The earliest European civilization was all about purple yarn
Dyeing fiber purple kick-started European culture. And for some reason Hercules’ dog gets all the credit.
The Spy Who Knitted Socks
Molly Rinker knitted socks to cover up her mission: listen to drunk British soldiers and pass on their secrets to George Washington.
The Notable James Norbury
James Norbury was the BBC’s first knitting expert, appearing on different television shows in the 1950’s and 60’s. He was a rockstar knitter, maybe the first rockstar knitter. Check him out.
I’m still not as good at knitting as those Victorians
When it comes to knitting vintage-inspired purses and bags, its all about the beads.
A History of Shawls
“What’s a shawl?” is a question I was asked this week. How do you explain the fascinating world of shawls to the non-knitter/crocheter? So today I’m taking a look at the history of shawls, that simple garment which has made its way into every culture.
Powerful Women Who Spun Yarn
Spinning yarn has always been women’s work. Why? Most historians aren’t sure but women of power throughout time and place have depicted themselves as spinners to the public. It was part of being a powerful woman.
Spinning Yarn In the Grave
Thousands upon thousands of Stone Age and Bronze Age spindles for handspinning have been recovered. Why do we find so many of them from so long ago? Because cultures all over the world buried women with yarn-making tools. The spindle was a symbol of her power and she needed it in the afterlife.
Prisoners, Poverty and Picking Oakum
Picking oakum: a brutal and tortuous fiber “craft”. Unraveling old rope was one way the Victorians punished criminals and the poor.
Fake It To Make It : A history of synthetic fibers
A brief & totally not nerdy history of synthetic fibers! Everything you never really wanted to know about how synthetic yarn is made.
A History of the Spinning Wheel
Let’s have another post where pull on my cowgirl boots, sit down at my spinning wheel, and ramble on about the history of something yarn-y related. Today its the history of spinning wheels and how the spinning wheels of today don’t look anything like their medieval predecessors.