Object number
56/376
Description
A knitting sheath used to help hold the knitting needle firmly, which enabled the knitter to achieve greater speed. Used in Westmorland.
This is a knitting sheath, or 'knitting stick', made of either oak or walnut wood. It was used to help hold the right knitting needle firmly, which enabled the knitter to achieve greater speed in their work. This knitting sheath was used in Westmorland.
Physical description
Knitting sheath: beech
Archival history
Letter, Mrs Musgrave to MERL, 5th November 1956 - 'Under separate cover I am sending you a knitting stick as used in West Morland. It is one of three in my possession and your notes in "The Countryman" prompted my to send this one to you + if it is of any interest you may keep it for the museum. // All three are of a similar pattern bt two are - I think - oak and one walnut. In the days before cinemas + television or motor cycles gallant swains used to spend their leisure time carving very elaborate knitting sticks for the lady of their choice + I have seen some very lovely examples. // As one who does a great deal of hand knitting + still on occasions uses a knitting stick I would like to put forward the theory that it is not so much to carry weight that they were used but to hold the right hand needle firm. You see most double pointed needles were steel + only about 12 inches long in the past + two sets of four were sometimes used to knit seamens "jerseys" and it is amazing the speed once can achieve with the right needle held firm instead of waggling about as a short needle must do because they don't reach under the arm. My Grandmother who was a Cumbrian didn't use a stick but made a pad of [?] straw about the wedth of two fingers, about 6 inches long + an inch thick... + this was tucked into apron or skirt waist band to hold the needle when knitting stockings.'
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Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_1609.tif - High resolution image
