Patterns for Victory! (05/01/2024)

WNW Victory Barnyard — The first image is the cover of the book and says "Crochet Your Victory Barnyard." The second image is a page from the book that shows a crochet goat and reads "One who deserves our admiration Has given up for the duration The tin and scrap which he adored And sent them to the salvage board. You want to know who he may be? Why? Mr. William Goat C.E.* Can Eater*"

WNW goat crochet — The first image is the cover of the book and says "Crochet Your Victory Barnyard." The second image is a page from the book that shows a crochet goat and reads "One who deserves our admiration Has given up for the duration The tin and scrap which he adored And sent them to the salvage board. You want to know who he may be? Why? Mr. William Goat C.E.* Can Eater*"

During World War II, everyone, including children, mobilized in as many ways as possible including past times. Using reclaimed yarn and fibers, dolls and toys also had to fit into the rationing that occurred. This pattern book, "Crochet Your Victory Barnyard," published in 1943, celebrates and reminds to frugally use rationed items. Each of the toys (rooster, cow, hired-hand, a girl, duck, sheep, chicken and chicks, goat, black lamb, horse and pig) has a poem under its picture that reminds the reader of the virtues of hard-work, rationing and doing their part for the war effort. Each animal is celebrated for their contribution to the war effort as well.

The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum’s newest exhibit, "On the Farm Front: Agriculture During WWII," expands on the ideas of rationing, doing everything possible to make the war victorious, mobilization, food production and what the rural region did to help the war effort.