Hi Rochelle and everyone A fascinating site but not for a person with coal-fired internet, however I did check out lot 256 (thankyou for finding it Rochelle) - and I'm guessing they are the sort of knitting needle supports that one would tuck under one's arm, and the end of the needle is braced in the turned end of the sheath. The knitter worked the left hand needle against the right (or vice versa) in a sort of rocking motion. I don't know this for sure, not having tried to use one myself ~ I recall reading about it somewhere, perhaps in the History of Knitting (the book by the Bishop Rutt). Maybe these sheaths weren't necessarily for lace knitting.
> I do have a question out there for the knitters, especially the lace > knitters. On the auction site for their March sale, lot 256, they have some > carved wooden knitting sheaths. These are nothing like I imagined a knitting > sheath for shetland lace kntting and general knitting on long needles. Can > anyone explain what they are and why they are shaped that way? > > > http://www.kerrytaylorauctions.com/ > > -- Bev in Sooke BC (on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
