WWI French Knit and Crochet Items

Here are specific French WWI/Great War knitted and crocheted items. These are all from a civilian's guide "La femme et la Guerre" (Women and the War); this guide was for the women to knit and crochet items for the soldiers. The patterns are all in the original French, which I translated myself to work from.

contact me

---

Original pattern photo of Balaclava No. 1 (Passe-montagne au tricot No. 1)

Balaclava No. 1 that I knitted in burgundy color yarn. The French balaclavas all have ear slits.

Balaclava No. 1 that I knitted in gray yarn. All of the French balaclavas have ear slits.

Passe-montagne au crochet. Balaclava No. 2 in crochet.

The Balaclava No. 2. It's a tricky one to crochet, but I think after I make it a few more times, I'll be able to refine it.

Passe-montagne au tricot. Balaclava No. 3. Knit.

Here is Balaclava No. 3 that I knitted in burgundy colored wool yarn.

Balaclava No. 3 again. Knitted in gray wool yarn.

Passe-montagne Bleriot (au crochet). Balaclava No. 4 This balaclava was named after Louis Bleriot who was a French aviator, engineer, and inventor.

This is the Balaclava No. 4 that I crocheted in grey wool.

The Balaclava No. 4 that I made on a model head.

Passe-montagne au crochet No. 5. Balaclava No. 5

This is the Balaclava No. 5 that I crocheted.

Polo au tricot No. 6. Knitted cap No. 6.

Polo au tricot (knitted cap) No. 6 that I made. I've made several of these caps and have additional photos. Please contact me and I can email extra photos.

The knitted cap in burgundy color wool.

Polo tricote. This is knitted cap No. 7. It is knitted in ribbing.

Knitted cap no. 7 that I made.

Polo passe-montagne au crochet. Balaclava No. 8. This balaclava folds up into a cap, as shown here.

Here Balaclava No. 8 is shown pulled down as a balaclava. This type of balaclava is very versatile, because it can be worn as a cap or full balaclava. This one is crocheted.

Gant au tricot. Knitted glove. No. 9.

Here are the gants au tricot (knitted gloves) that I made.

Gant au crochet. Crocheted glove. No. 10.

Mitaine au tricot. Knitted mitt. No. 11.

This is one of many No. 11 mitts I've made.

Mitaine au crochet. Crocheted mitt. No. 12.

La chaussette classique tricote. The classic knitted sock. No. 13.

Here is a pair of the classic knitted socks No. 13 that I knitted in gray wool yarn.

Bas tricote. Knitted stocking. No. 14.

Here is the knitted Stocking No. 14 that I made.

Bas de repos ou bas-chausson. Stocking No. 15. (I haven't tested this stocking yet, so it's not available for order yet.)

Chaussette au crochet. Crochet sock. No. 16.

Chausson tricote. Knitted slipper (sock). No. 17.

No. 18-Chausson au tricot (knitted slipper). No. 19-Chausson au crochet (crocheted slipper). No. 20-Chausson au crochet (crocheted slipper).

Here is a pair of the Knitted Slippers No. 18 that I made.

Another photo of the French Slipper No. 18 that I knitted. They are knitted entirely with wool yarn and I give them a light felting which makes them thick and dense (rather than feeling just like a knitted sock).

Here are the Chausson au crochet No. 20 (crocheted slippers) that I made.

The same Slippers No. 20 that I crocheted, but with the ankle part folded down like a cuff.

Legwarmer, over-sleeve (an arm warmer), and knee cap warmer. These are all knitted.

A pair of the legwarmers (Jambiere au tricot) I made. They are 12 inches long, but can be adjusted by request.

Here are the arm warmers (manchette au tricot) that I knitted. They are 9 inches long. The length can be adjusted by request.

This is a close-up of the ribbing pattern that the arm warmers are knitted in.

The knee cap warmers (Genoulliere au tricot) that I knitted.

Ceinture au tricot. Knitted body belt. No. 21. This body belt is knitted like to a tube to pull on.

Ceinture au crochet. Crocheted body belt. No. 22. This is basically a long strip of crocheted fabric that narrows at the ends. It can be wrapped around the body, neck, head, or wherever needed.

Ceinture au tricot. Knitted body belt. No. 23. This is like No. 22, but knitted instead of crocheted.

Plastron au crochet. Crochet "breastplate" or chest protector. No. 24.

Plastron tricot damier. "Checkerboard" chest protector, knitted. No. 25.

Plastron a manches au tricot. Chest protector with sleeves, knitted. No. 26.

Gilet sans manches. Vest without sleeves. No. 27.

The "gilet sans manches" I knitted. As with many of the items I've made, I have extra photos; if you'd like to see additional photos, please just contact me.

This is a French vest I knitted in burgundy color and in a larger size.

The French vests and sweaters all have buttons to close the crossover. The buttons are hidden under a crocheted flap.

Gilet a manches. Vest with sleeves. No. 28. It is similar to the vest, but with sleeves, different edging on the bottom, and it crosses over on the opposite side.

Here is one of the French sweaters (vest with sleeves, gilet a manches) that I knitted in a gray wool.

Cache-col au crochet. Crochet muffler. No 29.

The muffler I crocheted. Like the knit scarf below, it is made in the round, which makes it double thick.

Another photo of the muffler I crocheted. The length can be adjusted by request.

Cravate au tricot. Knitted "tie." This is basically a scarf and is worn like one. It's standard length is 1 yard (3 feet), but can be made longer by request. No. 30.

Cravate au tricot that I knitted.

Another cravate au tricot that I made.

Blague a tabac. Tobacco pouch. No. 31. The pattern says to make this for Christmas for the soldiers.

The tobacco pouch I made. The pouch is crocheted rather than knitted.

These are some Rin Tin Tin and Nanette yarn dolls that I made. These types of dolls were popular good luck charms in WWI France and were featured in an ad with this motto.

The story of the Rin Tin Tin and Nanette good luck charms can be read in the book, "Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend," by Susan Orlean, available on Amazon. (As an Amazon Associate, I may receive commissions on qualifying purchases through Amazon links.)

Rin Tin Tin Book on Amazon

And here is a video I made about the Rin Tin Tin and Nanette story from the book.