Did you know that in the Middle Ages people would knit while walking? Yep. It's true. Above, you can see a few examples of sheaths that were used to assist with this task. One needle was held fast in the sheath, which would've been attached to a belt or sewn into an apron or dress. The sheath enabled them to knit faster & with more defined detail, while maintaining an open hand for other things.
Did you happen to notice I said people vs. women? Men used to knit MORE than women. Can you believe that? It's thought that they learned to assist in making fishing nets and other utilitarian items.
In the evenings, after a hard days work around the home, the family would gather for conversations after dinner. To make the most of their time, this family time would also be utilized for sewing and fabric making. The entire family could participate in the making of clothes & cloth for their needs. Makes me think of "Little House on the Prairie", when the mother would always mend things by the fire after dinner...
Ok. That's your history lesson for today. Time for recess class!
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2 comments:
i am surprised that men knitted more than women.
i think it was last year? i heard about men knitting at baseball games for Stitch N Pitch. :)
Oh, gosh! That would be hysterical - walking into a ball game & seeing a bunch of men knitting... great mental image there!
Wonder if they'll do it for the knit in publid day that coming up???? I'd love a photo of that!
Danita
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