Esther Rutter was born on a Suffolk sheep farm and learned to spin, weave and knit as a child. In this book she travels the length and breadth of the UK - from Shetland to the Channel Islands unearthing the history of all thing knitted, the wool they are made from and the communities that earned their living with wool.
Esther spent a year researching this book and knitting many of the garments that are traditional in different parts of the country. It started with a gift of Shetland wool and while staying in Cumbria and searching online for a glove pattern to use the black and white wool she is reminded about a collection of gloves housed in the Wordsworth Museum and made in the C19 and C20. So Dentdale Gloves are the first things she knits.
Between knitting all the Ganseys, Guernseys, Jerseys, scarves, socks and a Monmouth cap she traces the history of knitting back to the vikings and through all the parts of the country where sheep and wool have been so important. Finishing her journey by knitting a lace shawl ready for her first-born.
Even though I didn't understand all the knitting terms, this was a fascinating book as it was so well written.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
Thank you for the great review. It sounds a fascinating book and I have added it to my list of books to read on Amazon. I am a knitter too. I wonder if the craft will eventually die out as fewer children are being taught to knit and hand knitted garments are valued by fewer people.
ReplyDeleteI think enough people (women and men) will always hand knit and I believe the craft will continue until humankind as we know has become extinct. Knitting is being generally flagged up as a beneficial meditative practice, which is an attractive incentive for some;there are now several knitting websites for people to gain inspiration and the range of lovely tactile yarns are just irresistable. I think hand knitted garments are widely valued, as is evident by popular commercial brands such as pacha mama. My 8yr old grand daughter loves to practice her knitting with her Nana Linda. No, I don't think the craft will die out.
DeleteWhat a wonderful book!!! I will look it up because that's just the sort of thing I would enjoy, I think. Thanks.
ReplyDeletexx
That's one I need to add to my reading list. I never knit gloves even though I can. They're far too fiddly with all the sewing up that's involved. xx
ReplyDeleteMy mother taught all of us to knit, me and my brothers, and we also did knitting projects at prep school. I knitted a pair of mittens when I was 8, and I found the pattern recently, hand written by our teacher.
ReplyDeleteI shall try to get the book as well, in the meantime just sorting through Jersey, Guernsey ( as Channel Islands) and Gansey has created an interesting diversion!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely review. I know you don't do that much knitting yourself, so it is good that you enjoyed the book so much. There is something inspiring about reading how other craftspeople use their differing gifts to produce things of beauty, even if we know that we ourselves couldn't do it.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the history of arts and crafts. I was taught to knit by my great-aunt, a retired teacher, who also taught me crochet. I taught myself macrame years later, from a book.
ReplyDeleteI was born in a small village just outside Bradford where there were a lot of woollen mills. Most of my dad's family and ancestors worked in those mills, so it was only natural that I was taught at an early age how to knit. We were also taught in junior school, boys as well I think and I can still remember the greasy feel of a sheep's fleece just after it was shorn, brought to Sunday School by a teacher. Knitting has been continuous since my teens and I am still knitting now as it is one of the few things I can still do, although I can't knit for as long as I used to without a rest.
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning the book as I have often wondered how knitting started, so I may order that book on-line, just to satisfy my curiosity.
A perfect present for a knitter.
ReplyDeleteI know a knitter who will be receiving that next birthday.
ReplyDeleteIt looks an Interesting book. Both my Mum and Nan were knits so obviously I learnt to Knit and can crochet, which is good because I cannot do much of anything now so I make blankets and lot things mostly for charity things. I worked at a school for nearly 10 years has a volunteer (5 to 11years) and taught a lot of child to Knit girls and boys and do hope that maybe they can still knit, would be lovely.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
Thanks for this review, Sue. I was debating buying it as I can't get it at my library. It sounds exactly my kind of book, so I will buy it now.
ReplyDeleteI am part way through is fascinating book.I am a knitter and love anything to do with wool and am really enjoying being able to visualize the knitting that the author is writing about. Jane
ReplyDeleteEven knitting, goes back to the Vikings!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like so much more, than just about knitting. It is a lovely History, of your lovely Country. *Knitted* around knitting.
"All you need is love.
But a little chocolate now and then
doesn't hurt."
~Charles M. Schultz
What a wonderful book. I love to see how a craft and talent such as knitting grows and changes based on the history of the people and the location.
ReplyDeleteI learned to knit when I was six and we were living in a boarding house in St. Helier, Jersey. My first thing was a green and red sweater for my teddy!
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me that I also used to knit clothes for my doll.
DeleteLooks interesting, when at the library yesterday, a book called 'Golden Threads' jumped out at me, not literally of course and it is about the history of sewing.
ReplyDeleteYou really do come across some fascinating books Sue. x
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book and one I would very much like to read.
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