.
I'll also be talking about how they wrote their patterns out then and why it's so confusing to me!
I hope my waffle about and utter confusion over simple maths didn't make your head go bang ha!

HISTORY UPDATE
(Courtesy of chat gpt)

Germany's Division & Currency Split

After WWII, Germany was divided into four occupation zones (American, British, French, and Soviet).

In June 1948, the Western Allies (US, UK, and France) introduced the Deutsche Mark (DM) in their zones, including West Berlin.

The Soviets responded by introducing the Ostmark (often called the East German mark later) in their zone, which would become East Germany.

Founding of the DDR

The Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) was officially founded on 7 October 1949, over a year after the currency split.

Leipzig & Beyer Otto Verlag

Leipzig was in the Soviet zone (later East Germany). However, in 1948, it was still technically just part of occupied Germany, not yet the DDR.

Many companies and publishers, especially those with connections in the West, still used the Deutsche Mark in transactions. Some businesses moved westward to avoid Soviet control.

This Magazine's Context

If this magazine is from 1948, it was printed before the DDR officially existed but after the currency reform.

Since Leipzig was in the Soviet zone, they should have used the Ostmark. However, it's possible that Beyer Otto Verlag still operated in both parts of Germany and included West German advertisements with the DM pricing because they had a market in the West.

This mix of currencies and advertising wasn’t uncommon during the transition period, as businesses were adapting to the new reality of a divided Germany.



What I'm wearing
The Leaf Sweater by The Knit Stitch

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