At long last! Video of using a knitting sheath! It is not Star Wars quality, but this is my first try at VIDEO.
Without any more fuss:
I whittled this knitting sheath with a chip knife, just as a sailor of old might have. The “z” twist rope pattern provides excellent support, and is one of my favorites. The needles, I made from steel rod from the local hardware store. A set of such needles can be made in a few minutes with the tools that most home owners would have in their workshops for a materials and supplies a cost of a couple of dollars per set. Very good needles are also available from J&S (http://www.shetland-wool-brokers.zetnet.co.uk/accs.htm) at a reasonable cost. (No connection)
Note also, the Fair Isle heel. Using a knitting sheath also makes knitting Fair Isle easy, but that video is for another day.
Thank you so much for posting this! I've been researching the use of knitting sheats in Portugal (Europe), where they were used until the early 19th century.
ReplyDeleteMy current thoughts are that knitting came to Europe through the Arabs in Spain then to Portugal, then the Channel Islands and the rest of Europe.
ReplyDeleteMy reason is that Portugal by the 11th century was fishing the Neufound Banks for cod. Those fishermen/sailors needed some technology to stay warm.
Long steel needles used with a knitting sheath is the only way that I know, to produce such warm garments rapidly enough to be commercially practical.
hi, new to the site, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, found your site a few weeks ago, now making my way through all the posts from the beginning. The video was really helpful in understanding how to use a knitting sheath. Thanks for sharing your work.
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