Vintage Homemaking

How women kept home in time's past

Capture Vintage Knitting

Time once was when it was commonplace regardless of class or status to learn to knit as a young girl. Not only for a leisure activity but also to clothe one’s family through the knitted articles themselves or by means of selling knit clothing.

Now before I go on let me assure you that not everyone had to do this but let’s imagine for a moment having to spin our own wool (after washing it to remove the debris that the sheep got caught in there) which means carding it or detangling it and then sitting for hours on end at our spinning wheels to make the yarn that we will eventually knit into socks, sweaters, etc.

This doesn’t seem like it would be fun but aha! In the 21st century just such a movement has caught on and knitting in all of it’s glory has made a comeback. From the growing of the sheep to finishing of elaborately hand knit items. And let me tell you hand knit items can come at a steep price but they are beautiful!

Better you learn the craft yourself and turn out some amazing articles of clothing. And blessed you are indeed if you are close to someone who does knit. I am so generously blessed and have received many hand knit items from socks to sweaters.

Knitting has a long and varied history but since I mainly deal in the 18th and 19th century let’s look there even though it is not as interesting.

Before this time period knitting was basically a trade for men before being usurped by knitting machines and then women started to knit to pass the time.

As with all things women get their hands on fashionable knitted lace was in style in the late 18th Century  and then moving into the 19th Century the Victorian Era woman brought knitting into the parlor as one of the activities she used to pass the time and create little dainty and frivolous things.

The cardigan, my absolute favorite item of clothing come winter, is named after the the 7th Earl of Cardigan a British General during the Crimean War. Before his sketchy past was revealed his popularity helped to bring about the style of the knitted waistcoat he wore, the Cardigan.

Instructions for beginning knitters first began to appear around the 19th Century while designers and royalty alike helped to bring knitted clothing into the mainstream with golf sweaters and suits (women’s).

Whether due to the lack of style in today’s clothing or a longing for things past vintage knitting patterns are making a comeback.  Baby booties, sweaters, you name it.

One of your best sources for vintage knitting patterns is so be sure to check around for the latest vintage patterns.

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