I am first and foremost a knitter. I know little to nothing about the history of knitting, or lace knitting, but I have some possible avenues of inquiry.
Two color knitting is, among other things, a way to make a sweater thicker in critical areas, over the upper chest, well known as the place to keep warm among people who are in the cold outdoors, and the waist, where cold air can enter. And then, of course, the artistic knitters used that utilitarian need to create the beautiful Nordic and Fair Isle colored knitting. As I understand it, the gansey fisherman sweater was patterned at least in part so that a loved one, drowned as fishermen will be, could be identified by the pattern in his sweater. I suspect that the fact that the Shetland islands have the sheep and skill to spin a very fine yarn, lace weight, is the beginning point for lace. I don't know why such a thin wool thread was spun, but there must have been a reason. You do a yarn over in such knitting, and you get a significant hole. With such thin thread, you're not really interested in warmth the way you are in deep snow, and so holes would be no problem. Again the artistic ones step in, and the holes and other parts of lace knitting come into play. It is very clear to me that those who make things are always looking for ways of making them beautiful. I bet you will find that the answers you find will, in part, depend on the technology of the time. I would also look at the Russian lace shawls for history. These hypotheses are mere conjecture, based on my personal experiences, and I welcome comments to the contrary. Lyn from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US, where it's now 20F -6C, but brilliantly sunny. Our winter has had snow, but nothing so bad as other places. -----Original Message----- >From: David C COLLYER <[email protected]> >Sent: Feb 9, 2011 8:59 AM >To: Nathalie <[email protected]>, [email protected] >Subject: [lace] History of Lace Knitting > >>Nathalie, > >>Also I am on the lookout for information on the history of lace >>knitting. I think (though not sure!) that lace knitting started as a >>way to copy "real" lace by ladies who could not make "proper" lace. Is >>that correct? Does anyone know where I could find more info? > >I'd be looking towards the Shetland Islands for a start. > >David in Ballarat > >- >To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: >unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to >[email protected]. Photo site: >http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003 - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
