Victory Suits: Part 3

The need for such tight control of everyday objects such as cotton and buttons seems, in a world not under the thrall of war, ludicrous, but it was real; regular markets had dried up (you couldn’t buy goods from the enemy), and most production had been turned over to war-time demands.

News (Adelaide), 17th August 1940 page 3.

Kalgoorlie Miner (WA), 28th August 1942 page 2.

The Australian Women’s Weekly, 21st March 1942 page 24. This outfit took 18 skeins of 4-ply wool. It may have been hard to buy that much, due to shortages. The buttons were wooden moulds with knitted coverings. Choice of colours was also restricted, to 12 only.

The Newcastle Sun (NSW), 31st May 1941 page 5.

The Argus (Melbourne), 27th June 1941 page 10. Knitting wool was included in rationed items after July 1942.

Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW), 28th May 1942.

In December 1942 only the Red Cross and the Comforts Fund (both whose members knitted for the troops) were allowed to obtain wool coupon free, much to other charities chagrin. Things got so controlled that members were advised to knit a standard 14 inch sock instead of the previous 16 inch, to save 2 oz of wool per 3 pairs.

Cover of Comfort Funds knitting booklet.

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