I’d bet a lot of you, like me, assumed that knitting was probably done by every able-bodied woman in the West. Likewise with sewing. I’ve even had a few of my characters knitting because I readily assumed that was just the way things “must” have been.
But I was wrong.
Let’s start with a little knitting lesson, because I love knitting. The first stitch was the garter stitch.
This is what it looks like. Children would’ve started learning the garter stitch (all knit stitches, front and back) as their very first project.
That very first project would’ve been garters to hold up their socks/stockings. Seems appropriate, don’t you think?
It was said that before the Industrial Revolution, every child had to know how to knit and sew because there was no way one mother could keep all her children in socks and garters, plus keep up with all the other tasks involved in keeping a house. And if they lived in a colder climate, mittens and sweaters, too.
The same actually goes for sewing, before the Industrial Revolution, all clothing was hand sewn by either someone in the family or a tailor, but the fact is, after the Industrial Revolution, even middle class families would’ve just purchased these items and the poor wouldn’t have been able to afford yarn and needles by then. By the Victorian Era, knitting was a hobby for wealthy women with a lot of time on their hands.
The second stitch a child would’ve learned is stockinette, which again makes sense because it would’ve been used to make stockings. The stockinette stitch is knit stitches on the front side and purl stitches on the back
This stitch is the one that is most commonly seen on sweaters and socks because it makes such a nice, flat fabric. The interesting thing is that knitting needles were costly. Unlike today where I have an entire drawer of needles to create the gauge and look I want, they probably had a more limited supply since needles were costly and artistic. This might explain some of the reason why Elizabeth Zimmerman was more concerned with measurements than telling knitters which needles to use. One blog I read suggested that fine gauge needles were used most often since they create a more delicate and expensive appearing garment.
Want to see some of those needles?
They came in bone, wood, or metal, though metal was least desirable. I’m not sure I would love to have that poking into my hand as I knit. Interestingly, the gauge seems to be burned into the ends, which is really cool. I am, frankly, a big fan of circular needles. The first patent for those was made in 1918.
Whether or not the Victorian women (for those of us who write historical novels) knitted or not, it’s really fun to look back on the history of this fun pastime. The fact is, just like we can’t say that “no one sewed their own garments anymore” we can’t say “no one knitted anymore”. There will always be people who make time for a craft, even with a busy household or too much work to do. I hope you have a hobby that you really enjoy too, and I hope you have a chance to pass on that love to someone else.
What’s something you enjoy doing that someone else might too?
Where western meets happily ever after.
Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn't) South Dakota.
Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one's listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.
I suppose tatting was the ultimate wealthy craft with needles.. although doilies did keep men’s hair products off upholstery.. but I must admit I never thought about knitting being done by everyone in a family.
I hadn’t thought about it either. And, as I admitted, I incorrectly thought it was just something women of the Victorian era “did”, when that probably wasn’t the case.
I naturally assumed most people knitted their own stockings, scarves and gloves/mittens.
I did too. It literally never occurred to me to doubt my assumption.
I love to crochet, and my oldest daughter also crochets. My mother had to teach her because she is left-handed, and I couldn’t do it. I can also knit, embroidery, sew, and quilt.
Oh, so many things to keep you busy! I used to cross stitch, sew, and crochet, but now I only knit because writing takes a lot of time.
I assumed that the knitting would be done by the women, sexist assumption, I know especially because the first knitting guilds only allowed men. But a bigger assumption on my part was that when the matriarch of the family got too old to work in the house or fields or with the animals, she became the knitter of the family. Sitting by the fire, knitting socks, mittens, and the like. I never once looked up what her tools might have cost her.
Thanks for an interesting post, and an assumption reset!
I assumed much the same. It just goes to show that no matter how much research you do, there’s always going to be something you don’t know if you didn’t live during the time. But we all do our very best.
Interesting article! I come from a line on my mother’s side of crafters. My grandma Tom taught me to crochet. And I had an aunt who could knit and she taught me the basics. But, crocheting seemed to be what I loved. I do a little now and then. I also quilt, sew, paint, draw/sketch and other crafts. But recently, I have been experiencing raw edge appliqué and using colored pencils on fabric. I’ll try and learn anything! And due to technology today you can learn anything! I’m what my father use to say about himself,”Jack of all trades, master of none!” Thank you for the background on knitting!
Enjoy it, be a “Jack of all trades”. I want to share something with you that might encourage you, that quote is actually longer, but no one ever uses the last part. William Shakespeare is quoted as saying, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but often times better than a master of one.”
Interesting post, Kari. The only knitting I’ve ever done was as a child with one of those kits that gave you a circular tube with prongs on the end to lift your loops of yarn over. You ended up with a long tubular knit piece. I think a stuffed one and turned it into a snake. 🙂 Another I rolled and stitched together to make a pot holder. My daughter took up crocheting a couple years ago. She makes Star Wars dolls and made me a tea cup and hippo. 🙂 No blankets or sweaters for her. Ha! In fact, she’s turning into a bit of a yarn snob, ordering specialty yarns from Turkey. I love her creativity.
Oh wow! That’s wonderful. I’m a bit of a yarn snob too, I love alpaca from South America 😀
thanks for sharing this. I learned to knit, I just dont enjoy it much. I also learned to crochet. When I was younger, I crocheted blankets for our two kiddos, nieces and nephews. I also learned to sew. So made a lot of garments for everyone. I learned to quilt when in high school. I love to quilt to this day. I learned to paint, but really fell in love painting on clothes. When our little family went to lake Geneva, we found a stamp store. Oh boy, out two kiddos and I fell in love. To this day I stamp greeting cards. Some of them are for a Caring Ministry at church.
I’d forgotten about stamping, I used to really enjoy that. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve tested out so many things and found something you really enjoy.
I tried to knit as a child just couldn’t get it right – was too tight – my daughter crochets and I love to cross stitch!
It took me seven years to learn to knit. I’m not sure if I’m stubborn or stupid LOL. I do love it now though, not so much at the start.
I do know how to knit, but I do not enjoy it! I’ve always wanted to learn how to crochet.
Unless you really want to learn something, there’s no reason to keep doing it if you don’t enjoy it. I learned to knit using YouTube videos. That’s how my daughter learned to crochet (she took patterns and looked up how to do each stitch first). That might be a way you could learn without pressure or stress.
Good morning, I like to paint birdhouses. When I was in home Ec class, I learned how to crochet , but I just couldn’t do it, now I used to love to embroider and I embroidered plenty of things, but crocheting was not my thing.
I “can” crochet, but I don’t enjoy it as much as knitting. I wish I could paint, but I don’t have the eye for it. I’m glad you have a craft you enjoy!
Thanks for the article! I did find it interesting, even though I don’t enjoy sewing or knitting. One thing I do enjoy is gardening (if the weather is amenable). I like being outside, listening to the birds sing & making my space more beautiful & productive!
I hadn’t planted a garden in years until I was able to get my health under control and could be outside. Last year was the first time I’d helped in the garden since I was young and I loved it. I can’t wait for spring now (too bad I live in MN and spring isn’t even in the forecast…)
My greatest love was for crocheting. I neve could get a handle on knitting. It looked far too complicated for me. However, with crocheting I had no difficulty following a pattern. At one time my daughter and son each had a baby at the same time practically. It induced me to make a beautiful baby blanket and a matching sweater and cap. I was so proud of them but unfortunately, I never heard a thank you for either of them that I can recall. I am sure in days gone by the recipient of these knitted socks, sweaters and mittens were ecstatic to receive these treasures as they would have been considered one in those days. My lifetime endeavor was always sewing which my mother taught me. Up until about 2 years ago I was still occupied with the enjoyable past-time. Much of my sons clothes were sewn, even including 2 piece suits. My husband also had me make him suites, especially when leisure suits were popular. I am 78 so I have loved this hobby for a long time. when Covid hit I was sewing lots of masks, even giving them away.
Your article was very interesting and educational. Many thanks.
I’m so glad that you had a hobby you could enjoy and even give as gifts. It sounds like you put a lot of effort and love into them.
I learned knitting when I had chicken pox and stayed with a neighbor when my brother was in the hospital. Never knitted again. It was a red and white Christmas bell ornament.
As for me, I’ve begun to get into quilting. I’m a paper crafter, too.
I learned the hard way that in order to keep knitting, you have to keep doing it until your muscles just remember what to do. I start/stopped lots of times, making the process the opposite of fun. Now, I don’t have to think much as I do it.
My mother wanted me to get into quilting, and I did try, but it never captured me the way it did for her. Probably a good thing, I don’t know what my husband would say if I picked up another hobby that required new equipment and more space.
Those knitting needles are beautiful. I have done some knitting and some crochet, nothing fancy. Sewing is what I do most not so much as a hobby but as a way to get the colors and fabrics I want. I never seem to be able to find drapes or curtains to buy that are washable and fit the image I have for the room I am decorating. I do enjoy it. I always thought that for a lot of pioneer families knitting and crochet needles were made by hand by someone in the family. From your research it looks like they may have bought them.
Perhaps in some cases they were made, though I think it would be difficult to make two identically sized sticks to knit (because the knitting would be uneven otherwise). That’s not saying they couldn’t or didn’t, I really don’t know.
I know what you mean about curtains. I moved into this house 2 years ago and still haven’t put up curtains because I can’t find anything I like at the store and I haven’t found (made) the time to sew them. Maybe this summer I’ll do that.
I would say crocheting or hand sewing is what they would do. Thank you for sharing about knitting. Happy Easter. God bless you.
@Debbie I was thinking the same about hand sewing (meaning mending and darning socks) because most families had so many members to be repairing clothing for. I also think about how difficult it must have been since their indoor light wasn’t very bright.
True, especially rurally lighting was bad. Though in town they had gas lamps by the mid 1850s and even electricity towards the latter end of the century depending on how densely populated the areas were.
I think they probably made store-bought clothing last by doing those things, but by the 1850s, (at least from what I’ve seen) most families just bought clothing to save time. The unfortunate fact is the labor in the factories that created these clothes was very cheap (women and children) so mass market clothing was inexpensive enough that even lower-middle class families could buy their clothes.
I used to enjoy sewing and needlework but have had little time for either the past few years. I enjoy
gardening. We put in way too many of them when we fixed the yard, but they look so nice when they are in and blooming. It is a lot of work to keep up as is the vegetable garden. Fresh vegetables from your own garden are such a treat.
I tried to teach myself to knit many years ago. A total failure. I ws leaving for the P eace Corps and figured I would have free time in the evenings to knit. I had the time but it did me no good. I was able to teach myself to knit and pearl, but couldn’t get them to work together. More importantly, I was stationed in the tropics. Knitting in 100% humidity and 80 degree temperatures makes little sense. I would have asked for help learning, but knitting was something that was done there. 54 years later I still have a ball of rather grubby baby blue yarn and never have learned.
Thank you for an interesting post.
I can appreciate that sentiment in the summer. Here in MN, it gets muggy and hot. I don’t usually pick up any knitting in the summer. When the yarn sticks to you, that’s not fun. I agree with you about the gardens, though I haven’t gotten around to adding much in the way of flowers yet. It’s a slow process and we focused on a food garden last year. I’m hoping to make it even bigger this year, but we’ll see.
An interesting post. I enjoy calligraphy but I am left-handed and so I have to use a left-handed nib that is angled to adjust the angle. It takes concentration and it is easy to make a mistake; however, just as in the past the mistake can be artistically fixed. Sometimes a missing word can be placed above where it should be but smaller so it does not detract from the overall effect.
I love that you’ve adjusted the way you do it to fit your own needs. That’s wonderful. I hope you really enjoy it!